happy February

What a lovely month: groundhogs, presidents, and valentines.  In honor of the latter, here is a thought I liked from a book I've never read-- 

The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but love can be, (b) that is the one and only way that the mediocre and the vile can be transformed, and (c) doing that makes it that.  Loving makes love.  Loving makes itself.  We waste time looking for the perfect lover instead of creating the perfect love.  Wouldn't that be the way to make love stay? --from Still Life With Woodpecker, by Tom Robbins

January Love List

• birthdays
• pie
• skiing
• playing guitar
• when sixth graders get enthused about something
• teaching astronomy
• teaching reading
• just teaching in general
• fresh snow that I don't have to drive in
• my electric blanket
• wearing slippers
• sleeping in my own bed
• hanging out with my family
• leftovers
• phone calls
• good movies
• peanut butter in individualized packages
• good ideas
• pears
• getting ready for Africa
• getting together with old friends
• Lyvia
• old-school books (when was the last time you read James and the Giant Peach or Mrs. Piggle Wiggle?)
• playing games with B and E, especially "hand and foot"
• laughing
• singing
• socks
• resolutions

luckily

luckily, I'm feeling better today. (thanks to all for your well-wishes)  

luckily, I like sixth graders.  

luckily, my mom is awesome and she is washing all my sheets.

luckily, I found a refrigerator box that will eventually be a tollbooth. 

and luckily

tomorrow is the holiday!

all day

I have had the flu.  

I don't like missing out on sixth grade especially-- but also things like water, food, and the will to do stuff.  I hope you all are healthy and washing your hands a lot (because it is NOT fun to be sick).  

that sister of mine, she's a good mom

When I'm a mom, I hope I'm like my sister Bryttin.  

Bryttin is a lovely cook.  She always experiments with new recipes, adds her own special touches, and never fails to produce something simple and delicious.  I aspire to be as good a cook as she (though I am drearily far behind in that department...).  

Bryttin is amazingly organized.  Her basement has shelves with labeled boxes for my niece's toys.  Her kitchen is small, but she makes it work with a place for everything and everything in its place.  Her refrigerator is impeccably easy to navigate.  When I moved home, I had her come help me to organize and get rid of junk. She is the master of organization without being obsessive about it.

Bryttin is an active mother.  I think sometimes young mothers tend to use their children as an excuse.  Not Brytt-- she is always getting Lyv ready and taking her on interactive outings.  She is constantly out and about seeing and experiencing new things with her little girl; or, sometimes she finds fun things to do while at home.  I see some of that curiosity (and even a little mischief) in Lyvie sometimes and I love it.  

Bryttin is frugal.  I am amazed at the money she saves and the sensible way she shops.  I mean seriously--she's phenomenal.  Check out her new blog!  

Bryttin is always bringing our family together for dinners, parties, or even afternoons out running errands.  I love it when she brings Lyv down and we get to laugh at all the new things she is learning.  I love having "sisters night" and watching the world's stupidest movies.  I love watching the 24th of July fireworks on their back deck.

Here's to Bryttin--the greatest sister/mom/friend/wonder woman in the universe!  I hope you know how much I love you and look up to you.  

eleven days

...it is quickly approaching!

it's all in how you look at things

It is 2009!  Happy New Year to all.  

I'm teaching sixth grade and learning a lot.  I'm definitely not in third grade anymore...  It has been quite the adjustment, but I am looking forward to the experience.  I get to teach a unit on one of my favorite novels, The Phantom Tollbooth.  An excerpt that I found quite profound today: 

"Isn't it beautiful?" gasped Milo.  

"Oh, I don't know,"  answered a strange voice. "It's all in the way you look at things."  

"I beg your pardon?" said Milo, for he didn't see who had spoken.  

"I said it's all in how you look at things," repeated the voice.  

Milo turned around and found himself staring at two very neatly polished brown shoes, for standing directly in front of him (if you can use the word "standing" for anyone suspended in mid-air) was another boy just about his age, whose feet were easily three feet off the ground.  

"For instance," continued the boy, "if you happened to like deserts, you might not think this was beautiful at all."  

"That's true," said the Humbug, who didn't like to contradict anyone whose feet were that far off the ground.    

"For instance," said the boy again, "if Christmas trees were people and people were Christmas trees, we'd all be chopped down, put up in the living room, and covered with tinsel, while the trees opened our presents."  

"What does that have to do with it?" asked Milo.  

"Nothing at all," he answered, "but it's an interesting possibility, don't you think?"