I'll be reading Growing Up with Tamales for story time at Blue Willow Bookshop, in Houston, on Thursday morning, May 15. Tell everyone you know with kids in the Houston area. How do you find and support local indie book stores like Blue Willow? By going to Booksense.
On Saturday, May 17, I'll be in Dallas, reading and signing at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, for the 13th Dallas Children’s Book Fair & Literary Festival.
On June 22, here in Houston, I'm going to do a poetry workshop. It's free and open to the public, y'all, and they're having one every Sunday in June, taught by local poets I love and respect. So come on down.
Friday, November 02, 2007
"You were destined for a pauper's grave."You wouldn't think listening to depressing songs would cheer a person up... or maybe you would. Maybe you know.
I am undergoing stress lately, so I listen to sad songs from the '90s and it cheers me up. Or maybe what I'm actually doing is listening to the sad '90s songs that got me through my last custody battle, and they are reminding me that I have nothing to fear in this recent custody battle. (Other than attorney's fees.) Because I'm still a good mom. In fact, I'm a better mom now than I was then. And Steven Malkmus and Ben Folds validate this feeling within.
speaking of
Okay, who knows what happened after Ben Folds Five recorded that song using Ben Folds' dad's answering machine message? What did his dad say? Was he amused? Embarrassed? Proud? I imagine he was proud, but I wish I could get an anecdote on that. Wikipedia has nothing. What, then, is the purpose of Wikipedia? I have to wonder, because it's sorely failed me in this regard.
domestix
Last night, as I read the kids their latest Harry Potter chapter, we got to the part of the book where Harry learns the astonishing, shocking, hardcore truth.
Usually my kids like to crack little jokes throughout the readings, or else poke each other and poke the cat, but this time everyone was listening, silent as heck, mouths agape.
"That's sorry," my middle son finally said, upon the conclusion of the chapter. His brothers agreed. What happened to Harry Potter was sorry.
I'm now gearing up -- gathering the emotional strength -- to read them the next chapter. AKA, the Tear Jerking Chapter. Y'all who read the book know which one I'm talking about.
I was telling my friend Joolio about this -- the Boy Who Lived and The Chapter That Awed -- and he asked if I purposely read the book in a dramatic way.
"Well, yeah," I said. "I try to do different voices and stuff. You know. You can't read aloud if you're gonna do it lame."
He said that he not only did voices, but he would also do dramatic hand gestures when reading to his kids. (Back before they turned to teenagers.) He said they'd tell him, "How did the monster do it, Dad?" and he'd have to do the gestures again. He did his monster gesture and I had to laugh.
But I wasn't laughing at his monster. I was laughing because it's kind of awesome to read your kids a story and have them enjoy it, and people who don't know that are missing out.
I said this before, I know. But I'm still thinking about it, because reading my kids Harry Potter is one of the best things going on in my life right now. Just like it was nice when we got into the van last night and the old '90s songs came on, and my middle son said, "I remember this song. Isn't this Ben Folds Five?" He's a musical genius, that one. He remembers every song he's ever heard.
weight-loss update
Don't think I'm being insecure, but I have something I need to say, to clarify.
Remember how I told y'all I lost 31 pounds? (It's 32 now.) Well, I meant that I lost the 32 pounds I've gained since 2003.
So, if you haven't seen me since 2003, you won't notice anything different.
That's all. Just wanted to disclose. Don't want anyone to think I'm misleading, here. For the record, I am still proud of this accomplishment. The other day I told my boyfriend, "Look. These are the pants I wore on our first date! They fit me again!"
He was like, "Oh, wow." But non-chalant. He's a very good boyfriend and therefore doesn't get too excited about the weight loss. I love him.
I was supposed to have lost 33 pounds by Wednesday, but I've only lost 32. Sighz. Okay, onward. 12:35 PM #
Comments:
I love that song. "Your Most Valuable Possession".I couldn't find much about it, but there's a little here and here.
# posted by
Joe Tank : 2:32 PM
Your post reminded me that my husband recently finished reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to our son, and he seems kind of sad now that it's over. He's looking for something similarly epic to read next, but it's hard to find something that will sustain a two-and-a-half year old's interest. Any suggestions?
# posted by
Doppelganger : 4:41 PM
Two things:
1. I can never read Winnie the Pooh without hearing my mother's versions of Pooh, Eeyore and Piglet. I always remember her as being more generous to the characters than the cartoons were: Pooh was dense but thoughful, not bumbling; Eeyore was put-upon and scathing, not gloomy; Piglet was good-hearted to the point of raw panic. We laugh about it still.
2. Thirty-one pounds is thirty-one pounds, and that's downright awesome. Congratulations!
# posted by
Mike : 8:48 PM
Joe: Thank you! The first one told me everything. I love that whole album, don't you? Most of it..
Doppel: OMG, I can't believe your son even sat through Lion/Witch/Wardrobe. I'm not that good at the reading -- couldn't make my preteens listen to Dark Is Rising. So I don't know, dude. You tell me when you find something, and then I'll read it to my kids. :)
Maybe... Wizard of Oz? Or Watership Down? Or Winnie the Pooh! (Stealing from Mike, below.)
Mike:
1. Aw! That story makes me happy.
2. Thanks. (34 lbs now, dammit. YES.)
# posted by
Gwen : 7:04 PM
Gwen: I do love that album. Maybe not "Jane" so much, but the rest of it, yes.
# posted by
Joe Tank : 3:09 PM
Funny -- Jane is one of my faves! I put it on a lot of mix CDs for my commute. Lowers my blood pressure, as does the rest of that album. As I'm sure it does for you, too.
# posted by
Gwen : 3:19 PM
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