Back-to-School Shopping

School supply lists and classroom wish lists and uniform shopping and logo clothing orders...yep, it's that time of year again.  Each year there's the debate between 'how much' and 'what do we really need' and all such.

This year, there are a couple of favorite items that I think I'll mention in my blog here.

1.)  Neoprene lunch bags.  I don't understand why these aren't more popular!  Fiona had one last year.  It is made out of the same material as many laptop covers and zips up like them.  It's fantastic!  It doesn't stain, and it stays brand-new looking perpetually.  Food spills inside and we simply turn it inside-out and pop it in the wash!  Perfect.  So, this year I bought her another pattern and she alternates between her polka-dot lunch bag--which, by the way, looks like a cute purse, really--and her new heart-patterned one.  Except for maybe the little BYO brand label being more worn on the polka-dot bag, you can't really tell which is older! 
Unfortunately, except for a skull and cross-bones one, I couldn't find a boyish design, so I've just ordered a different style, Built brand, black neoprene lunchbag for him on Amazon.  I hope it's the right thing!
As soon as it comes in, I'm going to throw away our old, cruddy bags--which never stayed nice for more than a week or two!  I'm convinced the neoprene bags aren't being advertised because the companies will sell so much less once folks get them, so the companies don't want to promote them!  It's another conspiracy theory...

Ahem, on to
2)  Logo clothing.  Yep, I'm a sucker for the logo clothing.  I love the embroidered Montessori school logo, and I'm about to place an order for some new tops for both kids.  We've had them before, and they just look so much better than the plain shirts.

Now, my personally exciting novelty,
3)  A plaid skirt.  Fiona came home and reported that she could wear a plaid skirt to school this year.  I double-checked the uniform guidelines and found, to my utter surprise, that it was true!  I was tickled that I'd bought a navy, blue, and white plaid skirt for her at Once Upon a Child for no particular reason (at least, I thought not!), and the colors are perfect for her school, so she has that on today. 
So, I was telling Michael about the skirt and relating how I figured it was from Country Day.  Nope, wrong color, he points out.  Oh, right!  Maybe Calvary?  Nope, etc....
That night, I had the urge to watch Gilmore Girls, one of our favorite shows, again.  Lo and behold if Fiona's skirt isn't identical to Rory's Chilton skirt (Chilton is an elite private school, and the skirt is a big part of the first episode.  I'd totally forgotten--at least on a conscious level).  Yep, I was delighted!  And, you know, it made me again think about the point I made about Harry Potter's world being more real to us than the thousands starving in the horn of Africa.  That private school in the Gilmore Girls world has certainly occupied more of my thoughts than any of the private schools around here!

Oh!  I forgot the original point I thought the blog was going to be about, and that has to do with frugality and environmentalism versus trendy styles!  Now, you might assume I'd weigh in heavier on the first end, at least theoretically, but I would like to point out that, while both are important, that frequency of use is a major consideration.  So, to my own surprise, I was more than willing to buy Fiona the cute, new notebooks and pencil bags and such, as she'll be using these every day.  Sure, we had perfectly serviceable stuff at home, and I was so proud of Alex for wanting to use these, but I even tried to persuade him to get a few things that he liked as well.  Enjoying the things we use most can make our experiences so much more pleasant...and that is important.

Not trying to persuade anyone to not be frugal, by any means!  However, I think our most-oft used items really should be a priority in the stylish/pricy/comfy category, you know?  So yay for Fiona and her sparkly purple binder!

AND, of course, hurrah for Alex reusing his perfectly serviceable blue binder from last year! 

I suppose that's why I particularly love items such as the neoprene lunch bags--BOTH trendy and eco-friendly in that you don't have to keep replacing them! 

Real, professional, official author!

So, my books have been out on Amazon and B&N for just a bit, but they're terribly hidden and I haven't really tried at all to market them.  However, my sweet hubby has posted a notice about them on his workplace door, which I squirm a little at--given that they have nothing to do with healthcare in the least and aren't necessarily part of that 'professional' image a clinic should try to convey.  He and a couple of friends have also posted my link to Silk on FB, but otherwise not much else has been done as of this point.

Marketing and sales are not my strong suit.  Nor do I have even a remote interest in that realm (beyond doing what needs to be done--sort of like cleaning my house!  Ugh!).  My wish is that some big bookseller's agent will be purusing the e-books--I'd like to imagine this is now standard protocol, though I hear they have more than enough direct submissions to keep them busy forever--and that this sage and wonderful gentleman will come across my books whilst I'm finishing Homespun.  He'll make me a fabulous, gracious offer and Silk will be published in hard cover en masse just as I'm finishing up with Homespun.  I'll be raking in the big bucks and fan letters in no time!  Sounds good, doesn't it?  A girl can hope! 

Anyhow, just thought I'd put that out there.  I suppose I'm a bit of a believer in The Secret, a somewhat silly and simple book about the concept that we get what we clearly wish for.  I don't buy it wholeheartedly, but I think there is a grain of truth to the idea.  Can't hurt, right? 

So, back to the point of this blog entry!  I've heard responses from a couple of readers--complete strangers who voluntarily bought and read Silk.  Actually, one has read both and is eagerly awaiting book #3, whilst the other has recommended Silk to a couple of friends and plans to buy and read Tapestry.  Woohoo!  What if it were just that easy?  If word of mouth spreads like wildfire, and my books make it 'just like that'?  Actually, credit goes to Michael for both--one from his FB post and the other from the flyer on his door.  Still, they don't know me and were under no pressure whatsoever to purchase or respond to my books--unlike my own family and friends, who have a personal interest (and pressure) regarding the whole matter! 

Anyhow, my point is that I was sort of a 'real' author, I suppose, already--in that I had written a couple of books.  But when unknown folks buy and read your books of their own accord, and they eagerly await the opportunity to buy more...then, well, that makes me a bonafide professional, official author, doesn't it? 

I suppose that first itty-bitty royalty check (virtual in this day and age...sigh) and perhaps a good ol' bound, printed copy in the store will be my next steps towards feeling like a pro.  Lots to look forward to--hopefully fairly soon!

iRobot

I have a brand new toy, just to my taste.  Actually, I guess most toys for grown-ups are more practical than children's toys...just thinking of fancy cars and power tools and such.  My new toy is the iRobot Roomba 560, a robot vacuum cleaner.  This is more than just a vacuum cleaner, oh yes!  It's to be my personal base-level housekeeping coach.  Most folks probably don't need this, but your truly certainly does! 

The extra-special thing about the iRobot 500+ series is the scheduler.  So, if it is set to get to work every night, I'm going to be motivated to get stuff off the floor and keep the place maintained on an every-evening basis!  At least, that's the plan!

The down side?  Well, I can't be sure yet, but, ironically, it looks like the Roomba might not handle our upstairs carpet so well.  It stops every few minutes with issues.  I'll keep going with it for a while up there, but I'm suspecting I may have to use a more traditional vacuum for the upstairs on an as-severely-needed basis, while keeping up the first floor on a nightly basis, where the Roomba does just fine (Persian carpets and linoleum and Pergo flooring).

Will let y'all know how this goes--it's new and I haven't even begun the scheduled cleanings.  My hope is that I'll soon be able to report reduced overall anxiety due to a fairly maintained first floor!  (The chronic mess is one of the banes of my existence!)  If the Roomba get itself acclimatized to the upstairs, we may see a second Roomba living here soon!  And then there's the Scooba for automated mopping...  Maybe dreams do come true! :)

2011 Open House at Ellis

We had a big day yesterday with open house and all. Not for Fiona, so much, as she has been assigned a teacher we’ve had before and the one we’d hoped for this year. We’re absolutely delighted. We already have a couple of wonderful years with her already, between the kids, and there’s a good chance that Fiona will get to stay in her class for both 4th and 5th grades. Honestly, her teacher is not much like me—really a hands-on, energetic, enthusiastic sort--‘let’s get dirty and have fun and be engaged’, really practical, really no-nonsense type. Not like me at all, but still considerate and intellectual and idealistic. Just love her!

In fact, Fiona’s teacher actually became vegetarian back when Alex was in 5th grade with her. Her daughter already was veg, and she seemed to be influenced by Alex. Pretty cool, right? I think she requested Fiona this year. Super! She treats me really well, and, you know, sometimes I feel like I get a lot of undeserved credit for my fantastic kids!

Anyhow…Alex is the one who was confronted with the ‘big day’ at open house. He’s entering middle school with the big leagues now! Well, in comparison to last year, that is! Maybe this is really ‘little leagues’ still, as they’re still sequestered at Ellis Montessori with their small group of sheltered classmates. Will delay those ‘big leagues’ as long as possible, right?

So, Alex will be taking classes in blocks now, with teachers for each subject. This is a total shift from 6th grade, where he had two primary teachers deliver all his core classes. It was a little overwhelming, honestly, to visit with five instructors for him alone at the open house (four were male—how unusual for us and nice for Alex, for a change!). And that didn’t even include his Spanish teacher—from whom he’ll be taking classes daily!

I noticed with annoyance that the seventh graders begin their year with a quarter of ‘Health’ class, as well. Now that I think about it, though, that is completely optimal. At least, it should be. I think the issue is that we always had health classes administered by some bored, middle-aged gym teacher who could have cared less about all the important physiological and psychological issues that burgeoning teenagers are facing. They were saddled with the health class when they’d have preferred to be directing some team game. (Again, even more opposite of me!) Ellis, of all schools, however, is probably one of our best hopes for having an enlightened health teacher, and, upon second thought, I’m fostering a small hope that this health class might be just what we need. Alex is certainly going through major physiological changes at this time.

Alex’s gifted program is undergoing some changes at this time, as well, due to the middle school schedule. He won’t be attending GEP classes as such, directly. It’s becoming really more of an extracurricular outlet. It sounds as though he’ll be playing a 10-week virtual stock market game this fall and participating in Model UN in the spring, most likely—and I’m not sure that even includes the entire GEP middle-school population. As with extracurricular activities, I think it might be just on an as-interested basis. The GEP teacher shared that he will basically try to divvy up stolen time from the kids’ different classes. Not terribly structured, hmm? But how else to do it without eliminating one of their other classes, which no one wants to sacrifice—especially since these very same kids are already required to have a foreign language for their high school and college transcripts, taking one of the two ‘elective’ slots (and health the other ‘elective’ for the first quarter—so much for elective electives, right?)?

Summer seemed all too short, and the kids will be immersed in their studies come Monday. So lovely, at least, that they know the school and their classmates so well…

Encore a la Francais

So, I have again plunged into the study of the French language. Plunge, I say? Nah, more like wet my toes. I’ve touched on it a couple of times in the past, but I’ve always really wanted to do it—to really learn French, or any foreign language really, fluently. Perhaps you already have learned one well. I do know a little Spanish, from three years in Junior High and High School and then two semesters in college. And I value that, truly, though I’ve never been close to fluent.

I’ve always dreamt of living abroad and really immersing myself in a foreign culture. One day I may still. I mean, I still have half of my active lifespan left, right? Maybe? And, Lordy, think of all that I’ve already gotten to do in my life! I actually did live in Germany for six years of my life when I was really young and did learn just a few words of German. Of course, we lived in an American community and my folks didn’t have any grand aspirations to experience the German culture—darn it—so I actually will have a bit more say in this last half of my life and will be able to direct the experiences more to suit my personal taste. At the moment (and, thus far, always), that includes the notion of future foreign travel and culture immersion.

Of course, that’s an expensive proposition, and the likelihood of funding such an expedition is questionable. However, if I were in such a fortunate situation, I would like to be prepared, and I’m certainly able to do that, right? So, I’m engaging, for a time, in the ‘study’ of the French language.

We’ll see how this goes come next week. My enthusiasm can suddenly lose steam completely, which is a disconcerting and disappointing development, but I wouldn’t do a whole lot with myself if I just waited forever to see if it holds out, right? Besides…it’s not totally wasted. I think tidbits here and there do build, if not as neatly as in a more structured study.

So, yes, I’m dying to tell you what I’ve been doing to study French, besides the ‘Learn French Together’ course with Fiona. Oh, we made ‘maracas’ yesterday, which we decorated with flags from French-speaking countries. Not all of them…oh no! I had no idea how many countries have French as their official language. I counted about twenty, and I’m sure there are probably more… It should serve us well if we are ever to go on safari in Africa. Now, wouldn’t that be fabulous?! Oh, we did learn a few French words with our activity, too. It’s such a cute, engaging course—totally unlike anything I’d normally bother with, but totally to my little girl’s taste.

I’ve also re-downloaded an old French CD-ROM that I’ve had forever. I did once learn to count in French and to speak some introductory phrases with that CD, which has sample videos of conversations and a not-very-good meter to listen to you say words back. It’s nice to contrast the recording of your own voice with the sample voice, anyhow, though. However, I’ve only downloaded it at this point and am just hoping that I will put it to use.

I did sort of drop the Pimsleur Conversational French CDs once Fiona and I began the Living Language children’s course. One can only do so much, but I do mean to get back to them. Those CDs are just on hold for now.

I’m happy about my progress, honestly, so long as I’m engaged in some form of study of the language. I figure that structure doesn’t matter as much as consistency. Variety will only cement it, right? Honestly, it does…when I hear a word or phrase from a different source, it tends to verify the importance of the word in my mind, which is a bit silly, right? But not so silly…it’s hard to know the frequency with which other words are employed, as they’re not always the same as in English.

So…back to my ‘exciting’ venue of French study...I have been watching Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. Yep, that’s right! Buffy, Xander, Willow, and Giles are teaching me French. What have I learned from them? Well, they don’t spell it for me, so it’s entirely phonetic, but I certainly get a lot of ‘de cor’ (sp?) for ‘of course’ and ‘Alors’ for ‘well’ and ‘so’ and, honestly, the filler words are the ones I catch most! Those and the greetings. But I do fancy that I’m absorbing little bits and get excited about recognizing and deciphering the occasional bit of conversation. I have high hopes!

I’m watching the French dubbing with English subtitles, and, meanwhile, I’m trying to get back into working out on my elliptical. My exercise has gone to pot this summer, and I’m really a total blob. I’m hoping that I’ll be super-efficient and get my French study and exercise and entertainment in this next school year all at the same time, in the same hour, so that I can still have adequate time to be mommy and author and self-indulgent lazy-bones (always a priority), too. I’m still hoping to continue the course with Fiona, too, but perhaps on a weekly basis or so, if she’s not too overwhelmed with school and her other extracurricular activities. We’ll see how it all goes. Big plans, right? But plans really do help us in carrying out our goals.

You know, all this talk leads me to the basic question of ‘why?’ I’ve always had that question. With so many important issues in this world, with so many home tasks that need attention, why do we bother with foreign languages, art, and music? Reading and writing of novels, too, for that matter? I suppose the best answer that I’ve heard goes something like this—after our basic needs are met, art is what makes life enjoyable. Well, art and friendship, I suppose. Hmm, I suppose I’d better not think too hard about it, so I’ll just leave it at that before I confuse myself completely! Time to go work on some of those home tasks…

More Lexile Thoughts

So, I did go back and check out Tapestry on that lexile analyzer, and I was relieved to see a 1200 (versus that whopping 1340 for Silk’s first chapter). Truly, I was a little stressed about the situation. Dan Brown and JK Rowling hang out around 850 or so, and thus what they do must be pretty darn optimal, right? Stephenie Meyers hangs out even lower than that.

Anyhow, though, Michael reframed the situation for me in a light that made me feel a little better. He called my writing ‘literature’. Literature? I hadn’t even considered it as such, honestly. I was goin’ for that even more enviable title—‘bestseller’! I scoffed at the idea at first, but my ego sort of likes the idea, so I’ve been reconsidering the matter a little bit.

Jane Austen and Nathaniel Hawthorne have these 1200-ish lexile scores as well, and, you know, they deal with romance and psychological issues as well. Not bad company, except they’re in their graves, of course! Not sure any modern popular author has such a cumbersome rating, though I obviously haven’t checked on everyone! That said, I haven’t checked on book 3, Homespun, either. I do realize that Silk begins with a more refined air, and each book becomes a bit more vernacular and down-to-earth, so to speak.

No, I don’t want to give the lexile scores too much importance, but it’s rare to have an objective measurement for your text—and I think I tend to cling to those few objective elements. So far, those word counts outline my writing days, giving me some hook for gauging my progress, so forgive me if I seem a little hung up on my lexile score—a new parameter and tres interesante, oui?

P.S. I submitted the Homespun sample and received a 780! Yikes! Or maybe Yay?!!?! There certainly are different ways to look at it, and I had anticipated a lower reading level on this one…overall, perfectly great, as that’s a perfect range for successful novels!

Lexile Measurement for Silk

Most recently, the schools have converted to 'lexile measurements' as a standardized way of measuring reading difficulty.  I've been checking on the levels for my kids' books, as the schools have requested that their summer reading remain within the parameters of their tested reading levels.  Fiona's pretty much able to read anything, but Alex has a hard time finding good books at his level.  Anyhow...I was surprised to see a feature on the Lexile website with which you can measure the lexile for articles and such, so I checked part of Silk's first chapter (1000 word limit on the measurement).  By the way, I felt the first chapter was pretty light reading...  I was hoping to achieve higher than a third-grade reading level (any lower would just be embarrassing) and optimally somewhere between 6th to 11th grade levels, where most of my own preferred reading falls--Harry Potter, Nancy Farmer's books, Isabel Allende's stuff...  So, I was a little appalled to get a 1340, which is college level!  I really, really did not mean to write something at the difficulty of a college text, but my comfort lies in the fact that there are anomalies.  For example, Lemony Snicket's 'Series of Unfortunate Events' all lie close to that realm, somehow.  So, slight boost for my ego that my books aren't too basic, but a bit worrisome that they might be cumbersome for the average reader.  They're supposed to be recreational reading, for goodness sakes... 

End of Summer

Time to wrap the summer up...  The kids have just this last week of vacation before school starts all-too-soon.  So strange how I always dread the end of the school year, when I'll have them 24/7, but then I'm never ready for school to start back.  There's still so much to do with our summer!  We haven't been to the pool nearly enough--and I won't even go into how I haven't been to the ocean often enough.  I just can't understand my children, who vastly prefer the pool to the ocean.  In fact, they adored the wave pool at Typhoon Lagoon.  Yes, the lifeless, chlorine water and hard pool bottom wins out over the sandy beaches of the ocean.  I don't get it.

The kids did wrap up those music theory workbooks before we left for Orlando--at least for now.  Next summer Fiona will hit book 3 and Alex will start with more advanced scale and chord work.  However, Fiona and I have only just begun a program called 'Learn French Together' by Living Language.  It's designed for young children (ages 4-8) and their parents, but she's completely into it.  In fact, she likes the idea of being the baby of the family and always argues with me that she's still 'little' when I exclaim over how grown-up she's getting!  Anyhow, the program calls for lots of miscellaneous activities, which are now the point for Fiona.  Yes, she's far more excited about working with clay or drawing a picture or playing hide-and-seek than in learning the accompanying French words, but it's going well and we're having fun--even singing French folk songs.  It's pretty time-intensive, though, and I don't know what's going to become of it once school begins.

You know, to be honest, I think I'm also reluctant to face the completion of my third book in the Silk Trilogy.  I didn't want summer to begin, as I'd only gotten half-way through, and now it looms large.  I am actually quite pleased with my first two books, and I want the third to measure up, but I'm not sure if I'm up to it.  You don't want just anything scribbled down--a crummy ending to a series, you know?  I actually feel, at the moment, that I'd love to do a children's fantasy book--or at least try.  Thing is that I had so much fodder for this Silk series based on genealogy stuff that's pricked my curiosity for ages, and I don't really have an analogous basis for a children's fantasy series.  Guess we'll see, hmm?  Eventually, that is, as I first need to devote myself to finishing Homespun.  

At the moment, though, I'm more interested, honestly, in playing French hide-and-seek with my little girl!  Darn that impending school year! 

The Holy Land Experienced?

The kids and I finished our Orlando trip yesterday with a day at The Holy Land Experience, a historic and religious theme park which is designed particularly for Christians.  I was intrigued at the notion of the recreated famous elements/scenes/places of the Holy Land, as who knows if I'll ever get to visit there myself!  I love the World Showcase in Epcot, and this promised even more--with dramatic reenactments and such as well.

Alrighty, I'll begin with my very favorite park feature.  The Scriptorium Museum is fabulous and ranks as high as virtually any Disney feature, in my book (unless you count the Cirque du Soleil as a 'feature'!).  Kudos to them on a job well done!  Of course, given my writing aspirations, it does make sense that I'd be in love with this museum.  The entire museum is about a book and the historical developments leading to it.  Exhibits begin with authentic Cuneiform tablets and progress to papyrus scrolls and then parchment codices.  An animated voice explains the history of writing and progresses to particularly important historical events leading to our modern Bibles.  I was entranced by the 1300's authentic Bibles opened to pages that had been illuminated by monks.  Fascinating!  And a great history lesson!  This museum was so well done that I'm definitely interested in returning to this theme park at some point, if only to visit the museum a time or two again.  Amazing!

Of interest was the one 'play' that we attended.  King David (and Bathsheba), the apostle Paul, and Hosea's wife, Gomer, were the subjects of the play, which was only 45 minutes long.  I was a bit surprised at the subject matter, the sins and forgiveness each underwent, and, though nothing was technically too inappropriate, I might have avoided the play if I'd known the contents, given that the kids were with me!  The intensity of the play reminded me a bit of 'Passion of the Christ'.  Immediate emotional immersion--and, yes, I was brought to tears pretty quickly by the dramatizations.  So, well done, all in all.  The kids were pretty riveted, as well, and they left mostly upset that David's eldest son with Bathsheba was 'sacrificed' by God for his sins.  "It wasn't the baby's fault!" was the repeated protest, which I tried to hush until after we left the park!  But, yes, I concur with the kids--and I find it a bit offensive--that whole idea of 'sacrificing' someone else to wipe clean our own slates.  How very sick is it to think of the high priests of the line of Levites dedicating their days to ritual sacrifice--feeling 'holy' as they murdered creatures--and believing that it somehow 'purified' them?  So sick and twisted and the opposite of the truth!  Anyhow, in David's case, the dramatization claims that God forgave David and Bathsheba, and, after the terrible 'loss' of their baby son, they were able to go forth and produce the amazing Solomon and live happily after that.  Messed up...and the kids knew it, too!

Hmm, I didn't mean to go on so about the dramatization, but I do want to say something about Paul.  He is a clear example of why it is harmful to become militantly attached to your beliefs.  I suppose it's just personality, but he caused much suffering before becoming Paul, and then, I believe, he turned around and inflicted some suffering in the opposite direction.  Paul was a powerful, controlling, and scary man, in my opinion.

If the entire 'Holy Land Experience' was like the Scriptorium and the dramatization, I think I'd have been on here giving the theme park a huge 'Thumbs Up'!  However, there were many elements that were too hard to ignore and which typify what I--hmm, I'll be frank--completely despise about the common Christian movements.  Honestly, I don't even know the terms for what I'm critiquing, I guess.  There's something so very unpious and sacreligious in all the bling, in the blonde Jesuses and the sparkly crosses.  "Praise the Lord that I'm a hot thing!" type stuff that just makes me want to vomit.  

I've been wondering about this reaction that I have.  It's true that I don't think that a loving God would want us to cover up, hide our looks and be Puritanical about everything.  But to claim the opposite is just as ludicrous--even more so...  When a singer croons something about "Jesus loves me even though I smoke and spit and sleep around and drink my booze...he understands!", she's missing the point entirely.  If she had any respect whatsoever, she'd just try to clean up these offenses before invoking his name.  His love is there despite--hear that, DESPITE--our sins.  He embraces the sinner, not the sins.  OMG--listen at me!  I don't even hold to all this dogma, but I do at least have a certain respect for what is holy, I think.   My point is that it is disrespectful--a slap in God's face, so to speak--to bling up his religion, to shake sparkly butts around and cake on makeup and revel in our lusty ways while claiming with self-satisfaction about how much 'he loves me anyway' and 'I sure do love him!'.  And, I swear, it's gotten to the point where folks believe that they're right to mix their common, cheap behavior with what should be held sacred.  Agghh!   

So, whew!  I typically stay in theme parks until they shut down.  Always gettin' my money's worth, you know.  But the dichotomy between the psychotic, blingy version of the Holy Land--which blared contemporary Christian music the entire time--NOTHING that sounded remotely period of regionally appropriate, excepting this fantastic horn and chants within the Wilderness Tabernacle--and what I imagine the Holy Land to really be like was too much.  I didn't feel in the slightest like I was in the Holy Land.  Not even remotely. 

I entered 'The Jerusalem Marketplace' with high expectations.  I was hoping for booths with vendors, for street performers.  There were artificial displays and then real stores.  Nothing like the outdoor marketplace implied.  I swear, our local Farmer's Markets are much closer to the reality of the 'Jerusalem Marketplace' than that was, and I'm pretty certain about that, despite never having been there.  Like I said, it was not even alike enough to be suitable as fodder for our imaginations...

Cirque: Perfectionistic Inspiration or Too Darn Jaded?

8-10-11

Here’s another post inspired by the Cirque du Soleil visit.

As I watched the circus performers, I was struck simultaneously with two completely contrary notions. On one hand, I was slightly disillusioned by the obvious jadedness of the performers. They are almost robotic in their performance. It’s canned, perfect and clearly repetitive. They do this twice daily, year in and year out. Given the sheer quantity of performances and the negligible window for mistakes, there is really no other choice. Every performance must be perfect, 100% of the time. Audience interaction is solicited, well, just for show.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I was truly inspired by these incredible perfectionists. I kept thinking, “each of these performers is as coordinated as the single most coordinated person I’ve ever known, but he or she has honed that skill to perfection.” It was somewhat mind-boggling. Honestly, there were so many stimuli that I didn’t adequately take it all in.

As I considered the mind-blowing levels that their perfectionism has achieved, I felt inspired. See what dedication can do for those who have some innate talent? Obviously, I would never be a circus performer, but, in my case, dedication to my craft of writing would be the clear correlation. Yes, I was inspired. Those performers weren’t just lucky—it takes both innate talent and years of dedicated work to do what they do.

So, those are the two contrary notions—hence my claim that the performance was both inspiring and a bit uninspiring.

Now a word further on contrasting the uninspired elements of this incredible performance with the more inspiring performances I have in mind—despite my reservations about in any way diminishing my point about ‘visiting the best circus’ in my last post.

In Savannah, most of our live entertainment comes from local venues with local performers—generally in the form of students. No, I’m not talking about the tedious children’s performances—sweet but not generally inspiring, of course. I’m talking about performers who are dedicated to their crafts. The Savannah Arts Academy may only be a high school, but those performers have been hand-selected through a jury process from applicants throughout the county and then have worked daily to achieve their dreams, which are still their dreams. Same goes for SCAD and Armstrong college performers. When they get to the point of performing for an audience, it’s a thrill. They are incredibly receptive to the audience’s energy, and I feel extremely participatory in the whole process and get a certain satisfaction from that participation. Yes, the vibe is palpatory, and I can completely tell that my responses and energies are felt—just as, in contrast, I felt that my energy, as well as the rest of the audience’s energy, was completely beside the point for the Cirque performers--as far as that participation element goes, we may as well have been watching a film!

So, I suppose I’d say that the level of incredibly sheer perfectionism and ability wins out on the inspiration front as an occasional thing. I’m sure I’d have a similar report for a Broadway experience (which I do anticipate reporting in the next few years, at some point!). And this is perfect, by the way. However, while I do appreciate occasionally seeing these heights of perfectionism and am inspired by them on a completely intellectual level, on a daily basis I think I prefer the responsive, more human artistic ventures at a local level. That interaction and human element is the crux of what I truly love about live performances, honestly.

Enjoying Cirque du Soleil, the Ultimate Circus

8-10-11

The kids and I are in Orlando this week. We’re fortunate enough to have a flexible timeshare with units here—which turn out to be the best vacation resorts at our disposal within reasonable proximity. Williamsburg, VA has the next-best set—despite being much further away from our hometown—but somehow those units are even less available than the Orlando ones. Yes, it takes a little planning!

We’ve done Orlando’s Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios before—on those huge, no-expiration ParkHopper passes. Actually, I purchased these passes years and years ago in 2004--and we've been back, using them, in all but two of the subsequent years! I found some phenomenal deal online—and, believe me, I’ve looked more than once for a similar deal in the past year or two to no avail—and bought these passes when Fiona was under the age of 3 and could get in free! She’s nine now and using the ‘child’s’ pass that I originally bought for Alex.  Anyhow, the passes each had 7 days of those main theme parks and several ‘bonus’ park days—which, for our intents and purposes, include primarily their two water parks. We’ve just about used them up—today might be our final day, and I think I’m going to have to purchase one additional ticket today to finish up the passes (yes, we’ve gone in different groupings several times).

You know, there is one other big theme park in the Disney package that we’ve avoided. It’s the Animal Kingdom. While we find exotic wild creatures to be as fascinating as does anyone else, we hesitate to support any industry that may harm them—and I do include capture and confinement as a form of ‘harm’. Yes, I do realize I bought a multi-theme park pass whose proceeds is likely divied up without regard to which we actually choose, but I’ll only go so far to make my point—and I’m sure somewhere they’re tallying how many visits each park gets.

Now, I don’t think I’ve expended much effort on this topic on my blog—partly because I find the factory farms to be so overtly offensive and noxious—pure evil. Zoos, circuses and pet shops run the gamut in offensiveness, but are, dare I assume, never even close to as offensive as those factory farms? So, no, I don’t make a big deal about them, generally—only trying to avoid supporting any cruelty to animals that we can ‘easily’ avoid.

Despite not being a daily issue in our life, I have been confronted with making choices around this more often than I prefer. I’m definitely one of those folks who enjoys a good show, and the call of the circus and the zoo does not fall on deaf ears here. In fact, I have a hankering for traditions, as well, and the idea of children going to the zoo and circus strikes a nostalgic chord in my veins. Therefore, I felt particularly pained for several years in a row when my children’s classmates attended the travelling circus in Savannah and my children sat out. Alex and Fiona were in agreement with my reasoning, but I felt terrible that they were the only children missing the circus, time and time again.

I think I occasionally made an effort to make it up to them, but last night’s visit to see the ultimate circus, the Cirque de Soleil, was more satisfactory than I had anticipated. See, I hadn’t really been considering the above issue—not beyond thinking, “Whew, we can go, since they don’t use animals.” I knew that simply from reading animal-rights lit in the past. However, when we got to the circus last night and bought drinks and popcorn and cotton candy, I was suffused with excitement. I haven’t been to the circus since I was a little girl, and my kids had been never!

Poor Michael got to hear me excitedly recount the rundown of different acts on the phone late last night—the incredible bicyclist act and the unbelievable trampoline finale in addition to the more traditional clowns and trapeze artists, etc., etc. Those traditional elements really completed the show for me, actually. Now, when my kids hear the other kids relating, “I went to the circus…”, they’ll be able to shrug and think, “Yeah, but I’ve been to the best circus in the world!” instead of feeling like they’re missing out. Hurrah! How soothing to my ‘mama’ conscience!

Yes, the ticket price was exorbitant, and I compounded that after the show in Cirque’s gift shop. As I walked into the store, my gaze fell on a brightly colored, funky handbag that I exclaimed over. Fiona loved it, too. Totally not in my general taste, but so fun and fabulous…anyhow, as usual, I checked the materials and found, to my surprise, that the bag was not leather—so, in addition to not exploiting animals for entertainment purposes, Cirque also avoids using them for their products. Fantastic! Again, I don’t give leather too much thought beyond not wanting to support the general industry—but I love the look and feel and utility of it, in general, and have many times purchased second-hand leather items with much happiness. I’ve been sad, though, that I have a tough time finding the most desirable items in the best shops in non-leather versions. So, that I could buy this featured handbag that I’d been drawn to, guilt-free, well, was too good of an opportunity to refuse! It really wasn’t such a ridiculous price, even though it was over twice what I’ve ever paid for a purse--$79! Nope, not bad in comparison with a host of designer bags, right? Still, it took a little pep talk to myself to do it!

What a treat to be able to participate in a huge, mainstream event that we usually have to avoid. And the handbag was the icing on the cake. It was akin to what I imagine it would be like walking into a vegetarian McDonald’s! You have no idea what it was like as a veg teenager to stop with my track and swim teams post-away-games every single time and only be able to eat French fries—and, yes, I’d be just as starving as the rest of my team and for some reason never considered bringing anything else to eat. Just awful. Blessings on Burger King for now having a veggie burger! Again, my satisfaction as an adult was great at being able to take my own veg children to a fast-food restaurant and let them play on the Burger King’s mazes and such there—just one of those parts of being an American kid. However, in that case, the kids, for some unfathomable reason, didn’t like the veggie burger—so that satisfaction was somewhat abbreviated, though it still completed my American mama’s experience, at least (and healed some of that old deprivation)! In Cirque’s case, though, the kids loved every minute of it!

I suppose, you know, that it’s one thing to make a choice myself. I chose to be a vegetarian and thus chose to forego certain traditional choices on principle. I made that choice myself, and I sacrificed according to my beliefs. It’s a little different feeling, though, with my kids. While they are in complete agreement thus far, thankfully, on the principles of being vegetarian, I still strongly wish to minimize their sense of sacrifice—as much as possible. I suspect part of that may be out of fear that the alternative—to turn their backs on animal welfare—may look too attractive, for the most selfish, obvious, pleasure-seeking reasons, of course. So, again, yes—it was a fantastic relief to be able to participate in enjoying the most ultimate circus last night with them!

The Harry Potter Saga

We finally saw the final Harry Potter movie last night, after investing several nights over the last month in watching the preceding seven movies of the saga.  It's been semi-satisfying.  I adore the story and have grown to identify the actors as personifications of their characters.  It's difficult to imagine anyone but Daniel Racliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint as Harry, Hermione, and Ron, isn't it?  Even Alan Rickman, a poor casting choice in my opinion, is forever Severus Snape.  Yes, I've gotten used to it over the years!

However, as is often true, I have come to my blog to vent!  I believe I've become so attached and invested in the Harry Potter world that I feel offended when they don't get things quite right.  Or, let's be honest--when they totally botch it up.  "Bloody hell!" as Ron would say.

I cannot believe, with the sheer number of folks involved in making the movie, that they don't have better end-stage review.  The digital artists completely missed the boat.  Oh my goodness...that scene where Voldemort kills Snape?  His nose is nothing but a haze!  They remembered to block the real nose of the actor, but then they didn't finish the digital one!  Now, we did see it in 3D, so I pray that wasn't true for the 2D movie, or at least that they correct it for the DVD release--in which it won't be as noticeable.

What an extreme and most obvious, glaring mistake.  Unbelievable. 

But to me, that most obvious mistake was less chafing, less insulting than their casting of Lily Potter as a girl.  One of the phrases we heard most often throughout the series was, "You have your mother's eyes."  Right?  Right?  Those were the words on Snapes' lips as he lay dying, for heaven's sakes!  So, of course, moments later we're transported into the past via the pensieve and meet Lily as a girl.  Lily with small, brown eyes and wavy Weasely-red hair.  Never mind Mama Potter's big blue eyes and something closer to strawberry-blonde straight hair, of course.  And, most importantly, never mind that Harry Potter has big, blue eyes, too!  How could they?  I think the book specifies green eyes, actually, but I had no trouble getting past that.  It was just such an insult to the audience's intelligence, to the consistency of the story line, for them to ignore the most-discussed identifying feature in the whole story line.  I pray that it was a more unintentional mistake, that the girl was cast with an expectation of having her eyes digitally altered to be blue, minimally.

Whew!  Those were the two most glaring and apparent mistakes, from my perspective.  I don't think the other family members noticed the eye color problem, to my astonishment.  In fact, Michael said, "I thought Harry's eyes were brown..."  That had to be a joke, right?

However, Michael was thrown by the fact that Harry apparently decided to shed his robe while Snape fled Hogwarts' hall in that dramatic black whirlwind through the large windows.  Yes, apparently he realized that he was a bit warm at that very moment.  Disrobing must be easier for wizards, eh?  One moment the robe is on, the next it's off--cast on the floor behind Harry (a later digital addition, to remedy the discrepancy in clothing?).

Whew...after those most annoying mistakes, there are smaller things I can still nitpick, of course.  Just stuff that would have been nice to see a little better, but still subject to personal opinion and preference differences, as opposed to the above mistakes.  Ron and Harry as parents were "brilliant!" of course.  I loved the age progressions.  They looked fabulously middle-aged (if that's what we are!).  Hermione could have used a few more lines around the eyes, maybe, but Ginny still had a babyface.  Not sure why the gals weren't anywhere near as convincing as the guys.  Just a little disappointing, but no biggie. 

On the other hand, Lily Potter, in the recreation of her death scene, looked to be in her 50's--as did Snape, for that matter.  Come on!  They were supposed to be young!  Couldn't the digital artists have corrected that problem?  And, you know, I thought that Harry's parents looked a bit old from the get-go.  The memory shots shouldn't have been age-progressed to parents suitable for Harry's current age.  His folks should have looked like they would have when he was just a baby.  Ridiculous.

Yes, I'm invested.  How awful that I just critique and criticize, when I love the movies so much!  And the books, and J.K. Rowling!  You just want them to be perfect, you know? 

Rowling's depth as a writer truly humbles me.  The mass of subtle mythological references and word plays extends past what I'll ever realize.  However, she had inconsistencies through the course of her writing.  It seems as though I did recognize some of those in reading the series, and I read an interview with Rowling where she said, to my tickled surprise, that devoted fans will remind her of the earlier discrepancies, and she'll have completely forgotten.  "Oh really?" was her clueless response to their detailed explanations, as she truly had forgotten those earlier elements of the story!  How very funny it is that the fans know it better than the author!

You know, Rowling claims that the story came to her all at once, sort of, while she was at King's Cross station.  She didn't know where it came from and felt almost as though she were channeling the story.  I feel a little that way about the stories I've written, as well--though elements brewed for a long time in the back of my mind from speculation and contemplation about real events and mysteries in my own genealogy (not that I adhered to history in the telling, however).  But, anyhow, the correlation is that we don't exactly feel as though we're making it all up--almost that we're channeling from somewhere else and don't know where it all comes from.  Sounds like nighttime dreams, doesn't it?  It rather is.

Cornelia Funke in her 'Inkheart' series creates a most relishing scenario, in which an author's writing literally creates another universe.  That is, it seemed to.  Or was it that the author picked up on the existence of the other universe?  The story becomes really powerful when the author himself gets sucked into the world.  Issues of perspective really became powerful then.  He regarded himself as godlike for creating the whole place, but the characters didn't generally have the same respect for him, and he became subject to their wrath.  Yes, this is chocolate for an author's imagination! 

Anyhow, Rowling's Harry Potter universe has become so powerfully real that countless folks have become truly invested in the stories and have imbued them with such psychically-laden force that we almost regard them as real.  And, in a sense, they almost seem to be.  What's more real to us--Harry Potter or the tens of thousands of victims that are currently dying from the drought in the horn of Africa?  Tens of thousands of nameless victims, or a handful of imaginary folks?  Whew...

My church friend Margaret suggested that Harry Potter has become a sort of religion, and I laughed at the analogy, at first.  Upon further scrutiny, though, I'm not laughing quite so much.  It's actually quite intimidating to consider the potential that certain stories carry--including the ramifications of many real, existing religions, which are comprised of stories, truly.  Exclude your own, if you must, but consider all the others--which have generated wars as well as inspiring great deeds and societies.  Pretty amazing, powerful stuff, stories can be...

Music Theory Drill and Sewing and Math and all manner of subjects!

Summer is racing towards its end, here in our household.  School starts back in a mere two and a half weeks, and there's still so much to do!

This week marks a special, planned time that Fiona and I have been talking about since before the school year ended.  I promised to sew with her--and we have been this week, to my great relief!  Yes, I get a little worked up over meeting expectations.  Poor thing is tuckered out, though. 

I actually gave her a small, inexpensive sewing machine that I bought years ago and found to be too light-duty to really work well for me--though I didn't realize that jeans were considered pretty heavy duty material.  Anyhow, it occurred to me that the lightweight fabrics involved in making dresses for her dolls would probably work well for the machine, and we pulled it out tonight.  In retrospect, I wish I'd waited a bit for that, as she already was excited about so many things and it was almost just added confusion for her...  She worked on a fashion doll-sized mannequin today to design and hand-sew a doll dress.  The machine is complicated and she was already having plenty of fun...  Oh well, hindsight is so clear...

Thus far, we've mended and altered a few things, in addition to making that doll dress.  Michael very cleverly brought an eye pillow with quite ornate Chinese designs and, with a few snips of the scissors, fashioned a cheepo (sp?), one of those Chinese silky dresses, for a Barbie!  It was quite funny, but Fiona thought it was brilliant!  It was a great idea, actually.

Somehow, I've created a situation, however, in that it takes us forever to get to the sewing.  I'm not sure if it's because I've planned too many other things, if it's because we're a household of ADD (nope, not hyper)-inflicted birdbrains, or if it's simply because I haven't established a set routine.  Maybe all three, given that the ADD thought covers pretty much everything else that consumes our time!

Perhaps I do expect too much....  My most ambitious summer learning goal for the kids is actually in realm of music theory.  See, the school year is so very busy and exhausting that, beyond basic piano practice, I don't feel like I can require too much more of the kids in the realm of extra academics.  Therefore, summer is generally my turn to 'school' the kids a bit.  This summer, I chose to focus on Music Theory in the form of supplemental workbooks that are part of their John Thompson's Piano Course.

Okay, time to digress, as we've arrived at one of my particularly favorite topics--one that I may have already bent your ears about?  Anyhow, I'll do it again!  John Thompson was a genius.  That is--a genius at putting together this piano course, at least.  I've learned from various courses in different instruments over the years, and nothing comes close to comparing with Thompson's method.  He manages to choose the most beautiful music for nearly every lesson.  Other courses, I swear, seem to have the attitude that this is all sheer tedium--just rough training for the day when you'll hopefully be able to play something pretty.  Thompson, however, always treats the students to something that will be a treat to listen to, no matter the difficulty.  It must be no small feat, given the number of dull, uninspired courses out there.  You know, I find it sad that so many other courses are so popular, as I've always been sorry to waste my time in looking at them.  Thompson's method has been out since the 1930's.  I suppose longevity alone attests to the method's greatness, right?  You know, I guess the other criticism is that the method moves too quickly.  It does require a lot of practice and quick progression, but, you know, since I'm teaching the kids, they go at their own pace.  Both are still only in Grade #2 book, despite having played for several years... No, that doesn't sound very impressive, but I'm completely tickled that they both sound quite pleasant to listen to as they practice.  I've posted Fiona playing Change by Carrie Underwood--no, not part of the method :)--so you can see that they've learned quite a lot, despite the low grade level.  There are only 5 grades, actually, and I personally barely got into the grade 4 book, oh-so-many years ago.  Not that I was all that great--really.  I've only ever wished to play piano well.  I like to think that I can make pretty music, and I have some lovely 'easy' piano music, but I am quite comfortable teaching the kids.  In fact, I find that some of the best teachers are those who don't have fathomless skills, but who understand the difficulties and complexities that beginners have.  I have a pretty solid foundation in basic music theory, so I see myself sort of like the chubby, out-of-shape track coach--someone who can teach far above their own skill level!  The kids haven't quite surpassed me yet, but I'm eagerly anticipating that day, which is on the horizon.  At some point, I suspect I'll suddenly realize that they would benefit from a more advanced teacher.  Another year or two after that, I'll finally take that step!  Maybe!  But for now, it's far more economical and comfortable for our schedules for me to teach them.

This is interesting and affirming--in taking a quick detour from blogging, I 'searched' for info about John Thompson's Modern Course for the Piano.  I've been baffled that more isn't posted online about it, but I did find a site that ranked piano methods in order of popularity, and this course was,  in fact, the most popular.  Gratifying to see!  Of course, come to think of it, perhaps they're referring to total sales since the 1930's! :)

Hmm...amazing how tangents can blossom, isn't it?  Let's see...I think I was trying to say that this summer is the Theory Drill Book focus.  There are 3 workbooks for them to get through, each.  They seem relatively simple, so I've asked each of them to do about 4 pages per day (that's only 2 sheets, front and back).  Now, you'd think that I'd asked them to write a term paper every day, given the amount of time and hemming and hawing and all such that goes on.  And, you know, they keep me engaged the entire time that they're working on it, in general.  It's purely exhausting at times.  However, it is satisfying to see their progress. 

Alex is approaching the end of the third workbook, which I've promised is the final workbook for the summer (except when I'm irritated and threatening to order more!).  He's transposing music into different keys and writing it in different octaves and, you know, I don't think he even realizes how awesome it is that he can do those things.  His sight-reading seems to have improved considerably over the summer, and I suspect it's in no small part due to these activities.  

Fiona, on the other hand, is only about half-way done, and I'm not sure if we'll finish this summer.  That's alright, though.  She is three grades behind Alex.

You might suspect a bigger motive behind the theory lessons, and you'd be right.  Not that I'm right, I'll say right off.  I seem to operate under massive misconceptions throughout much of my life, but that's the only way I know how to proceed.  Would that I could see my way clearly!  However, that aside, a prime motivating factor is my hope that Alex might attend Savannah Arts Academy in the piano department.  Now, it will certainly be his choice, and although he expressed a strong interest in that path a few months ago, he's been again inclined towards the film department and communications (i.e., computers) in recent chats.  So, anyhow, I've reviewed the requirements for application and find that he's expected to know and understand a certain amount of theory--minimally the key signatures and scales for the music he's playing, as well as other scales.  Yes, standard piano requirements which I've always sorely neglected, for myself included.  So, given my reluctance to seek and pay for outside lessons (in which I can't know for sure he's getting the essentials, either), I've committed us to this summer of theory focus.  Next summer involves a more in-depth look at scales and chords, as well, to Alex's most certain delight (yes, that's irony).  

You may wonder whether it's worth it to spend the time on all this music theory, especially with Alex's somewhat lackluster attitude.  I do, too.  However, I'm a big believer in progress.  There is no point in spinning in circles.  If we're going to continue the piano lessons--and Alex is certainly a joy to listen to at times--then the point is to progress.  These theory lessons are key to that progress.  

Hmm, I'm afraid I've painted a rather grim picture, but here's where I remind you of the ADD reference.  Alex watched TV, piddled in the kitchen (making a lovely mess for me), played outside for quite some time, and all such before finishing his workbook today.  It was a big day for the piano, as he began a new song, which is always difficult.  Despite the time he'd already spent outside, he was eager to get back out there, and he did shoddy work in his workbook, requiring do-overs and resulting in lectures from me.  By the time we were done, the poor boy was quivering with frustration and could barely stand the sight of me!  He even called me Dolores Umbridge (if you're familiar with the Harry Potter books or movies, you'll understand the severity of that insult!).  You know, I totally get where he's coming from.  I could understand his feelings, and I suggested that maybe, given that he could barely stand me, that he might want to spend the night at his Grammy's.  He jumped at the chance, and I took him over there to his loving Grammy's home--where she promised not to make him do anything at all!   

You know, despite all this, I'll just say that Alex and I get along really well, in general.  He was frustrated today, and I think a break may have been in order, but the real, underlying energy was still loving and supportive--and it was all done in a half-joking way.  He vocalized his protest, but he totally hugged me and was really just fine.  You know, he had a really hard time in the early days of playing the piano, too.  If I let him quit at every little frustration, well, I'm not sure what he'd really stick with beyond the easiest, simplest activities!  I believe it's that he's a perfectionist at heart, and he really dislikes not being able to achieve 'perfect' with the greatest of ease.  It's hard on his ego.

Hmm...which reminds me of that article I read some time back about how we need to praise effort, not success.  Good reminder!  I am certainly wishing to make things smoother and more enjoyable for my wonderful little fella!

As for little Miss Fiona, well, she doesn't seem to be plagued by the self-defeating perfectionist bug that gets her poor big brother.  She has boundless enthusiasm for all sorts of things, and she tackles them all with great confidence in her abilities!  She really does amaze me!

So, Fiona has decided to learn French with me.  What sold her on the idea was the suggestion that we could learn to speak a language that the boys couldn't understand.  It'd be our own little secret language!  We'll see if anything comes of it...we've only been at it a couple of days, and the one phrase that she consistently remembers is, "Je ne compre pas l'Francais"--"I don't understand French."  (Forgive the spelling--it's a conversational French course on CD's only!)  Quite funny!  It's her response to everything!

When Alex came into the kitchen and I greeted him with, "Bonjour!  Comot allez vous?" (sp!)--"Hello!  How are you?"--he asked what that meant.  Before I could respond, Fiona burst out with, "Don't tell him!"  How very funny is that?

So, my little girl completed her piano practice, her four music theory workbook pages, 20 minutes of her Mathshark, her doll dress and sewing camp for today, and an hour of dedicated French practice today!  What a long day we've had...

My sis has recently decided to homeschool, and I have mixed feelings about all that.  I adore my alone time.  I love to write, and I'm always glad when the kids learn really fantastic stuff from other people.  However, I also like to see the progress that we make when I work with them directly.  I swear, it does seem like so much of their time gets wasted.  Alex has been spinning his wheels in math forever--it's a darn shame.  I like it that we don't while away their time and waste it with repetitive, pointless, redundant, overly-simplistic work.  So, yep, I've had that homeschooling bug always, and, frankly, this is how I express it.  I take the opportunities to supplement, and I do accept some compromises.  Maybe if I'd thought about it a little harder, or I'd known how things were going to turn out, I wouldn't have--but it's not too bad.  I've explained to every single one of Alex's Montessori teachers about his incredible mathematical potential and abilities, and I've been incredibly disappointed time and again that they haven't really addressed it (though Montessori is supposed to be about meeting each child's potential).  Some have tried a bit, but he's basically breezed by with nary a challenge in that realm, and I'm sad to say he's not met any truly advanced mathematical concepts as of this point.  My fault, that.  I mean, really--he was up to pre-algebra at age four and is approximately that level now.  A darn shame.  That said, I've offered to work with him, and he's turned down the idea.  Just as, when he expressed that he was looking forward to his daily Spanish class this fall, I offered to get him the Pimsleur Conversational Spanish CDs and he deftly and unhesitatingly refused.  Mr. Alex has learned the hard way that he must protect his free time with an iron hand!

So, in contrast to Fiona's litany of activities today, Alex only had piano practice and music theory workbook--both mandated by me with no option to decline.  See?  It's a balance!  I don't cram his schedule full to the brim, but I do expect some things from him. 

Fiona's Mathshark work, by the way, has simply to do with the fact that she's a slow, methodical worker.  Her only real issue thus far at school has been in completing her work plans, and I'm hoping that this time spent on her multiplication tables will help make her work more manageable this fall--and she was excruciatingly slow at her math (which affects those timed aptitude tests as well).  So, while I was terribly reluctant to impress any of those basic subjects on her during the summer, I felt this was worthwhile, if it can help her school year be more manageable.  I do regret the need, though.

No, this hasn't been our whole summer.  Camps and trips to South Carolina and all such have peppered our summer so that we haven't spent any consistent amount of time at home.  Next week?  The kids and I will be in Orlando for water parks and Cirque du Soleil and such!  Michael will hold down the fort here--much to his relief (as he hates crowds and theme parks)!  

You know, the school year is just as relentlessly crazy and varied.  Once it starts, there's no stopping it.  Holidays and activities and all just roll on, one by one--so fast I can hardly catch my breath (much less write a book) in between!