Hairdressers

Given my recent blog about 'service folks', I thought I'd mention something that illustrates my avoidance of such.  It's not just avoidance of them for money's sake, truly!  I see going to them as a hassle, as time-wasting, etc., if I can just take care of things myself!  It's certainly not because I have control issues, either, right? ;)

Anyhow, I've been cutting my family's hair forever, but my own hair has typically been taken care of by a professional, though I'd taken to putting on the coloring myself, generally, when my long-standing hairdresser moved away (and we'd been operating on a barter system!).  Anyhow, this week marked an advent, though.  For the first time, I had Fiona cut my hair!  She was very nervous, but I assured her that if she messed up it would grow out again, and I could always get it fixed at a salon.  Well...I think she did a pretty great job!  After she finished, I cut her hair, too, of course.  I'll have to get a pic to add to this blog, I guess!  So, I'm tickled to be able to avoid yet another service person.  Michael takes care of virtually all home and car maintenance, and I do what I can...now Fiona's in on it--and she's excited about it.  You know, a lot of these projects are actually fun when they're only occasional chores!  And there's a bit of satisfaction in our work and pride in our artistry that comes from projects like home remodeling and haircutting!

Another fringe benefit is that mistakes don't gnaw at you like they do when others make them--somehow, I can deal with my own incompetence better than I can deal with a paid professional's!  All that said, though, I am incredibly grateful that there are service folks out there--I have NO plans to reshingle the roof myself, spray for termites, etc.!

Nerd Story, Please

Just thought I'd relate a humorous tidbit from this morning...  I've been listening to the 'Intellectual Devotionals' by Kidder & Oppenheim lately, and I had them playing this morning while the kids ate breakfast. 

Now, we're big fans of stories on audio CDs.  We often listen to children's literature while taking trips in the car, and even while cleaning at the house and such.  Anyhow, when I pause the story in the car (which I do frequently), the kids will generally chime, "Story, please!" in unison if I don't resume the CD in a timely fashion. 

So, this morning, I'd paused the CD, which was in the midst of discussing some sort of historic peace treaty (no, I can't remember the name of it!), and was pleasantly surprised by Alex's eventual, "Nerd story, please!"  He's a funny little fellow, isn't he? 

Etiquette Schmetiquette

Alors!  I have been studying French with an eye to the language only, but culture seeps in through the dialogue, of course.  Unfortunately, I have the continually disconcerting reaction to the dialogue, in which actions are continually perceived as rude which seem just fine and normal to me!  It's a very uncomfortable feeling, and, Zut!, I just don't like squirming in my seat like that!  It's probably a good education for me, though, I suppose...and I wonder about whether the etiquette pertains more to class distinctions than to foreign culture.  I suppose the argument can be made that different classes are rather a foreign culture, eh?  Whew...  Perhaps it doesn't happen all that often, actually.  I do tend to be a wee bit sensitive, right?  Today's issue had to do with a girl's mother getting stranded while out doing errands when her car breaks down.  Her call for help was seen as an imposition, which bothered me--having been in that situation before.  The perception seemed to be 'get a taxi, lady!'  Yes, I know it puts folks out to get those calls, but isn't that what family's for?  However, I suppose perhaps a slightly more affluent class sees hired help as a part of life. 

In my course of study, there's also simply the constant chat with concierges and a huge variety of service folks, which is simply not part of my own life very often--and I'm rather stricken with the feeling, 'I can't afford to learn French!'  Of course, maybe those feelings will quell if I ever do visit France, as of course I'll have to deal with those 'service' folks continually.  As it is, though, I rather freak whenever a valet is involved in any event.  I don't know what to do here, in America, when speaking English!!!  I'll be a lost puppy in France and utterly dumbfounded, whether or not I know the words!

'We' employed Handel

Correlations are so fun!  I just found out that Handel (you know, the Christmastime Messiah music...) was employed as court composer by George I--supposedly my ancestor.  I'm embarrassed to say that I'm not totally clear on all the distinctions between country names and titles.  The Hanoverian heir to the English throne would be correct, I suppose, when he was still in, um, Germany?  Was it Germany then?  Anyhow, neat story...Handel talked the future George I into allowing him to travel to London, in preparation for their time in England.  Once Handel got there, he didn't want to go home.  Apparently, Handel was quite the sociable, cosmopolitan fella.  When George I finally inherited the throne and came to England, Handel was so worried about the fallout from his extended stay in London that he composed the Water Music Suite to appease him.  Not only did it appease him, but George I doubled his salary!
Hmm...curious there, isn't it, that George I is heir, sends his lackey to England, then soon inherits the throne and subsequently DOUBLES the lackey's salary?  Hmm!  Alternate plot screaming out there! :)

Mark Twain Quotes

"She is easily and by far the most extraordinary person the human race has ever produced."--Mark Twain regarding "Saint Joan of Arc"

"Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die, even the undertaker will be sorry."--Mark Twain

"The introduction of homeopathy forced the old school doctor to stir around and learn something of a rational nature about his business. You may honestly feel grateful that homeopathy survived the attempts of allopaths (the orthodox physicians) to destroy it." -Mark Twain

Within the past week, I have been deluged with random, unsolicited quotes by the 'father of American literature', Mark Twain.  I have always found him to be delightful, and I mention him in my first novel with respect to his anti-Imperialist stance.  Well...I suppose that it isn't true that I've 'always' found him delightful.  I had a bit of trouble getting through his Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court the first try, but, a few years later, I loved it.  Not sure what the issue was...

The 'endeavor to live' quote was happened across in an e-mail, and the homeopathy quote in the flap of a family homeopathy guide.  The homeopathy quote was of particular interest, since I'd also mentioned homeopathy in Silk. 

Anyhow, I suppose I've just had my curiosity about the progressive fellow kindled.  I didn't realize just how progressive he was and had known him primarily as a humorous author of Tom Sawyer/Huck Finn note.  A recent perusal of the wiki article about him revealed a couple of random but fascinating facts about him, which I'll mention here.  One--he was neighbor to Harriet Beecher Stowe (author of the compelling novel Uncle Tom's Cabin and termed by Lincoln as the 'little lady who started this great big war').  Two--he was born as Halley's Comet passed through the sky and died the day after it passed again, as he'd predicted the year before!

Of most recent note in my random exposures to Twain is a small biographical blurb that I listened to last night about Joan of Arc. I was surprised to hear that Mark Twain spent 12 years researching her life--the only 'research' he ever did for his books. He considered his novel about her to be the best he'd written, but I do have reservations about that, as the novel is purportedly more mature and devoid of humor...Mark Twain's writing devoid of humor? Not an appealing thought. I may give it a shot, though, as he's intrigued me with his passionate praise of the young woman!

[Moments later]

Ohh...I see...  Well, perhaps the novel about Joan of Arc is his best work, but perhaps personal issues color this matter.  Upon a bit more perusal, it seems that Twain was stricken with grief at the death of his most beloved daughter, Susy, who had wished for him to present himself as a serious author and not just a 'funny man'.  It seems that he wrote Joan of Arc whilst mourning extensively for his daughter, who he largely modeled after his memories of his daughter.  So, perhaps this explains the passionate fervor he felt for the French heroine, as he likely projected those feelings about his daughter onto her. 

How sad, hmm? 

Oh well, perhaps I'll give his 'greatest work' (as he saw it) a go sometime, but not today.  I'll let you know if Twain continues his constant random surfacing in my life! 

 

P.S.  On a very loosely related note, I find it interesting that Michael has been called 'Mark' repeatedly and consistently by folks since I've known him.  Very strange.  At one point in Washington I'm pretty sure more folks were calling him Mark than Michael!  I've asked other 'Mike' and 'Michael' fellows about this phenomenon, and they deny it happening to them.  Anyhow, with my fascination regarding former lives, you know where my mind takes me...

Regarding that general topic of misnomers, a church acquaintance called to me today, "Hey, Sophia!"  I was surprised and waited for her to mention my books, but she had a question about the kids.  To my knowledge, she doesn't know about my writing at all...  Curious, isn't it?  Maybe she's heard through the grapevine, I suppose.  No, that doesn't happen often.  In fact, I haven't been 'accidentally' called that name, ever, really, though Sonya is supposed to be a derivation of Sophia (hence the choice for my pen name).  I'd say that the names I've most often been mistakenly called are Sondra (ugh, I get shudders with that one, for some reason!) and Sarah (a sweet name, isn't it?  Fiona uses it quite often as her character name in games). 

A Transient Blessing

I am trying to relegate myself to the idea that our new UU minister will only be with us for one year.  Reverend Amy Kindred is only an interim minister for us, but I'm ecstatic to have her with us for any length of time.  I liked our last interim minister fairly well--quite well, as a matter of fact, but Rev. Kindred has given three sermons to my raptly listening ears thus far, and I've adored them all.  In the first, she referred to paranormal phenomena; in the second, she discussed poetry; and, finally, in yesterday's sermon, she discussed us congregants through the metaphor of fish and seaweed.  I'm dazzled! 
Again, I will put out my hope here--that the Ministerial Search committee will realize what a treasure she is and that we will get to sign her on as our full-time, permanent minister!  Oops...I forgot my resolution to try to fully appreciate her for the time that she is with us--for that is significant, too, regardless of long-term developments, right?  Me and my end-product mindset--sheesh!  That was actually supposed to be the point of this blog--how even just a year of sermons can be a significant, meaningful factor in my life.  Everything doesn't have to be permanent!  (Yes, I'm preaching to myself now, but I probably won't listen and will just obsess about the endpoint!  It's very hard to sway my stubborn mind, once it fixates on something!)

My Time and My Lady

Good morning!  It's Monday morning on the fourth week of school for the kids.  You know, I say that not as a focus on the kids, but as a way of metering my own time, for the school year truly does dictate my own schedule, of course.  So, when I say "fourth week" here, what I actually mean is that I've had three weeks for 'getting stuff done'.  It would be a little too complicated to weigh in other predictable complicators--like holidays and birthdays and such--so I do just look at the school year as my own structured schedule, knowing that holiday seasons will be more difficult for my project completions.

What have I accomplished thus far?  Well, my big objectives--that third novel and my skinnyfying diet--have been sidelined in the rudest manner.  I have snubbed them unpardonably.  All that hard work on my diet, and guess what I've done?  Yep, I've gone junk-food-crazed.  I am at an all-time low.  I was rather reveling in it, but I think I've started to freak myself out a little.  If only for myself, I'll feel better if I get a grip and eschew those dastardly delights!  At least to a certain extent...once I finish them up, of course...

My poor, poor novel probably thinks I don't love her anymore.  I haven't so much as caught myself up on where I was at the end of last school year.  But I will, right?  Maybe...

Again, what have I been up to?  Certainly not focusing on the kids!  Nope, my objective this school year is less-than-exemplary-parentwise.  My objective has been to take on as little responsibility as possible so that I can focus on other stuff.  The kids had my summer, and now it's time for my projects, right?

Except, you know, as much as I wanted to avoid responsibility, I got sucked into taking on a big new responsibility.  I suppose you might say I 'chose' the new responsibility, but I did feel that it 'chose' me, rather. 

Alright, I'll explain a bit.  A beautiful, gentle, sweetheart of a cat found us in Greeleyville.  Now, alone, I'd have spoken briefly to her, maybe petted her a tad, and then forgotten her.  However, my soft-hearted hubby and son took the notion to buy her milk and start trying to feed her a little (quite a humorous endeavor, given our vegetarian offerings to the carnivore!).  Of course, given my end-product consciousness, I was stricken with a feeling of responsibility at this behavior.  If we feed her, then she'll be more likely to reproduce, and we'll have exacerbated the stray cat population and caused MORE hunger and suffering, not less.  "But she's so sweet and gentle!" they say.  Hmmm...well, yes, she is. 

Okay, now to a fundamental truth that pertains to me.  It's my hard-core bottom line reality that reveals me for the innately selfish creature that I am.  There's always a 'what's in it for me' element to me bestowing actual energy and work in a relationship.  Sure, I may try to avoid inflicting harm out of respect for other creatures--and, again, there's probably a bit of a tit-for-tat mentality there...certainly an "I wouldn't want them to eat me!" thought process--but for me to expend my time and energy and love on someone...well, I'll just say that I'm far more satisfied when I see a return on my investment.  Not that I won't live up to my responsibilities--but, for example, I love our chickens far more than our bunnies.  I know this is because they give us eggs while the rabbits are nothing but a hassle.  Sure, they're cute, but I can do without.

What in the world does that have to do with My Lady Thumbelina?  Oh, that's our cat's name.  Yes, she's 'our' cat now.  I can't actually believe that, you know.  I never, ever thought we'd have a cat as a pet.  Anyhow, it has to do with a problem that popped up at precisely the point that sweet, blue-eyed My Lady showed up.  Rats--or mice, perhaps--showed up in our home.  That is, my grandparent's old home.  Eerie, almost, the coincidence--but surely My Lady didn't bring them with her?  That would be good scheming, right?  :)  No, surely she tracked them there. 

For the icing on my causality cake, I entered an arena of great personal susceptibility at the same time.  I began a new story by my newest favorite author, Shannon Hale.  I've only been exposed to her stuff for the past year or so, but she has blown me away with her simultaneous intensity and groundedness, mixed with total fantasy mentality.  It's a heady mixture, to be sure.  I adore Hale and most of her books (actually, I have an issue with her latest works, but only because I don't think they foster her talent so well--that's another conversation, however), and I finally listened to one of her earlier works, Book of a Thousand Days.  Hale's heroine adopts a new cat, with whom she is completely in love.  She calls him My Lord.  Hale's gift of conveying the feelings of her heroines really grabs me, so you can see how that feeling, combined with my sense of responsibility about us 'feeding' the cat, plus the new evidence of rats or mice (and, yes, My Lord does rid the heroine of an extreme pest problem while he's around), led to our adoption of My Lady Thumbelina. 

We did this despite our allergies (extreme, in Alex's case, and possibly a deal-ender) and our vegetarian stance.  Yes, I did succumb to reality and purchase cat food for her, but I was semi-comforted to find one which features mostly vegetable sources and only animal byproducts, really.  Probably not My Lady's favorite choice, if she had one, but she seems quite glad to eat the food. 

The rodent issue, combined with Hale's very clear message about My Lady's role in that, has us in uncharted territory with our new cat.  Upon deciding to adopt her, I promptly scheduled her spaying surgery and am so glad we took her in to the vet, as she also had ear mites and intestinal worms.  Poor baby!  I've applied the ear mite medicine and have waited until today for the worm pill, as it makes them quite sick and she's already been terribly out of sorts from the surgery.  Hopefully she'll be back on track soon and we'll get this all figured out.

So, aside from My Lady, my time has been taken up with remodeling my grandparents' home (the one we 'inherited' in SC) a bit and studying French.  Now, again, I can relate these endeavors directly to a favorite author.  Actually, even My Lady plays a role, for Lloyd Alexander adored cats.  Lloyd Alexander, like my grandparents, has recently passed away, and his wife was French.  In fact, he was a French translator in WWII, stationed in Paris for a time.  In one of my all-time favorite books, Janine is French, he describes life with his French wife, who actively remodeled the old home that they bought near Philadelphia.  He has several books featuring cats, as this one does, as well.  Anyhow, just thought I'd point that out!

I'm not sure how much I've gone on about the French language in my blog, but I've sort of determined that it's a step on that author journey, actually.  It seems like most of the authors that I'm familiar with know French.  I could go on and list them all and their association with the language, but suffice it to say that I have come to regard it as part of the package in becoming a 'real' author.  So, my French study is somehow correlated with progressing on my writing, even if I'm not actively writing in the moment.  I've been studying pretty devotedly, much as my writing generally overtakes my schedule when I'm committed to it.

So, that's pretty much it.  I am excited about the improvements in my grandparents' old home, but it was a little stressful to be given pressure regarding it.  We were gifted with a bedroom suit from Michael's mother for Alex's room, which required that I get the room ready much more quickly than I'd anticipated.  That situation, actually, was what pushed me into the focus on French rather than writing again, as I don't feel the pressure with French that I do about my word counts.  If I'm writing, THAT has to be the focus--not a remodel or anything else, really, though they can play a side role.

Michael's been a saint regarding allowing me time for all that--taking on kids and regular home maintenance while I focus on all that--and here I haven't even begun working on my novel again.  I hope he can stay patient with me!  And, again, the kids are in a fabulous situation with a school that I am so grateful to have and their daddy's office so close by and all...I am lucky to have this time to write and remodel and study.  Hopefully I'll put it to good use!  Oh, actually, I wish I'd taken before and after shots of my writing parlour and Alex's room.  It would have been nice to have the evidence in my favor, eh? :)  Maybe I'll still take pics when we're fully done--absolutely nothing is complete at this point, but soon, soon...