Tuesday, January 31, 2006
You won't believe this...
Today something reminded me of Chad's story of long ago, about that girl who didn't know what "quarter to 8" meant. I told my students with great glee, and was joking about telling Chad that my students were way smarter than his. All the guys were laughing and stuff when the blond girl in my class raised her hand. "I have a confession to make." SURE ENOUGH. She didn't know what it meant either, and admitted that she'd always been confused by that quarter to business. What are the odds?!?! The boys laughed much harder then, and I was hard pressed to back-track about all those non-smart student comments I'd been making. I babbled on and on about how these things sometimes escape us, and how exciting it was to have a learning moment, and how there are many different kinds of smart (oy vay, did I really use that one?). It made for an exciting start to a good day. Phew. I'd better watch out what kind of adjectives I preface my stories with from now on! One never knows. Oh, and I explained that quarter to 8 meant 7:45, as in a quarter of the clock (15 minutes) before whatever time was specified.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Student Writing
I recently completed a mystery unit with my 7th and 8th graders, and then assigned them to write their own mysteries. The results were original, entertaining, gruesome, and funny - quite the combination. Here are some excerpts:
The first is a story about people who get trapped on a cruise ship with a murderer. Here is the advertisement for the cruise ship: "You will be amazed at the food, service, pool, movie theatre, game room, and 24/7 hot chocolate access."
The second story had more exclamation points than, um, I can't even think of a simile since nothing else I can think of even comes close. For example: "All I know is the last name is Mr. McCarthy!" "Go on, please!" "Well, my sisters and brothers were invited too!" "Very interesting!" "I am sorry, but I forgot to get your name!"..."Now please go on with the story!" Etc.
At the end of the above story, the detective catches the criminal (who turns out to be the maid) as she is about to kill his client. He confronts her and she confesses. Then the story takes a surprising twist: "'You are under arrest for murder,' said the detective. 'You either will spend your whole life in jail or die now!' 'I will die now," she answered. So the detective shot her and she died! He then told the girls to pack up and go home!"
Yikes! Nothing like taking justice into your own hands! I jotted down a bit about American criminal law in the margin, but hastened to assure her that it was indeed dramatic. And to think she is one of my quietest, sweetest students! You just never know.
The last story was a 14 page masterpiece, which included this gem of a fight scene: "With that he dodged to the side and with one swipe knocked the gun out of Tim's hand. The gun skidded across the floor and fell into a hole and sank to the bottom of a fifty-foot deep pool used to test underwater equipment. There were a lot of punches, kicks, jabs, and martial arts between the two men. Then Bill sprang up and grabbed an emergency axe from the wall." I will spare you the further details. Suffice it to say that Bill, the good guy, won out in the end.
Phew. Now to move on to our historical fiction unit! Much safer. Of course, we are about to start "The Tale of Two Cities" which has its own kind of gruesome-ness. But somehow Dickens can manage it with dignity.
The first is a story about people who get trapped on a cruise ship with a murderer. Here is the advertisement for the cruise ship: "You will be amazed at the food, service, pool, movie theatre, game room, and 24/7 hot chocolate access."
The second story had more exclamation points than, um, I can't even think of a simile since nothing else I can think of even comes close. For example: "All I know is the last name is Mr. McCarthy!" "Go on, please!" "Well, my sisters and brothers were invited too!" "Very interesting!" "I am sorry, but I forgot to get your name!"..."Now please go on with the story!" Etc.
At the end of the above story, the detective catches the criminal (who turns out to be the maid) as she is about to kill his client. He confronts her and she confesses. Then the story takes a surprising twist: "'You are under arrest for murder,' said the detective. 'You either will spend your whole life in jail or die now!' 'I will die now," she answered. So the detective shot her and she died! He then told the girls to pack up and go home!"
Yikes! Nothing like taking justice into your own hands! I jotted down a bit about American criminal law in the margin, but hastened to assure her that it was indeed dramatic. And to think she is one of my quietest, sweetest students! You just never know.
The last story was a 14 page masterpiece, which included this gem of a fight scene: "With that he dodged to the side and with one swipe knocked the gun out of Tim's hand. The gun skidded across the floor and fell into a hole and sank to the bottom of a fifty-foot deep pool used to test underwater equipment. There were a lot of punches, kicks, jabs, and martial arts between the two men. Then Bill sprang up and grabbed an emergency axe from the wall." I will spare you the further details. Suffice it to say that Bill, the good guy, won out in the end.
Phew. Now to move on to our historical fiction unit! Much safer. Of course, we are about to start "The Tale of Two Cities" which has its own kind of gruesome-ness. But somehow Dickens can manage it with dignity.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
My First Fieldtrip!
I did it! I led a fieldtrip! I organized it, and bought tickets, and found parent chaperones, and everything! And I'm happy to report that it went very well. We weren't late and it wasn't the wrong day.
My Earth Science class just began a unit about the moon last Monday, and today we went to see "Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon" at the IMAX theater. In 3D! After a lecture to my kids about being Ambassadors for Christ, and not screaming in the mall, and other things, I found myself yelling right out loud TWICE during the film. It was scary! But fortunately the music was so loud I don't think anyone heard me.
The highlight of the occasion was when a man came into the theater with his microphone before the show, and asked for all group leaders to report to the concession stand. HA! That was ME! It felt so strange to get up and walk past the two chaperones, who were much older than I, and go say I was in charge of the whole shebang. My word. What a power trip:)
My kids really enjoyed the show. I wish I'd had a camera to take a picture of them sitting all in a row with ridiculously large glasses on. So cute.
One last thing: I found out, half way up the escalator, that one of my girls has a fear of heights to such a degree that she never takes escalators - always elevators. I held on to her for the rest of the way up. She made it fine. I was glad.
Happy almost weekend!
My Earth Science class just began a unit about the moon last Monday, and today we went to see "Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon" at the IMAX theater. In 3D! After a lecture to my kids about being Ambassadors for Christ, and not screaming in the mall, and other things, I found myself yelling right out loud TWICE during the film. It was scary! But fortunately the music was so loud I don't think anyone heard me.
The highlight of the occasion was when a man came into the theater with his microphone before the show, and asked for all group leaders to report to the concession stand. HA! That was ME! It felt so strange to get up and walk past the two chaperones, who were much older than I, and go say I was in charge of the whole shebang. My word. What a power trip:)
My kids really enjoyed the show. I wish I'd had a camera to take a picture of them sitting all in a row with ridiculously large glasses on. So cute.
One last thing: I found out, half way up the escalator, that one of my girls has a fear of heights to such a degree that she never takes escalators - always elevators. I held on to her for the rest of the way up. She made it fine. I was glad.
Happy almost weekend!
Thursday, January 19, 2006
The 30 by 30 List
The 30 by 30 list is an idea Lindsay introduced to Amy and me a couple of years ago. It's a list of thirty things to accomplish by the time you are thirty! We had such a fun time making them together - what a happy memory. The things can be as varied as you want. Here are some on my list:
*Buy a piano
*Take horseback riding lessons (this is one that was enabled by Amy and Lindsay's graduation gift to me!)
*Read Oliver Twist (done!)
*Go to Israel or Europe
*Teach for at least one year (almost done, and hopefully I'll be at it for much more than a year - I actually had one of those "I can't believe I'm getting paid to do this" moments today!)
*Get a Bachelor of Arts in English (done!)
*Read Dad's Book (maybe this summer?) (and for the remaining four and half years 'till I'm 30?)
*Own the movies Persuasion (check!), Wives and Daughters (check!), Riverdance (check!)
*Memorize the prologue to Tennyson's In Memorium (done... although it's rusty now - I'll have to refresh this one)
*sing in a choir after college (found a possibility - have to audition this summer)
*go to the Boston, NY, Philadelphia or DC art museum
*go camping (I've never been!)
*change my own oil (thanks for the lesson, Bethany!)
etc. etc. etc.
Those are a few items. Lindsay has such ambitious things as refinishing furniture on hers, but that sounded like too much work to me. I just throw it out there to demonstrate the diversity possible:) Not to mention demonstrating the coolness of anyone who would have that on her 30 by 30! I would recommend it for all - it's great fun! And it's exciting to be able to say you've accomplished things on the list.
*Buy a piano
*Take horseback riding lessons (this is one that was enabled by Amy and Lindsay's graduation gift to me!)
*Read Oliver Twist (done!)
*Go to Israel or Europe
*Teach for at least one year (almost done, and hopefully I'll be at it for much more than a year - I actually had one of those "I can't believe I'm getting paid to do this" moments today!)
*Get a Bachelor of Arts in English (done!)
*Read Dad's Book (maybe this summer?) (and for the remaining four and half years 'till I'm 30?)
*Own the movies Persuasion (check!), Wives and Daughters (check!), Riverdance (check!)
*Memorize the prologue to Tennyson's In Memorium (done... although it's rusty now - I'll have to refresh this one)
*sing in a choir after college (found a possibility - have to audition this summer)
*go to the Boston, NY, Philadelphia or DC art museum
*go camping (I've never been!)
*change my own oil (thanks for the lesson, Bethany!)
etc. etc. etc.
Those are a few items. Lindsay has such ambitious things as refinishing furniture on hers, but that sounded like too much work to me. I just throw it out there to demonstrate the diversity possible:) Not to mention demonstrating the coolness of anyone who would have that on her 30 by 30! I would recommend it for all - it's great fun! And it's exciting to be able to say you've accomplished things on the list.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
The Wave of the Past
As the weekend approached, I headed to my favorite movie place, Video Vault (very small townsy and idiosyncratic), to rent "Persuasion." I brought it up to the counter, and the guy told me that I could rent it for $2.50 or buy it for $3.00. What?! It turns out that ALL of the videos in the place are now for sale. They're moving to DVDs. WOWZER. So I bought "Persuasion," and checked to see whether "Pride and Prejudice" (BBC, 5 hour version) had been sold already. Oh ya, he said, it was one of the first to go. Hmmmm. The good taste of these RIers. I was pretty happy, though, since owning the movie "Persuasion" was on my 30 by 30 list (along with a few other choice movies).
Well yesterday, with Melissa (about whose return I could have written an entire 60 paragraph post of joy), I returned. We took the place by storm, scouring every aisle (well, almost... we skipped over the horror films), and picking out the cream of the crop. My happiest find was "Riverdance!" I had looked for it immediately, and hadn't found it. I assumed it was taken already, but then discovered it with the musicals. Hurrah! That was one on my 30 by 30.
Let me tell you, it was a hard task. Where do you draw the line? You can't buy every good movie, because you would be quickly broke, despite the good price. So we settled for choosing a few of the best, and keeping a list of all the other possibilities (25-30 more, I'd guess). And I kept thinking of other people, too, and whether I should be buying for them!
Katie, do you want "October Sky?"
Dad, how about "Captains Courageous?"
And Derrick, I assume you already own "The Last Samurai."
Anyway, it was pretty fun. I can't believe they're getting rid of all their videos, though! It certainly is a big step forward in technology, I suppose. But I'm happily riding the wave of the past with my newly acquired videos.
I told my kids about it today, and informed them I'd grabbed Hamlet, with Mel Gibson, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, both for their sakes! I'll be teaching Hamlet next year, and I wanted to show them Mr. Smith to demonstrate what a filibuster is. One student was groaning at the idea of watching anything in black and white. I vigorously protested that there was no law that kids couldn't watch movies made before 1999 - there were some wonderful old classics. And he came right back and quoted my own words against me. A few weeks ago, after seeing a movie's attempt to portray Medusa, in 1970 or so, I had practically vowed not to watch any movie made before 2000! I'd forgotten about that, and had to laugh upon being reminded. I tried to qualify my statement by saying I didn't like old movie's special effects. But finally I just told them to forget all those rash statements I make:)
Well yesterday, with Melissa (about whose return I could have written an entire 60 paragraph post of joy), I returned. We took the place by storm, scouring every aisle (well, almost... we skipped over the horror films), and picking out the cream of the crop. My happiest find was "Riverdance!" I had looked for it immediately, and hadn't found it. I assumed it was taken already, but then discovered it with the musicals. Hurrah! That was one on my 30 by 30.
Let me tell you, it was a hard task. Where do you draw the line? You can't buy every good movie, because you would be quickly broke, despite the good price. So we settled for choosing a few of the best, and keeping a list of all the other possibilities (25-30 more, I'd guess). And I kept thinking of other people, too, and whether I should be buying for them!
Katie, do you want "October Sky?"
Dad, how about "Captains Courageous?"
And Derrick, I assume you already own "The Last Samurai."
Anyway, it was pretty fun. I can't believe they're getting rid of all their videos, though! It certainly is a big step forward in technology, I suppose. But I'm happily riding the wave of the past with my newly acquired videos.
I told my kids about it today, and informed them I'd grabbed Hamlet, with Mel Gibson, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, both for their sakes! I'll be teaching Hamlet next year, and I wanted to show them Mr. Smith to demonstrate what a filibuster is. One student was groaning at the idea of watching anything in black and white. I vigorously protested that there was no law that kids couldn't watch movies made before 1999 - there were some wonderful old classics. And he came right back and quoted my own words against me. A few weeks ago, after seeing a movie's attempt to portray Medusa, in 1970 or so, I had practically vowed not to watch any movie made before 2000! I'd forgotten about that, and had to laugh upon being reminded. I tried to qualify my statement by saying I didn't like old movie's special effects. But finally I just told them to forget all those rash statements I make:)
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Fun on a Wednesday Afternoon
I usually dread Wednesdays because the afternoons are back-to-back classes, ending with two high school classes. And high schoolers aren't so attentive in the afternoon. But I've shifted my tactics a bit (tighter discipline on one hand, not expecting star quality discussions on the other), and today was great!
We did a writing workshop on creating good paragraphs, and I assigned them to do a paragraph in class on anything they wanted to. I gave an example: a paragraph with the topic sentence "BMW Z3s are some of the coolest cars around." They followed suit. Here are some sample topic sentences (paraphrased according to my memory, and my own style, and my protecting the identity of students):
When Joe hits me, it hurts. (Joe is the student sitting next to the student who wrote this paragraph - a paragraph, incidentally, which was some of the best writing he's done this year!)
Hershey's kisses are the yummiest chocolates. (A story I told of rationing M&Ms while paper writing in college was an example in this paragraph!)
A paragraph is a unit of something larger, like an essay or report. (Clever... a paragraph about a paragraph.)
Elizabeth is the coolest person that ever lived. (This was written at the request of one, Elizabeth, in the classroom.)
Green is the best color. (They say sea green is very soothing...)
The students really enjoyed the assignment! At least, they really enjoyed hearing each other's work afterward. That was pretty encouraging. Maybe I'll do more with this tomorrow. On the other hand, I have a star quality discussion planned, so I'm not sure I'll have time.
In other news: I lost power steering in my car. I think I'm getting tendonitis from man-handling my vehicle around corners. Wheee - workouts while driving!
We did a writing workshop on creating good paragraphs, and I assigned them to do a paragraph in class on anything they wanted to. I gave an example: a paragraph with the topic sentence "BMW Z3s are some of the coolest cars around." They followed suit. Here are some sample topic sentences (paraphrased according to my memory, and my own style, and my protecting the identity of students):
When Joe hits me, it hurts. (Joe is the student sitting next to the student who wrote this paragraph - a paragraph, incidentally, which was some of the best writing he's done this year!)
Hershey's kisses are the yummiest chocolates. (A story I told of rationing M&Ms while paper writing in college was an example in this paragraph!)
A paragraph is a unit of something larger, like an essay or report. (Clever... a paragraph about a paragraph.)
Elizabeth is the coolest person that ever lived. (This was written at the request of one, Elizabeth, in the classroom.)
Green is the best color. (They say sea green is very soothing...)
The students really enjoyed the assignment! At least, they really enjoyed hearing each other's work afterward. That was pretty encouraging. Maybe I'll do more with this tomorrow. On the other hand, I have a star quality discussion planned, so I'm not sure I'll have time.
In other news: I lost power steering in my car. I think I'm getting tendonitis from man-handling my vehicle around corners. Wheee - workouts while driving!
Friday, January 06, 2006
Back in the Groove
I'm happy to report that one class was all it took - I am thrilled to be back at school. I knew I would be, but I still couldn't sleep very well the night before it started up again. Sometimes I think vacations are too hard to come back from to be worth it. But then I look forward to weekends like some people look forward to trips to Europe. I guess two great weeks is worth the cost of one sleepless night!
Anyway, the highlight so far has been teaching Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians in play form. Danny had told me his students really liked it, but oy vay! My kids are going crazy! Of course, it helps that I'm teaching it to the 7th and 8th graders, who aren't afraid to be wildly enthusiastic at the drop of a hat (how could I have ever been nervous about middle school?!).
At the first murder the girls instantly burst into gasps and shudders and squeals, and the boys burst into accusations and theories. At the second murder it took some dire threats on my part to get them back to reading. I allowed a break for theories, but man! They would have kept at it all day! But of course there were those who wanted to hurry up and read, and forget all the guessing stuff. So soon they were yelling at each other to be quiet. Hee hee hee. What a success. Then they all started talking about nightmares, and I was a little nervous on my way home. So far I've received zero angry parent calls. I'm going for a no-hitter, as it were.
Sure enough, this morning one of my students told me he'd had nightmare. Sigh. But silly me - I should have known he was joking, since he's the one I describe as "probably what Uncle Paul was like as a student."
I heard from my 10th and 11th graders that my 7th and 8th graders (their younger siblings) were trying to repeat the entire story to them - and anyone else who would listen. One student's father is in Iraq. He called home last night...and was regaled with an Agatha Christie story. Well, the beginning of one, anyway. We still haven't finished. She told me that he was very interested in it. Dear man, my respect for him (which was already sky high) shot up some more.
We got another scene or so done this afternoon, and at the end of the day one of the girls told me that the entire class had talked about the play for their entire art class. There would be a lull, and then one of them (the same one every time, I think) would say "but what about Dr. Armstrong?" and they would be off again.
YYYYEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!! I LOVE MY JOB!
They have some really clever theories about it all, too! They should be mystery writers themselves (which they will be next week, although they don't know it yet - it will be my first fiction assignment and I'm really looking forward to reading the results!). They have decided that two of them are married though they are pretending not to be. They have decided that there really is no murderer - they are all killing themselves off in madness or guilt. They have decided that Narracott the boatman must have done it. And Emily. And Dr. Armstrong. And Rogers.
In other news, my high schoolers are assembling a puppet show of the story of the Cyclops. Did I mention that I love my job?
Anyway, the highlight so far has been teaching Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians in play form. Danny had told me his students really liked it, but oy vay! My kids are going crazy! Of course, it helps that I'm teaching it to the 7th and 8th graders, who aren't afraid to be wildly enthusiastic at the drop of a hat (how could I have ever been nervous about middle school?!).
At the first murder the girls instantly burst into gasps and shudders and squeals, and the boys burst into accusations and theories. At the second murder it took some dire threats on my part to get them back to reading. I allowed a break for theories, but man! They would have kept at it all day! But of course there were those who wanted to hurry up and read, and forget all the guessing stuff. So soon they were yelling at each other to be quiet. Hee hee hee. What a success. Then they all started talking about nightmares, and I was a little nervous on my way home. So far I've received zero angry parent calls. I'm going for a no-hitter, as it were.
Sure enough, this morning one of my students told me he'd had nightmare. Sigh. But silly me - I should have known he was joking, since he's the one I describe as "probably what Uncle Paul was like as a student."
I heard from my 10th and 11th graders that my 7th and 8th graders (their younger siblings) were trying to repeat the entire story to them - and anyone else who would listen. One student's father is in Iraq. He called home last night...and was regaled with an Agatha Christie story. Well, the beginning of one, anyway. We still haven't finished. She told me that he was very interested in it. Dear man, my respect for him (which was already sky high) shot up some more.
We got another scene or so done this afternoon, and at the end of the day one of the girls told me that the entire class had talked about the play for their entire art class. There would be a lull, and then one of them (the same one every time, I think) would say "but what about Dr. Armstrong?" and they would be off again.
YYYYEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!! I LOVE MY JOB!
They have some really clever theories about it all, too! They should be mystery writers themselves (which they will be next week, although they don't know it yet - it will be my first fiction assignment and I'm really looking forward to reading the results!). They have decided that two of them are married though they are pretending not to be. They have decided that there really is no murderer - they are all killing themselves off in madness or guilt. They have decided that Narracott the boatman must have done it. And Emily. And Dr. Armstrong. And Rogers.
In other news, my high schoolers are assembling a puppet show of the story of the Cyclops. Did I mention that I love my job?
Thursday, January 05, 2006
CLAN
No, I'm not going to go into a detailed, historical look at the Murray clan here and now. Sorry. I know it would be incredibly fascinating, and you would all benefit greatly from it. I'll keep it in mind for some future time. Maybe.
Instead, I'm going to go into a semi-detailed, barely-historical look at the RI library system. I love it so much! And, having just availed myself of one of its excellent services, and therefore being filled with warm fuzzy feelings about it, now is the time to rhapsodize.
The semi-details are this: By getting one little card - a simple piece of blue plastic - the entire world of Rhode Island's books are open to all RI residents. I can get books from Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, Cranston, Providence, North Kingstown, and Scituate, all in one homeward commute, if I want to! If I (in my usual last-minute state) need a movie to show my class the very next day I can just pop over to whichever RI library has said movie on its shelves. Side note: this is a huge benefit to living in such a small state - I could never go across the state to get a movie I needed if I lived in TX, for instance. But here in RI I go across the state every day just to get to work! Ahhh, so handy.
The barely-history is this: Today I thought I should read the book "Epic" to my dear chillins. It is an excellent example of looking at Literature in a deeper way than just words on a page (which is their sad tendency). So I popped over to Amazon and ascertained that I could get the book for quite a reasonable price. But, having decided to pinch pennies a bit more these days, I thought I'd check the library system. LO, there was a copy in Providence! And there was another intriguing work by the same author in Cranston! And thanks to the dear old CLAN system (oh, that is the name of the RI library system, by the way - I probably should have explained that sooner), with a few keystrokes I have both items scurrying on their way to my local library. Amazing! Blessings on thee, oh CLAN system.
This is not to disparage the Dublin Library, of course, which holds my deepest loyalty as a most beloved, architecturally beautiful, historical, intriguing, good-smelling, cozy establishment. But I must admit that RI allows for a bit more flexibility than a small town library.
Might I also add, that if Heaven were indeed attainable by good works, Ben Franklin (wasn't it he?) would be first in line at the Pearly Gates with the good deed of establishing public libraries. Way to go, Ben! Let's hear it for books for free!
Instead, I'm going to go into a semi-detailed, barely-historical look at the RI library system. I love it so much! And, having just availed myself of one of its excellent services, and therefore being filled with warm fuzzy feelings about it, now is the time to rhapsodize.
The semi-details are this: By getting one little card - a simple piece of blue plastic - the entire world of Rhode Island's books are open to all RI residents. I can get books from Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, Cranston, Providence, North Kingstown, and Scituate, all in one homeward commute, if I want to! If I (in my usual last-minute state) need a movie to show my class the very next day I can just pop over to whichever RI library has said movie on its shelves. Side note: this is a huge benefit to living in such a small state - I could never go across the state to get a movie I needed if I lived in TX, for instance. But here in RI I go across the state every day just to get to work! Ahhh, so handy.
The barely-history is this: Today I thought I should read the book "Epic" to my dear chillins. It is an excellent example of looking at Literature in a deeper way than just words on a page (which is their sad tendency). So I popped over to Amazon and ascertained that I could get the book for quite a reasonable price. But, having decided to pinch pennies a bit more these days, I thought I'd check the library system. LO, there was a copy in Providence! And there was another intriguing work by the same author in Cranston! And thanks to the dear old CLAN system (oh, that is the name of the RI library system, by the way - I probably should have explained that sooner), with a few keystrokes I have both items scurrying on their way to my local library. Amazing! Blessings on thee, oh CLAN system.
This is not to disparage the Dublin Library, of course, which holds my deepest loyalty as a most beloved, architecturally beautiful, historical, intriguing, good-smelling, cozy establishment. But I must admit that RI allows for a bit more flexibility than a small town library.
Might I also add, that if Heaven were indeed attainable by good works, Ben Franklin (wasn't it he?) would be first in line at the Pearly Gates with the good deed of establishing public libraries. Way to go, Ben! Let's hear it for books for free!
Monday, January 02, 2006
Post Christmas Blues
I almost never get post-Christmas blues, I'm happy to report. My birthday is the day after, so there's nothing to be blue about there! And then there's always the happiness of another week (or four, if in college) of vacation. Nothing to be blue about there! And this year I even had a fantastic year-end convention to attend. Nothing to be blue about there, for sure!
But this evening I had a half-hour of post-Christmas blues. It came when I tried to assimilate my Christmas gifts into my already well laden room. As I shoved hangers over in the closet, with all of my strength, I dreamed of those huge closets that are the approximate size of my bedroom when I was a little girl. As I stacked up CDs on the floor I realized I'd have to actually invest in another car CD holder. As I drew out the beautiful framed picture of my nephews it occurred to me that I am already using every single available flat surface to hold pictures. And as I guiltily placed some items on the top shelf of my closet I realized that the simple fact is this: I need to down-size!
But how will I do it? How can I tell the faithful pictures, who have kept me company all through college, that they are going to be replaced by young upstarts? How can I throw out any scrap of clothing, when I could very well regret such a bold move in a few weeks time when I finally discover the shirt that would have matched that thrown-away skirt? How can I part with any little knick-knack that could end up a valuable archive after I become saintly and inspire future generations?
So the only solution, dear readers, is to tear down my barns and build bigger. I'm going to annex TJ's room. He doesn't really need it right now, after all. And in fact, I might even be generous and annex only a portion. In any case, I could use that extra shelf and closet space. I could have two desks and two big bookcases and another huge closet! I could buy large trunks, or even those tupperware storage containers. The possibilities are endless! When TJ comes back home I expect him to be so sanctified that he won't even mind, and will gladly move over to share a room with Amy.
Ahhh, solution found. Post Christmas Blues over.
But this evening I had a half-hour of post-Christmas blues. It came when I tried to assimilate my Christmas gifts into my already well laden room. As I shoved hangers over in the closet, with all of my strength, I dreamed of those huge closets that are the approximate size of my bedroom when I was a little girl. As I stacked up CDs on the floor I realized I'd have to actually invest in another car CD holder. As I drew out the beautiful framed picture of my nephews it occurred to me that I am already using every single available flat surface to hold pictures. And as I guiltily placed some items on the top shelf of my closet I realized that the simple fact is this: I need to down-size!
But how will I do it? How can I tell the faithful pictures, who have kept me company all through college, that they are going to be replaced by young upstarts? How can I throw out any scrap of clothing, when I could very well regret such a bold move in a few weeks time when I finally discover the shirt that would have matched that thrown-away skirt? How can I part with any little knick-knack that could end up a valuable archive after I become saintly and inspire future generations?
So the only solution, dear readers, is to tear down my barns and build bigger. I'm going to annex TJ's room. He doesn't really need it right now, after all. And in fact, I might even be generous and annex only a portion. In any case, I could use that extra shelf and closet space. I could have two desks and two big bookcases and another huge closet! I could buy large trunks, or even those tupperware storage containers. The possibilities are endless! When TJ comes back home I expect him to be so sanctified that he won't even mind, and will gladly move over to share a room with Amy.
Ahhh, solution found. Post Christmas Blues over.
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