Thanks, Management. (Formerly Talktalk}

Spirits in the material world

*Props to Diana for making me think of a topic to blog about...

I have no idea where I fit in the religious spectrum. I was born and raised southern/Appalachian Nazarene, but have since rejected that denomination like one might reject rotten meat from the gut. {Okay, that might be a little harsh. But my reasons for saying that are another blog altogether.}

Point is, I don't have a religious identity at this point, nor a spiritual practice of any kind. And sometimes, only sometimes, it makes me sad. I wonder if I am doing right by my children by not living some concrete example of what I believe. At this point, I am not even talking to them much about God/Goddesses. I don't feel grounded enough in my own beliefs to do so without seeming like a hypocrite or confusing them with conflicting information.

I believe that Jesus was a man of peace and compassion. I believe that women are an expression of the Divine. I believe that we come to this Earth to learn lessons, which keep repeatedly presenting themselves until we really learn them. I believe that everyone is capable of Goodness, and that being Godly is a choice. I believe that children can see and talk to angels. I believe that my maker loved me and had faith in me; otherwise I wouldn't have been entrusted with Delaney and Greyson. I believe that a flower in Spring is as sacred as a statue of Mary. And I believe that Love is the simplest and most bafflingly complicated thing that the Universe can offer up, and when we complete this life, or this set of lives, we will look back and laugh at the way we fucked it all up.

I have no idea what religious category these beliefs put me into.

This message has been brought to you by the Cult of Kym.

No, really, I can't let her go

A friend and I had some words about why I'm planning to homeschool. She accused me of doing it mainly because I'm scared to let Delaney go out into the big, bad world. She's right.

That is a HUGE part of why I'm not sending her to school, other than the fact that I don't have a lot of faith in our city schools (my apologies), the fact that she's way over the Kindy level, the fact that I feel like I can do a great job myself(I love teaching science!), and other facts which I will pleased as punch to discuss with you if you'd like.

But yes, a big part of my reasoning is fear. Fear for a child who doesn't live in the real world a lot of the day. Fear for a child who is afraid of people who play loud, rough games.

Case in point-I have her in a preschool playgroup on Tuesday mornings. It's full of boys, and one other girl. Delaney's been staying far, far away from the boys. Last week, she finally got the nerve up to talk to them for a minute. Then one of them screamed "EW! A GIRL!" and they all ran away. She cried. It took so much courage for her to even talk to them, to try to join them in some way, and that just crushed her. Well, later, the ringleader of the boys came up to her and asked if she wanted to play. She said "Sure". But the game was chase and be "torn apart with a sword", and she just wasn't into it. She tried to persuade him to play something else, but he wouldn't change his mind, either. But he did come up to her several times and growl, and say "I shall rip your flesh!" I give him all kinds of props for his pirate accent and all, but sheesh. If the girl says she doesn't want to play, please, please, leave her be. I did try to tell her to toughen up and growl back, but she's just incapable.

Days like that crush her spirit. I don't need her to toughen up or lose her innocent, childlike self too fast. That day will come soon enough. I choose to keep her safe with me for now, encourage her, strengthen her, build her up, and then yes...eventually set her free, armed with more love, learning, and magical experiences. It may just make a difference.

March Ain't My Fav'rite Thang

Not much good comes of it. March is winter's last stand, and he (cause I believe March to be a mean old man) makes a valiant last stand.

My family gets sick in March. We hold out most of the winter, and then SLAM! Usually a stomach bug. My least favorite.

However! The sweetest thing to ever come out of March is lying on the sofa, having put himself to sleep. My one year old boy will wake up to be TWO. Oh my GOD! Is he really TWO?!

Anyway, just rambling. It's been a rough couple of weeks, and by last year's standards, I'd be a blubbering mess and ready to kill everyone in the house. But, this year, I'm still standing, and I believe that tomorrow is gonna be a better day.

Cheerio!

Katye, you've gotta take this one...

Utinam barbari spatium proprium tuum invadant!
"May barbarians invade your personal
space!"
You are highly confrontational and possibly in a
bad mood. You would have sworn in this quiz,
if I had made it an option.


Which Weird Latin Phrase Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

American Idol Twelve

Just because I don't have anyone online to talk about it with anymore, I am going to blog my little heart out tonight.

The Final Twelve are now picked. I will now tell you what I think of each contestant, cause you're all dying to know!

Diana De Garmo: I think she is adorable, polished, has a strong voice, and is sweet. I think she can sing a variety of styles. Will go far.

Fantasia Barrino: Effortless voice, unique as well. Her delivery is really straight, no little games in her performance. Will go far.

Matthew Rogers: Weak. Can't pull off different styles. Cocky. Hope he doesn't go too far. Hope he doesn't get the "good ole boy" vote.

Camille Velasco: I like the dark timbre of her sound. I am not sure how she will do with anything but R&B sultry stuff.

Latoya London: Really nice strong voice, and she can control it. I think she will do well.

Amy Pinkhair can't recall last name: She seems to me that she can only do one style. She was really, really bad in her "sing off" the night she was voted in. She has a perky personality which may carry her farther than her voice could.

Jasmine Trias: Didn't impress me much. She can sing, isn't weak, but her sound is just...so what? (Channelling Simon there!)

John Dean Martin Stevens: Nice, smooth quality. But can he do anything but the old standards? And can he become a performer? Cause he is painful to watch.

Jon Peter Lewis: I just love him! His voice is very different, he's a geek, but a smart and cool geek. I just loved his version of Tiny Dancer. I like that he takes risks. Hope he goes very far.

Leah Labelle: Boring. Just okay to me. The judges just love her, I don't know why.

Jennifer Hudson: I think her voice is super powerful. Very soulful. Very sincere. Hope she kicks ass.

George Huff: He's my sweetheart. Simon is right, I root for him. He's got a great attitude, I love him.

Also wanted to say that I am pissed as hell that Lisa Leushner didn't get another chance. And I am so glad that Elizabeth LeTender is out...she just bugged me. Her face was so odd during her singing, and there was something really dreadful about her sound.

YAY for the new season!

More fun, this time with Countries

You're Brazil!

You're athletic, charming, and probably a good dancer.
 Unfortunatley, you don't really mind chopping down the rain forest, and you probably
consider homeless people expendable in certain circumstances.  Of course, your
personality is so diverse that it's hard to track down exactly what you're like.  You
definitely like Pele, the World Cup, and shouting "gooooal" at the
top of your lungs.
Take
the Country Quiz at the href="http://bluepyramid.org">Blue Pyramid

But...but I care about the homeless!

Which famous book are you?

You're Ulysses!

by James Joyce

Most people are convinced that you don't make any sense, but compared
to what else you could say, what you're saying now makes tons of sense. What people do
understand about you is your vulgarity, which has convinced people that you are at once
brilliant and repugnant. Meanwhile you are content to wander around aimlessly, taking in
the sights and sounds of the city. What you see is vast, almost limitless, and brings you
additional fame. When no one is looking, you dream of being a Greek folk hero.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Now HERE is a fun quiz. I got it from Accidental Destiny, which I will be adding to my blogroll. Take it! 'Tis fun! And although I never got through this book, I love the fact that I was this book, for many reasons. Though when I took the quiz again, I was Watership Down. Just depends on my mood, I guess.

The World vs. My Babies

Today, I had to go and register my Delaney for kindergarten, even though I plan to homeschool. They needed to know that she lived in the district, etc. I sat in the hall of the local Elementary school and filled out paperwork. I watched children file by to get drinks from the fountain. I watched a little girl walk down the hall with the nurse, chatting with her as the nurse kind of listened. I tried to imagine my child going to school there in the fall. I couldn't.

Delaney is one unique kid. She's imaginative to the point that she believes the things she is pretending. She likes to (and CAN!) chat with adults on their level. She is careful at first. Also, when she is tired, she is just plain odd. She gets scared of kids who play aggressively. I don't know...I just don't think that most people will "get" her or appreciate her.

There are certain kids who could just sail into school and totally gel with the system. I don't think my girl is one of them. And it just makes me sad, sad for her because I know I can't shield her forever, and because I know that someday the world will chew her up and spit her out. And it makes me sad for all the people who won't know what a really great person she is. Sometimes I feel like Gene, my mom and MIL, and my friend Sarah and I are the only ones who know.

And Greyson...how could anyone not love him? He is the sweetest little pixie child. Today, at our preschool gym class, a little girl was growling at him. He had approached her to play. Later, I saw him growling back, and I thought I'd cry. Also, he wanted to ride one of the big toys with our friend's son, Will. Will didn't want to, and it is clear that Greyson adores Will, and that Will finds Greyson to be repulsive. That kind of thing hurts a mama's heart.

Shameless Kid Brag

My kids are just the best! They've been sick all week, and have handled it with grace and patience.

This weekend, cooped up long enough, we headed for a local school playground to let off steam. Mine were the most polite kids there. (BOY does that sound conceited, but it was true!) Kids were pushing, not taking turns, etc. and mine were cool enough to let other kids take their turn, yet assertive enough to go ahead and take their own.

My daughter is one of the most imaginative people I've ever known. She can concoct more scenarios in an afternoon than you can fathom. Also, she truly believes she is a fairy. Today, she saw a rainbow. She was convinced that she made the rainbow happen, because she'd worn her rainbow headband all day! Adorable child.

My son has never taken medicine well. Last night, we had to give him a dose of his prescription for his ear infection. He said, "Myself", so I let him try. He gave himself his own medicine, didn't spill any, and was SO proud.

This post could go on and on. I've been struck lately at how marvelous, intelligent, creative, compassionate, fun, wise, kind people they are! And it's my blog, so I get to say that they are the best babies ever!!