American Fairy Tales...Ish
I read these two beautiful books last week and then spent an inordinate amount of time trying to track down an article I read months ago about the difference between European fairy tales (from the Brothers Grimm all the way to Harry Potter) and the fantasy literature that comes out of America.
Splinters = Lots of Pictures with a Side of Kipling
We're due for a family post about now, but I jammed a huge splinter up under my pointer fingernail today, and typing doesn't feel so nice, so I think I'm just going to do a few favorites, mostly from our weekend jaunt to the beach, and be done with this.
Sheer Entertainment
I try to keep my novel consumption at a dull roar, mostly because once I start a good book that actually has a story line (nonfiction, I'm looking at you), it's really hard for me to put it down. In my previous life, back before kids, this was not such an issue.
First, But Also After Later
I mentioned last week that we have a new catch phrase in our family: after later.
Cross Training
The Man sometimes worries that he's failing me as a running coach because he hasn't helped me implement any cross training. He envisions time for me on a bike (stationary, of course) or in the pool or on an elliptical (which is no fun because you don't see anything and you can't read simultaneously). I told him that I do cross train, and he laughs
This Week's Book Bag
Books, books, books, and a cup of tea and toasted blueberry muffins--because any night I have to battle Bruiser at bedtime for only an hour is classified as a win. And worthy of celebration with caffeine, carbs, and copious amounts of, you got it, BOOKS.
Transplanting
I transplanted some of the Little Man's vegetable plants today. I'd assiduously read the instructions that came with the little seed pods (because I am Type A and a rule follower), and it said to pull up the extras and throw them away, but I couldn't do the throwing away part.
Train Narratives
One of the things I've noticed lately is just how important the words are that we use to shape our narrative.
This Is Life
This is life: harsh sun-bright shadows, picnics on a dirty quilt, food smeared grins.
Books For You and Books For Me (But Mostly Just Me)
I thought it was time for a good old fashioned dip into my bookshelf. Or rather, my library bag, since most of what I've been reading lately has been courtesy of our library. May I just say: having a library two blocks from the house is really nice.
Comparison Is
I run intervals once a week at the track near our home. It's interesting running on a track with other people, going around and around the same circle, passing people and being passed.
I Haiku While Running
This week, Littles learned about the haiku. We have daily poetry reading (because--did you know?--I am Mom), but finding a book about a cat named Won Ton that so happened to be written completely in haikus was just a lucky happenstance.
Villains, Presidents, and Big, Bad Wolfs (Oh, My!)
It's been a while since we've had a good children's book post around here--and that is just a shame! (Yes, both italics and an exclamation point were entirely necessary.) Let's remedy that immediately.