Sordid Blog

I have to admit that I tend to enjoy feeling myself a study in contrasts. I like to think that I enjoy an eclectic set of things.  Once, in college, a friend riding in the car with me was looking at my CD collection as we tried to pick out something to play — I [...]

So here’s the thing about a good writing retreat, even if it lasts only a day and a half: you can get a lot done if you try. This past weekend, I managed to get several words out there.  First of all, I spent much of Saturday writing the first chapter for my young adult [...]

Now that I write that, I think “Lily’s Big Girl Back-to-School Basket” sounds like the perfect name for a children’s picture book about the first day of school. Hmmm … inspiration, check! Soon as I finish the book on Max, I will have to write the one about Lily (and Isabelle, of course) …
My colleague [...]

Let’s face it: it would never, in a million years, have occurred to me and Michelle and Shane that this past Saturday was the start to Ramadan when we decided that the best way to welcome the new academic year in was to have a pig-pickin’ as the department welcome back party.  In hindsight, that [...]

Tuesday begins as a day of infinite promise — what could be bad about seeing Peter Pan in Kensington Garden, after all? This truly was the trip/excursion that my whole three weeks in London would hang on … The rest of the day — a fleeting Tube ride to Baron’s Court to walk around outside [...]

Monday of week two means teaching Winnie-the-Pooh.  I should probably quit teaching it; it doesn’t get easier to do.  Part of me says, ‘What is there to say?’  But it’s so much work to go beyond the obvious - how Milne represents various facets of the post-Edwardian, post-war child through Christopher Robin’s stuffed animals - [...]

I so need a better video camera than my digital camera’s video option … cause you’re just not going to the the full effect of Jackson “reading” Mo Willem’s The Pigeon Wants a Puppy with this grainy  video. But then again, if you had better quality, you mith be in pain.  Seriously, some of the [...]

There are few things more enjoyable than cooking for a large group, so Mother’s Day lunch put me on Cloud 9! I had the most fun.  The best parts were planning days in advance what would be fixed when, plotting it all out, and then going through my agenda.  Okay, it’s Friday night: here’s what [...]

I have lots to post about the week with Jackson, Susie, and Rachel, but for now, one quick post.  This morning, while Mommy Susie took a shower, I took Jackson and Max for walk.  We saw lots, and the best part was doing the trip mostly in French.  Jackson’s French skills are quie good, as [...]

While the semester is coming to a speedy end, my thoughts  turn toward Mother’s Day this coming Sunday. Susie, Rachel, and Jackson are arriving today in Raleigh (hopefully sans swine flu), and I’m leaving in a few minutes to meet them; they’re hanging in Raleigh for a couple days with the T’s before coming this [...]