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Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Twos-day!
Monday, February 21, 2022
sleepover
And then we kept calling it our "own sleepover."
Although, you know, we're married and all. We took turns checking on the comfort and safety of the original sleepover kids, watched two whole movies, did some puzzles, and then finally went to sleep (in our regular bedroom) around 2 am. We really miss each other when he's off at work.
Sunday, February 20, 2022
meandering things
When I took a break from ushering to go check on them, they were in the middle of a snowball fight. [I love how all the too-cool teens look like little kids in this picture.] It's a bit of a dilemma between encouraging autonomy and overcoming inertia every time the 14-year-old doesn't want to do something that I think they will enjoy or would be good for their general well being.
I was hanging out with Big A (and hence) watching the NBA all-star game and was surprised how much the glimpses of Vanessa Bryant and Magic Johnson moved me and reminded me how life can change in an instant. [All these deep thoughts probably because I wasn't really following the game.] Then I made Big A laugh when I wondered aloud if Colin Kapernick could play basketball. I mean he deserves a more progressive league than the NFL. And... I just looked it up on the internet and it turns out that he's pretty good at basketball, actually.
Saturday, February 19, 2022
still winter
Friday, February 18, 2022
on to the weekend
Three different fin de siècles, three sets of American characters who may or may not be connected, so many threads to pull and reincarnations and alternative narratives to ponder. [Something I noticed and may want to build on for a paper/lesson is the way race--with all of its messy margins--is noted. I particularly appreciated how it carefully mentioned when a character was white instead of assuming that everyone was white unless characterized otherwise.]
So yes--very preoccupied with reading at the moment. But also got a ton of student work, a women's month meeting, and misc. followup done. Not much sabbatical work to report, but: Nu got into the AP World History class they wanted; I fell asleep on the massage table and woke up feeling heavenly; it's the puppies' Boss Day so there're strips of turkey bacon in the microwave; At stopped by to pick up some mail and we got in some hugs; and Big A is ordering in Sushi for our dinner.
Thursday, February 17, 2022
in which we all learn
The chickens Nu and L got have begun to lay eggs, or so I hear.
Nu: [Scrubbing chicken eggs in the kitchen sink.]
Me: Those look muddy, did your chickens lay them in the dirt?
Nu: [Looks blankly at me] It's poopy, Mom!
Me: Wait! The eggs come out of their poop hole?!
Big A: [To me] Yes, Puppy! Chickens just have the one cloaca.
Nu: Oh! That's how you say it? I thought it was "cluck-a."
Me: I didn't know any of this.
Big A: I'm still learning new things about you.
Fin.
Wednesday, February 16, 2022
(before my parents' arranged marriage)
she once told me how in the late sixties
she'd take the 21 bus from her college
to go "flirt" at the university library
Heading home meant rules and four younger siblings
so she'd stay back to read trashy novels
knowing dudes were watching her
from neighboring desks
knowing she'd never be allowed to work
using the few years she had
(I mean, that would be to risk a bad reputation)
who seemed a very serious type
(she was too taken by surprise to counterfeit, so)
he turned on his heel--and she laughs--
she never saw him again
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
zooming to nostalgia
Monday, February 14, 2022
here and now
My neck hurts today--not sure if its because I lifted heavier weights than usual, slept wrong, or because I did something to it when I fell. Anyway, my personal physician will be home tomorrow and I can get checked out then.
In the meantime, I've been binge reading To Paradise, and getting intensely Edith Wharton vibes from the first part set in a sort of alternative Gilded Age. I also watched The Last Duel, with its immersive medieval ethos. Two historical periods in one weekend is a bit much even for me.
Sunday, February 13, 2022
"sisters before misters"
It's Superbowl weekend and I didn't want to go to the store. But I already had the (dollar store) decorations, the puff pastry and candy and nuts and the cake mix I needed. The rest people brought: pink prosecco, brownies, cookies, flowers, and more flowers. Then we downloaded a couple of games and were ready to go.
It was really small (thanks, Covid) and I love that even so we were such a mix in terms of of gender-sexuality-relationship folks. I love my friends and it turns out that I needed the laughs and the dancing.
Saturday, February 12, 2022
where it hurts
I earned this afternoon+evening reading To Paradise, drinking cinnamon tea, eating chocolate, the puppies in my lap/on my legs. Big A is at work, I dropped Nu off to visit a friend, and I worked like a fiend yesterday.
I'm coming to the end of the day with deep satisfaction, apparently some days it takes very little to get there.
here's an idea...
Pic: Here it is in all its gritty glory: "the reason you should care... is not that it could happen to you but that it is already happe...

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