I lead a homeschool club in my neighborhood. On Friday, we had a rocket class and I used Richard’s rocket launcher. There were many families there and we had a great time in the sun.
Author: Angela
I write so my family will always have letters from home.
Team Ryan Hess
Cancer has touched the lives of several family members and friends over the past 2 years. Tonight our hearts are breaking for a friend, Ryan.
If you are a Federal Employee, please consider donating leave time to our friend, Ryan Hess who is suffering from cancer. You can read about him here.
To donate leave time, please see this link.
We are Readers
We are Readers.
We ran out of library books this week. I thought it might be fun for the posterity and other folks to see what we chose to read in these circumstances:
Richard: Beginning Python; Rapid GUI programming with Python and Qt, the Definitive Guide to PyQt Programming. Um, it’s true. He reads textbooks in his spare time, the brilliant man.
Angela: The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien; I didn’t run out of books, but I always read the Lord of the Rings trilogy in the bleak midwinter. I’m no fan of fantasy, so these hold me for reasons beyond the elves and magic. Those endless descriptions contrasting barren and spring-like green landscapes really resonate with me. And boy, that author idealizes women, which is something I quite enjoy. I realize I haven’t mentioned the power, poetry, good vs. evil and friendship in this book. It’s all in there, though.
Paige: Ballet Shoes and Theater Shoes by Noel Streatfeild; Probably because these books exemplify all Paige holds dear.
Daniel: Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes; If I were a boy, I’d probably choose this, too.
Timothy: The Boxcar Children #2; Because he thinks Benny is funny.
Mark: The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss; We all know why.
And now because I have been too busy nursing my back injury and reading, we are out of milk, eggs, and produce.
We are Readers with No Fresh Food.
Woes of a Three-year-old
For anyone who doubts a three-year old can be troubled by love, diet, money, and exercise, here are some persuasive arguments against you.
1/16/10: “Who do you think I should marry when I grow up?”
Mom replies, “I don’t think you have met her yet.”
Mark says, “I think I’m marrying YOU.”
2/13/10: “Sometimes I just want to pretend that candy is healthy.”
3/1/10: “Mom, I like money and it feels like I never want to give it to somebody else.”
3/2/10: Pointing to his feet after being asked to go and eat breakfast, “Just look how tired these are!”
It’s Tradition.
This was the Christmas present that instigated an extra Christmas present and I have Topol to thank for it.
A month before Christmas I received a phone call from Broadway Tucson with an automated recording for all ticket holders of Fiddler on the Roof. Topol had been injured and he wouldn’t be performing for the rest of the season. This meant two things. I would never see Topol perform as Tevye and Richard’s Christmas present was no longer a surprise.
I was faced with a dilemma. Should I tell Richard about the phone call? I decided to break it to him gently.
“Topol has been injured and will be out for the rest of the season,” I said bluntly as he walked in the door from work.
Now Richard was faced with a dilemma. Compensating for the loss of a Christmas surprise is serious business.
His solution? Amazon.com.
I love each of my Christmas presents. The show on Saturday was very good. I played along in my memory, and I wish the woman behind us had followed my lead. She sang and quoted the whole first act. I will always remember this performance because we heard it in stereo, with a raspy, crass voice behind us singing, “Do you love me?” etc.
Fiddler on the Roof was my first show as a performer. I soloed as the violinist at Sundance for one night when I was 15. My teacher congratulated me and reminded me that I was now a professional. (I smiled even then at the unlikely event that I would ever be a professional violinist). I played the show again when I was 16. Richard and I went to the show for our 5th anniversary. He was hoping to let me see Topol for our 15th.
Clearly, the show is Tradition for us.
As we drove home, we didn’t talk. I decided to ask Richard what song he had playing in his head.
“Le Chaim,” he replied before starting to sing.
The song in my head was Sunrise, Sunset.
What song do you love from Fiddler on the Roof?
Biosphere 2
Today our studies took us into the Catalina foothills where the Biosphere 2 project still stands. In the late 80’s and early 90’s this was an experimental ecosystem. For two years, 8 “biospherians” lived in this sealed environment, testing whether it could be self-sustaining. This is a huge and impressive structure made of steel and glass and an intricate underground network which regulates temperature, humidity, winds, power, and rain. There are very distinct ecosystems within the biosphere: savannah, ocean, desert, and rainforest. At the onset, there were 3800 species of plants and animals living in the structure. It served as a farm, living quarters, and research center.
P.S. Biosphere 1 is the earth itself.
We celebrated Richard’s birthday today. Guess what? The gift we gave him was THE RIGHT MODEL!! I’m so relieved.
Good things
Boy, I am glad for leftovers and ibuprofen;
and a washer and dryer that did my work for me while I was away today and tonight.
I’m especially glad for hugs and kisses from little boys and a ballerina daughter who dances every move she makes.
I am grateful for the little idea to visit a friend today. It turns out she was sick. Sick people need visits, you know.
Watching the Olympics commercial-free is really a treat.
I’m grateful I found a present for Richard’s birthday and I’m also grateful for receipts and a nice return policy because I probably got the wrong thing.
It felt good to come home to a comfortable house with things going on in nearly every corner.
And now I’m off to spend some time with Richard.
Book of the Month
This book has pulled our two youngest into the world of Greek mythology. I often find the two little boys studying its pages long after we’ve finished reading. They love the illustrations. I love hearing a three year old authoritatively identifying characters such as Theseus, the Minotaur, and “That guy was the king of the drunks.” (Dionysus)
A gift, freely and meekly given
Last spring I decided to search out one of my favorite teachers, Mr. H.who taught me to play the violin for 6 years. I learned that he passed away in February of 2008. His online obituary listed his accomplishments. I was surprised at what I read because he had never really shared his credentials with us.
He did post-graduate work at Juilliard and obtained a master’s degree from Columbia University, though he never mentioned it.
He taught in the Bronxville Public School System for 25 years. I heard him casually refer to this.
He taught in my home town public schools for 11 years.
He played in the Utah Symphony.
The first time I met him, he was wearing plaid pants and going around to the 5th grade classrooms, playing something on the violin to entice children to join the elementary orchestra. The tune was lively and he tapped his big foot on the floor as he played. His thin white hair grew disheveled with his movements. I was enchanted. The next week I began my years of carrying a violin to and from school.
I have had several violin teachers and played in many orchestras, but Mr. H was the steady influence in my music training.
There were many adventures. There was the day when we took advantage of his good nature and asked if he would bring us some ice cream. He said he was out of cash and showed us his wallet. One spunky student grabbed the wallet and pulled out a check for something like $15,000 from the sale of one of his instruments. He chuckled and then set off to the ice cream shop where he bought each of us a large sundae.
My favorite year was in 9th grade when I was in an ensemble group that met at 7 am. I can still remember his expression once we mastered a piece. He was so happy.
The last time I met him was in 1994 when I went to his home to play a quartet with some old high school friends. He entertained us and gave advice. He told me that I needed to keep playing, even though I had decided not to major in music.
As is often the case when we lose someone we care about, I find that my mind now focuses differently on this man who spent 36 years teaching children to play stringed instruments. His story is the kind that could inspire a screenplay. He must have taught thousands of students. What a gift he shared.
I feel like I owe a few children in my a life a piece of that gift that was given to me so freely and meekly. Until I fulfill this obligation, I’ll treasure the gift and try to keep fiddling.
The Cranberry Ladies
I bought our own copy of this little series on DVD. We have all laughed and mourned and learned to love the characters of Elizabeth Gaskell.