Friday, July 30, 2010

Library games for kids

Steacie Science and Engineering Library at Yor...Image via Wikipedia
We had a game called "Arthur goes to the library" that my father gave us. We played it a few times, and it's like a Concentration game. However, honestly every time we play it my daughter doesn't follow the rules of the game, and usually we quit before the game is officially over.
Arthur Goes to the Library Game by Marc Brown
Now I have just seen a new game called "Little Librarian"


http://www.littlelibrarian.net/


Honestly, it doesn't look anything like the way the library I work in functions. Maybe it would be fun for an older kid to play, like a 6-10 year old, but as much as I love library stuff, I am not running to the websites to buy this.



Libraries are a lot more computerized now. So this cute little game really doesn't reflect the modern times. Maybe if it came with a computer I'd be more interested.  :-)

 


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Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Silly Bandz, Ballerina Barbie, and Dora the Explorer

Ah, it's been a fun few days in our house. Last week the kid got introduced to Silly Bandz. Some of her friends had already had them, but it wasn't until she was given one shaped like a music note that the NEED for them suddenly manifested. Silly BandzImage via Wikipedia



She could not brush her teeth, could not go to bed, could not go to school the next morning because she lacked Silly Bandz. My husband and I were not too thrilled with the invasion of this fad into our house, however by Friday night we had bought her a pack. On Sunday the quest was continued and a trip Walmart to find some cheap imitation ones was successful.
A typical Wal-Mart discount department store i...Image via Wikipedia

Fortunately or unfortunately the bracelets were also located next to the Barbie aisle. There were some very nice Barbie's on display. The Wedding Day Barbie or Bride Barbie or whatever, seems to be on the Christmas list. It's about $45 in case you are wondering. For immediate gratification, the purchase of a Ballerina Barbie was allowed (about $5). This might seem like we were spoiling her just a bit, but I figured $5 was cheaper than $45.

We were also still aglow with the fact that the child seems to be overcoming her fear of cats. On Friday night and again on Saturday afternoon she made friends with cats at other people's houses. Just a few weeks ago she was running in fear of the creatures. So we indulged a little.

Since we cut our satellite tv off, our tv viewing has come from dvds and whatever is left on the living room dvr. The bedroom dvr had to be returned to the company. So with a Netflix subscription and a library card, we've been doing the best we can. I certainly can't go out and BUY new dvds every week.
Image representing Netflix as depicted in Crun...Image via CrunchBase

I thought the husband and I had agreed that with the removal of regular tv viewing, we'd be making some modifications in what was "banned" from the house. I thought we'd agreed that Dora and Diego would no longer be banned, but the ban on Spongebob Squarepants would continue. My husband has no memory of this. So on the Netflix list I put a "Dora the Explorer" dvd, and it came last night. So last night our daughter saw  her first episode of Dora. She's pretty scared of Swiper so far, but she did seem to be getting the hang of the audience participation parts, and I'm hoping that some of the Spanish will sink in. I can tell my husband is still not sold that she should be watching the show though, and I'm not sure how this experiment will turn out.
From left to right: Swiper (in background), Do...Image via Wikipedia


Before I go, I will mention that I am trying out Zemanta for the first time. I think I like it. I've been using the Amazon Associates links for a while,but this is the first time I've used Zemanta. Very cool! I like how easy it is to use. I didn't put in any of the "related articles" but I did make use of some of the images from the media gallery, and I did add the in-text links. Hope you like how it "improves" the blog.

Oh, and as a side note, the craze with the silly bracelets is already diminishing. After bringing them to school yesterday and trading some away, they went to school today in her purse. I suspect they will stay there. She wasn't even wearing any on her wrist this morning. I think we spent $10 total on the ones we got, maybe a little less.


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Thursday, July 22, 2010

Politics

It's been a while since I've posted on politics here. This story that I saw this morning really grabbed me. Domestic violence is a problem here and everywhere. Having personally been affected by it in my life it is something that is near and dear to me. Probably almost everybody has either been affected by it, or knows someone who has. It's not just a problem locally, or nationally, it's worldwide. Child abuse is a special form of it I think. When adults are in a relationship it's easy for an outsider to think "just get out" even though that isn't often possible for the victim. However, when the abuser is your parent, and you live at home, the consequences can be deadly as we see over and over again.

Here's a story about "Honor Killings" that are happening in the U.S..  I wish I had a solution, but it's obviously a growing problem.

http://www.marieclaire.com/world-reports/news/latest/honor-killings-in-america

And here's some more resources on the subject as well--


        Just something to think about folks. There have certainly been times in my life when I thought one of my parents might try to kill me, but I'm still here and I've never had to live a life quite like this. I feel badly for all those women who are living these lives.

Monday, July 19, 2010

My mother and my daughter and my husband

Looks like my last rant about my mother was about 5 weeks ago. I'll spare you all another rant, and save that for another blog. Ugh... she tried real hard to spoil my weekend that is for sure.

On the flipside, my daughter and I had a fun time at a child's birthday party on Saturday. The weather was hot but the kids kept cool with kiddie pools and the moms sat or stood in the shade and talked. Sunday was a little more challenging as the kid was tired, but I did finally manage to get a dip in the lake with her, at our little neighborhood beach, around 5pm. Neither of us really wanted to leave when it was time for supper, but at least we both got wet! Lots of fun!   :-)

And to make sure I don't leave my husband out of this, the three of us managed to get to Target for a little retail therapy. He bought a nice coffee table for the yard that barely fit in the car. I'm sure he'll have fun putting it together when he has time.  :-)

Friday, July 16, 2010

Writers group and other stuff

So I went to the writing group again and lasted about 5 minutes and then I left. This time there was a mother and daughter there, and I really did feel as if the facilitator was trying to reach a young adult audience, and not an adult one. So I said I was tired, and I came home. I was tired too. No lie in that. I'd had a full day of fun with my daughter. We ditched school and work and had a day at a park with friends new and old, and had a blast. Stories to tell, and memories to keep. Here's a picture. There are 2 more meetings of the writing group, but I won't be there.



Sunday, July 11, 2010

July 12, 1992

Well that date is so long ago. I bet there are college freshmen who weren't even born yet when it was July 12, 1992.

That date is on my calendar though because it's the date that my Grandpa A. passed away. Grandma A. just died in September 2009. I hope they are together now.

I don't know if the day will bother my mother much. It occurs to me that it might. Tomorrow will be a stressful day for me at work, and though I will try to give her a call, I won't really have much time to talk and to feel her pain. It's been 18 years after all. Seems like a lifetime ago.

And yet, a piece of me will always carry him in my heart. A piece of me misses him, and wishes he could see me today. I wish he could have lived long enough to know my husband, and my daughter, and see who we are today.

Friday, July 9, 2010

How do you sell a song?

I'm not even sure I want to sell it. I just want to hear it recorded.

Many years ago I wrote a poem, and quickly realized it wasn't a poem, but a song. I can hear it in my head. I know how it goes but I can't sing very well, and I certainly can't play drums, keyboard, bass, and guitar. So what do I do? It's an "alternative" song with some rather "strong" words. I'm not sure if it would ever get radio play even if it had a great artist recording it unless some of the lyrics were changed, but you never know.

It needs 2 vocalists I think, a man and a woman. A woman might be able to do the whole thing herself. It definitely needs an "alternative" or "punk" sound to it. I don't think it could go any other way, although I suppose... you never know about that either.

So how do I find that? How do I find someone to write the music for it first of all, and then how do I just do the whole thing? Right now it's just words on paper in a box somewhere and music in my head. Wrote it around 1992-93 I think, and it just won't go away.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

writing group at Spear library

I went to the first meeting of the writing group at Spear Library. The facilitator is a local resident, and school librarian in a nearby community. She seems nice and everything. Like me she's never had anything published but she's written a lot of short stories and other things. The downside is that no one else came. It was just the two of us in the little one room library for about 90 minutes. Her plan is to do this on Thursdays for the month of July. Will I be there next week? I don't know yet. I was hoping there would be more people, and while I could see that she and I were both trying to drum up support, I could also see people not committing to it too. One thing that was interesting to me was that in another writing group I felt like a novice, but with her... not so much. Even though she's ahead of me in years, and has a bigger degree than I do (she's got that thing from Simmons I think), she didn't seem ahead of me in writing knowledge. That's good and bad I guess. She's not there as a mentor, but as a peer. Oh well. I got out of the house for a couple of hours, and the husband got the kid to bed successfully without me, in her own room even. Cheers for that!!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

A writer's group

Well the local library is trying to get a writing group going on Thursday nights. I've never heard of the woman who is supposed to host it, and I have no idea who is going to show up, but I am going to try to make it. I have a feeling that I'll be in over my head with women older and wiser than me. Maybe some men will come, but my experience so far is that these are usually women's groups mostly. Anyway, the first meeting is tomorrow and I am trying to set myself and psych myself up to go. I'm hoping that it will do me some good. If it does, maybe I'll have some new stuff to post here.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Well yay for internet at home!

Well after doing such a great job of reading so many books, we got Wildblue at home. I wonder will this be the end of me? Seriously, I love it! I can use my netbook or my laptop out in the yard even. I am so glad that after so many years we have wireless in the house again. Yay!!!!!

I know DSL is better but we can't get that, so for now I'll be happy. It will be great to be able to read blogs, post, stay up on Facebook, and do online banking from home instead of trying to squeeze it all in on breaks at work. And then of course there are games.. that is the "bad" part for me. lol!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

It's been a busy week!

Wow, it's been a busy week! I don't say that all the time, but it's starting to add up. Monday night we had grocery shopping to do after work/school and we got dinner out. Then on Wednesday I got out of work early and went to the dentist and got a hair cut. After I picked up Aaron and Abby we all went back to the mall and ate dinner out again. Tonight we're going to the local library, and maybe to a concert across the street. Tony Vacca is playing, and I really want to see him. Not sure if my husband and daughter will go for it, but I'm interested in hearing him. It's been a long time since I've seen one of his shows, and in a small venue it should be pretty cool. Tomorrow night we're leaving work/school early again for car repairs, and then we'll see some more music and check out the fireworks in Greenfield if we last that long. Saturday or Sunday will be more fireworks at the Lake. Not sure if we'll go to the fireworks in Amherst on Sunday or not. On Monday maybe we can relax! It's a 3 day weekend ahead of me, and I'm HOPING for some time at home.

Tony Vacca--

www.tonyvacca.com

And the obligatory Amazon links--

Senegal-America Project




and there are more too...