Big Girl

C. went to the Dr. today and weighs over 20 pounds and is 29 inches tall. Dr. commented that she is as tall as most 15 month old babies...we here at Mooklettes grow 'em big!

Digging to America

This novel, by Anne Tyler, captured my interests immediately. I have only read one other book by her: The Amateur Marriage, which is a favorite of mine. I know she is most famous for Breathing Lessons (Pulitzer Prize) and The Accidental Tourist.

This work follows two families who are drawn together because of their simultaneous adoption of Korean babies. This singular event, leads to shared holidays, child rearing and two families that become intertwined through friendship. It also reflects a great deal on what it means to be American, to be included, and examines the various degrees to which people give up their culture, or hold themselves separate.

I was struck by the similarities to The Namesake. Although the focus in that book was on Indian immigrants, and this one features Iranian immigrants. Still, the struggle to fit in, to know what to let go and what to keep, to recreate traditions in a new country, to watch a new generation become solidly American are all represented in both works.

Anne Tyler does a wonderful job of giving her characters voice. She creates a world of imperfect people who are very careful with one another, lest they give offense. This is the heart of the story: how being so careful keeps them from expressing their truth to each other.

Tyler has a wonderful sense of narrative and quickly drew me in with her uncomplicated language and deft story telling.


PS: Short Straw by Stuart Woods. He never fails- good, dependable, fun mystery- easy to enjoy!

8 Months

C. is 8 months and crawling, pulling to stand, still mac'n on Cheerios and goes to bed at 7 every night! Bonus: she says "brother" and has her /b/ and /g/ sound down...

She is also extremely attached to her blanket crocheted by Grannie.

PS This post is very late, as she will be 9 months this next week.

Happy Birthday, Big Brother

Wow! 14- every parent says it, but it has gone so fast. J, you are an awesome young man and we are tremendously proud of you! XOXO

testing, 1,2,3 testing

If you wondered how a teacher feels about the current atmosphere of high stakes testing...this pretty much sums it up...listen here. For those that don't want to wait for the download- here are the lyrics:

Not On The Test by John Forster & Tom Chapin© 2007 Limousine Music Co. & The Last Music Co. (ASCAP)

Go on to sleep now, third grader of mine.

The test is tomorrow but you'll do just
fine.It's reading and math.
Forget all the rest.You don't need to know what is
not on the test.
Each
box that you mark on each test that you take,Remember
your teachers. Their
jobs are at stake.Your score is their score, but don't get
all
stressed.They'd never teach anything not on the test.
The School Board is
faced with no child left behindWith rules but no funding, they're caught in
a
bind.So music and art and the things you love bestAre not in your school
'cause
they're not on the test.
Sleep, sleep, and as you progressYou'll
learn
there's a lot that is not on the test.
Debate is a skill that is
useful to
know,Unless you're in Congress or talk radio,Where shouting and
spouting and
spewing are blessed'Cause rational discourse was not on the
test.
Thinking's
important. It's good to know how.And someday you'll
learn to, but someday's not
now.Go on to sleep, now. You need your
rest.Don't think about thinking. It's not
on the test.

Bill Moyers

Every once in awhile, I am reminded that TV can be important and valuable. For example, having Rosie on something fluffy like the View, has elevated the program to something of importance. Agree or disagree, she is asking the questions others don't want to. So, along comes Bill Moyers, in a return to PBS. He is making an effort to draw our attention to the relationship between our government and the media. If you have the time watch his incredible interview with Jon Stewart here.

all things english

seems to me, I have read a great deal of books centered in England of late- not sure why, just what I grab from the shelf at the library...so i was thrilled to discover that target is offering products from boots drug store. specifically- a very nice $10.00 lipstick that goes on great, doesn't dry my lips and doesn't taste like anything. i have just been saved a trip to the clinique counter.

pretty soon we'll be getting a tesco, which is a british grocery store- similar to Trader Joe's- can't wait and I hope they have "penguins" which are a really great tea biscuit

my last british item is: the queen, for which Helen Mirren won the academy award this year. splendid! loved it! would love to know how much of it is true. apparently this movie has made the queen once again beloved in her homeland as it shows how she has dedicated herself to her country at her own personal sacrifice.

of course it goes without saying, that I am fond of many english exports, including, but not limited to: Bridget Jones, Shakespeare, the Office, John Cleese, R. Dahl, Mary Poppins, Lewis Carroll, John Locke, William Blake

three down, three to go

Well, out of the first three books from my library outing- one is a hit. I expected so much more from Burning Bright, by Tracey Chevalier, as I have read all of her books. This one just left me cold, and I am unable to finish it. Perhaps I will have another go at it, but if a book doesn't grab you by page 100, when will it, really?

Don't Look Down by Cruisie/Mayer is another disappointment. I have had this on my fun/trach list to read for awhile now. I have read all of Jennifer Cruisie's books and enjoyed them for what they are- a fun, adventurous, sexy ride. I was intruigued with the authors' attempts to write main characters from their own perspective: Bob Mayer writing the male lead, Cruisie writing the female lead. I have been following their process on their blog, and enjoyed their sense of craft and humor, but it just doesn't work here. Again, with a book like this I give it 50 pages...I just wasn't feelin' it.

A Spot of Bother, by Mark Haddon: loved Curious Incident of the Dog at Midnight, especially since I have had autistic students on my classroom. In this new novel he looks at a modern English family whose father is in the midst of nervous breakdown, the wife an affair, the daughter not ready to committ, but planning the wedding anyway and the son at loose ends with his own love life. Haddon writes so convincingly of the breakdown that I felt like I was going mad. There were many times when I wanted to tell the other characters to get over themselves, but for the father I had a great deal of sympathy. This is a great dark comedy, that shows how far the "stiff upper lip" of the British can take them down the wrong road. A word of caution- if you are squemish about homosexual sex scenes, avoid this book!

Now I am in the midst of McDermott's After This, and so far so good...