Please come back, next week

Hello dear readers:

It's been awhile, I know. I hope to get back in the saddle next week, I've survived being snow bound with the kids, kids with the flu, a show opening, my own bout with a head cold and now the arrival of my parental units. All of these things = stress in my life.... And while I have literally started 4 blog posts I have been unable to finish a single one. But my show closes Sunday (see shameless plug below) and my head cold will soon be gone. My parents can only stress me out as much as I allow them to, so I'm going to nip that in the bud too.

SO look for a lovely piece on the joys of being Two starring Ms. L or a piece on cabin fever, starring me! Or maybe both.

Meanwhile enjoy the sun!

VITRIOL AND VIOLETS

Music & Lyrics by: Dave FrishbergBook by: Shelly Lipkin, Louanne Moldovan, Sherry Lamoreaux
Directors: Louanne Moldovan & Shelly LipkinMusical Director: Bill Wells

Vitriol & Violets celebrates the Algonquin Round Table, a group of writers and their friends who gathered daily in the 1920s at the Algonquin Hotel. During the course of their “ten-year lunch,” table associates Dorothy Parker, Alexander Woollcott, Robert Benchley, George S. Kaufman, Edna Ferber, Heywood Broun, Harold Ross, Harpo Marx and Jane Grant gained fame and fortune as much for their widely quoted bon mots as for their significant achievements. The stage play, which Cygnet Productions premiered at Russell Street Theatre, won an Oregon Book Award (2004) and has been rewritten as a musical in collaboration with Dave Frishberg, one of the nation's foremost jazz composers (and a Portland resident).

The ensemble cast includes Lauren Bair, Adair Chappell, Rae Kraemer, Isaac Lamb, Mark Schwahn, Ted Roisum, James Sullivan, Michael Teufel and Joe Theissen.

Vitriol & Violets is produced by Rainy Day Productions and presented by Artists Repertory Theatre as part of Fertile Ground: The City-Wide Festival of New Works presented by the Portland Area Theatre Alliance (PATA).
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Tickets are available through the Artists Rep Box Office at 503-241-1278

Read more about Artists Rep's other festival entry, Gracie and the Atom.

Quotes of the year

N:

"Daddy, do you and Mommy need some Mommy and Daddy time?"

"My favorite part of the day is that you were here the whole time" (hmm, will he say that in 10 years?)

"Where are you dropping us off NOW?" (ah the life of a theater kid)

"But, I didn't get to vote for Obama" (the morning after the election)

"Lucy, I like having you for a sister" (first time they walked hand and hand)

"Well, I'm not really interested in sleeping" (when asked why he was out of bed one evening)

Lulu:

"Bish kiss!" (when she wants a fish kiss)

"Self! No, Self" (she's an independent girl)

"chup-chup" (ketchup)

"noah, carseat now!"

ho ho ho

Happy Holidays from our house to yours!

Dear Santa:

Dear Santa,

I would like:

*a bike light for my trike so I can ride my trike at night

*my own keys for the front door (I will only unlock it , never lock it)

*an ambulance with 2 doors

*a police hat (because I want to be a police officer. They help people after they have been run over by the bad guys)***

I think Lucy would like:

*a Thomas the tank engine.

Love, N

(As dictated to Mommy, who tried valiantly not to laugh out loud at the preciseness of her son's desires)

***I have no idea where he came up with this definition of police officers

Television and my kids

I envy stay at home moms, the ones who seem to really enjoy staying at home EVERY day with their kids. I must confess I would not make a good stay at home mom. By the end of my 4 days home with the kids I am very ready to go to work. I think this goes without say, but I'll repeat it anyway, I LOVE MY KIDS. But, boy oh boy, are they active and busy. At these particular stages in their lives they need almost constant attention. Not necessarily constant stimulation, but they need our presence, just the same.

I think the television is a blessing and a curse. There are days when we don't watch a single minute of tv. The sun comes up and we run out the door to play in the sunshine and warm air. These are the days that walking to the park or to see the neighborhood chickens rule. These are the days that hanging out on the yard looking at library books (or in L's case leading mom in grand chase down the walk) is better then even Bob the Builder. On these day I know that the tv is nothing more than an unnecessary distraction from real life and I scoff at it.

Then there are the days of endless rains or runny noses. The days that drag on for hours because every activity I offer is met with a resounding "no". There are days when I simply must get some work done, or just need 30 minutes to do something other then read, "Maisy's Bedtime" AGAIN. These are the days that I am liable to turn the tv on for a hour in the morning, and maybe even pop in a video in the afternoon.

I used to beat myself up every time I let the kids watch tv, whether it was a 1/2 an hour or 2 hours. I was a harsh mistress. But one day I stopped and looked at my kids; a three year old who is reading at a 1st or 2nd grade level, who has a great imagination and good manner; and a 22 month old who is counting to 10 and singing her abc's who also loves life and can charm the pants off the grumpiest of people. And I realize that what little they watch has not adversely harmed them.

We watch PBSkids and videos. I think the only time N has seen commercials was during the Olympics, when he got turned onto swimming, diving and the hurdles. I credit the awesomeness of the divers and Michael Phelps with N's willingness to take swimming lessons this summer. And Lola Jones inspired us to create an obstacle course in the backyard this summer, complete with mini trampoline jumping and stick jumping.

And, to be honest, I like tv. There are days when I dream about a television-free household, and I wonder who would have the harder time, me or the kids? I bet it would be me. Because the tv saves my sanity from time to time, whether it's a rainy afternoon and I pop in a video or it's the end of a long day and I settle into the couch to watch Dr. McDreamy and Merideth spare once again. Yep, I think I'll find something new to beat myself up about, tv is not the enemy in this house.

"inappropriate books"

There's a lot of hoopla going around Portland about a book called, "Suicide Bunny". If I have my information correct, and in this day of instant misinformation, it's possible I have a couple things wrong, there is a woman who wants the book pulled from her child's school library. In fact she is so against this book that she has the book checked out and is refusing to return it. And if the book appears on the shelves again she'll have someone else check that copy out and keep that one as well. Now, I have not read this book, but I have looked at some of the drawings on-line. Okay, it may not be 'appropriate' for some kids, but I'm so tired of other people deciding what's appropriate and what is not appropriate for everyone in the world.

I was an early reader, and like many early readers I ended up reading books that perhaps were not really suited for my age. I remember one clear example was Judy Blume's "Wifey". Judy Blume was the author for middle schoolers in my day. I read everything from "Are you there God, It's Me Margaret?" to "Deenie" and on to "Forever". Then one day I was searching the card catalog (I'm assuming my readers all know what that is), to see what else she might have written and there was a new book called"Wifey". It wasn't in the juvenile section, but in the adult books. No problem there, I had been reading non-fiction books and Agatha Christie mysteries from the adult sections without parental complain for quite some time. I found the book without trouble and settled in my favorite corner of the library to read it. Whoa, before the end of the first page I knew this was new territory. First page and I'm 'exposed' to a flasher wearing a stars and stripes motorcylce helmet. This would be an adventure.

I knew this was a book I should not read at home, and yet I was going to try (going with the theory it was by Judy Blume, and had been reading her for years so....) The high school girl at the check out counter tried to tell me I couldn't read the book, but Ms. Williams (my favorite librarian) overruled the girl and told me I could take it home, with the caveat that I had to tell my mom I had it ("oh sure," I lied) and if I had any questions about what I read I should ask her(I'm sure she meant ask my mom, but I took it to mean ask her)

Now, I know there are many who would be appalled that a librarian would allow a young girl to take such a racy book home (and if memory serves, it got racier still). But I say hooray for her. She understood that I was going to read the book one way or another. She understood that I was going to keep reading books above my comfort and perhaps comprehension level for a few more years until life caught up with my brain. I think she also wanted to foster a level of open dialogues. Now, it wasn't really going to happen in my household, but I am grateful she tried.

I think kids should be allowed to take home any book they want from the library. Do I think they should be able to read any book? Today I say yes, as my children age I may find that I might change my mind, I hope not. I think books and the multitude of ideas are too important to start keeping them from kids because you don't like the content. Instead of banning the books, read them along side your kid and then discuss what about it bothers you. Take a chance that they'll ask you questions (like when I asked my Mom what "69"while reading "Forever", she didn't know the answer but my older sister told us both...)

My mom freaked about my reading choices all the time. When I was in my Stephen King phase she was sure I was going to get into Satan worship (never even occured to me) and when I was "secretly" reading Harlequin romances at the library (forgive me I was a kid) she thought I was going to go down some wrong path (that included some sinful self pleasuring). But despite all her fears I cannot remember a time she told me I couldn't read something. (of course I hid a lot from her!) And for that I give her big thanks and major kudos. You'll just have to trust me when I say this was a big deal for her.

So to the woman who wants to ban "Bunny Suicide" I say, 'stay out of my library' You have every right to choose what comes into your home, but not what comes into my home. Take the book back and talk to your kids about books and freedoms, and not the tv cameras about your view of right and wrong.

And now I think I'll head out for our weekly trip to the library and see if I can't find some old friends to share with my kids.

Economics 101 by "N"

N was flipping thru an "educational" toy catalog last night. The catalog came home w/Patrick one day, seems it's for a new store that is aiming to get teachers in the door. And this is the conversation that ensued:

"I want to go to Daddy's school," N says

"What would you do at Daddy's school," I ask, thinking he'll say something about reading or hanging out with Daddy.

"So I could get these toys"

"Oh honey, those toys aren't at Daddy's school. You have to buy them"

"Okay, I want to buy them"

"Do you have any money?"

"No. could you buy them for me?"

"No, I don't have any extra money right now"

N ponders for a moment and then the light bulb goes off and he has a brilliant idea:

"I'll go the the Little Fred Meyer and they can give me money!" He declares.

"Why would they give you money?" I ask (trying not to giggle too much)

"well, if they want me to buy the toys the will give me money"

Ta-da. So, that's what I think, too. If the retailers of America want us to spend money this holiday season, they should start giving out cash.