Curiouser and Curiouser

Remember back a few months ago when my technology was systematically revolting? Well I thought I'd settled that all down: I learned how to trick Jasper into obeying me, I replaced my old external hard drive, I even managed to get my cell phone Napoleon to comply. But then this week I discovered the ultimate betrayal. My gmail account (well one of them) has been selectively not delivering very important emails from my TA. Et tu Brute? Now that both my TA and I have figured this out we should be able to work around it, but I am still reeling from the shock. What could possibly happen next? Is my tv going to fall on me and my DVD player spit DVDs mockingly into my face? Or will I simply be sealed inside a T tomb? I probably should not have given the technology any good ideas. Hopefully the keyboard does not have a collective consciousness.

On a completely different note, I just finished The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams for my Writing for Children class. I read the entire thing straight through--not a single break. If you knew how much I had to drink this afternoon/evening that would be more impressive to you. I was majorly skeptical at first because it's about a girl in a polygamous cult in a desert who has just found out she is going to be forced to become her sixty-year-old uncle's seventh wife. And it was written by someone in Utah, hmmmm. But I was quickly riveted and became deeply invested. I'd say it's worth a read.

Tomorrow I'm going to read Keesha's House by Helen Frost and Toning the Sweep by Angela Johnson. (You know, in case you feel like reading along and living my life with me. If you really want I can tell you which text books I'll be reading this week too).

Really? Her?

Why did Virginia Hamilton's M.C. Higgins, the Great win so many awards? Pretty much all of us in the Criticism of Children's Literature class (essentially the incoming Masters Students in Children's Literature) found it painful to read and not at all easy to understand. Needless to say, I do not recommend this book.

Though if you're looking for some cultural diversity, The Circuit by Francisco Jiminez was an interesting, moving, and mercifully quick read about a young Mexican immigrant family's experiences in California.

This has been another "review" (more like a verdict) by your current Children's Literature Correspondent.

In love

For my writing class this week we read Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree.

I loved it. I mean it; I thought it was fantastic.

But, I don't really have anyone to recommend it to (not having any late elementary/early middle school girl BFFs). But if you're looking for a charming and fast read or do know people who fit this age range/profile I'd encourage you to pick it up.

Your Children's Lit student correspondent over and out.

Premises

It takes a great deal of self-discipline to not eat chocolate cake for/at Breakfast when you happen to have made a very big, very good chocolate cake.

I lack self discipline.

On the other hand, I did make my first every cake from scratch.

Also, it takes self-control not to read until 4:00 am when your book is getting very interesting and you've hit your second wind (possibly due to the aforementioned chocolate cake) and your eyes are not closing of their own tiredness.

I lack self-control.

I did however stop my project (putting together my last piece of furniture which arrived yesterday) before it was done because it was after midnight and probably noisy.

That's something.

Similes and cities

Dunkin' Donuts is to Boston what 7-11 is to Copenhagen.

It's one of the very first things I noticed when I got here two long weeks ago. There is almost literally one on every block, well at least at every shopping center. Sometimes there are two or three to a street. It's like that old joke about Starbucks being across the street from one another. I noticed a similar proclivity to 7-11s when I literally walked Copenhagen back in 2005 (they were practically on every corner).

So now I'm asking you to brush up those SAT skills and answer a question.

Dunkin' Donuts is to Boston as _______________ is to (your town of residence).

The difference between me and the SAT is I'm not giving you multiple choice answers. But do answer, I want to know.

Dost thou love pictures?

Just so you know that we really did make that epic cross-country trip.

Ali at Mt. Rushmore (Yes, she's actually smiling in a picture)

It is a truth universally acknowledged that everyone at Mt. Rushmore is a little picture happy. Suffice it to say we took pictures just about the whole way up.

Getting looked down upon by famous Presidents

And here I am (sorry for the shadows, but it's one of those trade offs for being in nature).

I actually have very little documentation for the rest of South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, or Ohio so you'll just have to take my word for it that I have as yet learned to apparate and therefore had to drive through them to get to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. I know it seems risky, but you can do it. I don't lie that often.

Looking out from Little Roundtop

I have lots of pictures of cute streets, interesting churches, and various segments of the battlefield but here's one that I'm actually in.

Lily wanted to take a picture of Peter and his friend

And then we took one of Lily with Peter's friend

Then I went home and played with kids for a week before spending another week in hotels.

And finally I live in Boston now. Yeah, that's right I've finally broken into New England, which means it's only a matter of time before I make it over to Old England. I'm babystepping.

Pictures to come: Boston, the apartment in Charlestown, and obviously more fantastic adventures.

Also the title of this post is a quote from Taming of the Shrew. I admit that I full text searched it; I thought there was a quote about pictures in Hamlet, but apparently there isn't. Not in your version anyway.

What does the rhino say?

I didn't have a very good answer for this when my two-and-a-half year old nephew asked me. The giraffe I knew and could answer even if he didn't really understand it (giraffes make no noise because their necks are too long for their voicebox/vocal chords; instead they emit low frequency air puffs which they use to communicate with one another though I didn't share that last part with him). But I was stumped by the rhino, so like any responsible and educated adult I made something up. The third time or so through the animals, however, Peter had has own answer ready.

Peter as the elephant: trumpeting noise
Peter as the zebra: horse noise
Peter as the rhino (in a low, gravelly voice): "Juma, get out of the way."

Why didn't I think of that?

In case you're wondering, Peter's middle name is Juma. It's the name he often goes by at home and how he refers to himself.