playdate

Can I bend your ear for a tick?

I just finished reading Little Bee by Chris Cleave for my book club.  Without revealing too much of the plot (the book jacket implores the reader to "please don't..tell what happens.  The magic is in how it unfolds."), there are many life lessons to learnt, but what most struck me was the idea of people wanting to make the world a better place.  It really got me thinking.  Now, I'm not a social activist.  You won't see me at a protest making a big stink about things.  And while I'd love to be a missionary in the field, the reality is that I have a family and a life here, and I'm not going to drag them with me.  I'm just not that kind of person.  But I do want to make a difference somehow.  I thought I might start with what I know.

TV's Best Kept Secrets

Well, it's no secret that I watch a lot of TV.  I mean a lot of TV.  I'm billing my time as 'research for my future career as a star actress'.  Ahem.  That being said, though, I don't just watch any old TV show.  I only watch the good ones.  But it's not terribly avantgarde to say that I love to watch House, Lost, The Office and Battlestar Galactica, no matter how good they are.  (And they are very, very good.)  No sir - those of discerning tastes like me (Ahem #2) also seek out the programmes that are excellent, but are not necessarily mainstream favourites...yet.

drunken klutz crafting: pillowcase dress

Dusting off the crafty hat:

A pillowcase dress! Doesn't that sound fun for a little girl? Plus, people are paying beau-coup bucks for them on Ebay.

Why not? It sounds easy.

First, read this. Then get the template from here. Then realize you don't sew. Unh-uh. You don't. Well, hell. But wait! They make glue for this, don't they?? Resolve to make a nearly sew-less version.

Then find some pillowcases you can cut up and not feel badly about. Suggestion: do NOT take the ones off your bed. Your formerly oblivious-to-linens husband? Will notice. Damn his eyes.

Pumpkinpie's Picks

I haven't mentioned for a while now what my Pumpkinpie has been enjoying, which I think is a good window into what she and I like, so I think it's about time I pull back the curtain on bedtime at our house once again, especially since I've been buying new books like a mad thing lately. (That's what happens when you have time to browse bookstores while on mat leave...) She's also taken very strongly to some good stuff, surprising even me a little, given that this child has had some dubious favourites in the past. New on the playlist are:

In (defense of) the Night Garden...

A few posts back, I wrote about my dislike for The Backyardigans, and was frankly surprised at the amount of responses I got.  Apparently, they have some staunch supporters.  I still cringe when the show comes on TV, but I don't deny that it has great appeal for some and the idea behind the show is a good one.  (So let's hear a big WOOT! for The Backyardigans,  you crazy pseudo-animals, you.)  But what really disconcerted me was the animosity displayed for a programme that I named as one of my top picks, In the Night Garden.  Not only do some people dislike it intensely, but apparently the message boards on Treehouse are awash with people trying to get the show banned from the air.  So, I felt compelled to add my support to an unfairly vituperated show.

Bitter Tears

This year, for our Passover Seder, I bravely offered to make the brisket. If you are at all familiar with a Passover Seder, then you know that the brisket is the shining star of the meal. Happy to pass the torch to the next generation, my beleaguered mother cooked the (mock) chicken soup, matzo balls, farfalle and mushrooms, lemon chicken, roasted potatoes, steamed veggies, all the fixings for the Seder plate, and several desserts. I could handle the brisket, right?

Gone, Baby, Gone.

***WARNING:  SPOILER ALERT!***  If you haven't seen this week's House yet (and you really, REALLY should have) then stop reading now. 

With the amount of  TV I watch, it shouldn't come as such a surprise that I get attached.  I mean, if you saw the same group of people once a week for years, you'd consider them all friends, wouldn't you?  Even if you liked some people more than others?  So shouldn't that theory also be applicable to the people you see on TV regularly?  Aren't they kinda, sorta, maybe "friends" too?  Even if you don't, technically, "know" them and they aren't "real" people?  (Oh gawd, am I really this loser-ish that I consider TV characters to be friends?  Please tell me it's not just me...).  So it's like a punch to the gut when one of those "friends" dies...unexpectedly.

'Pie on Pie

As the weather grows warmer (well, okay, not today, but on the whole, we're getting there...), my thoughts turn to summer. yes, I love spring, but I dream of summer. The warm weather, the carefree feeling in the air - and the fruit. And, of course, because I have a sweet tooth, the fruit pies. Well who doesn't love pie? Since I'm not alone, there are some terrific picture books that pay tribute to the wonders of pie. You just might want to make sure you have some on hand if you are going to make these part of your reading, because you know they are going to want some...

But can she read the Phone Book?

One of the things that I really love about my new status of Stay-at-Home Mom is that I have ample opportunity to check out what the city has to offer in the way of children's entertainment.  There are people out there doing something pretty amazing things in the name of enriching our children's youth and bringing us together as a community, if you know where to look.  And, if you have a lot of money.  Of course, I'm talking free entertainment here, people.  (No salary = No money.)  One of the things that is really popular in my neighbourhood is the Chapters Storytime.  I'm trying to stay open-minded about it because I really (truly!) appreciate what they're doing, but most of the time this half-hour of my life leaves me feeling cold...and bored.