things I must do tomorrow
I made the somewhat crazy mistake, at the beginning of the year, of deciding to put together the fifth grade yearbook. Well, school’s almost out—guess I better get to work on it.
I’ve been collecting pictures for several months, but there are still a couple of kids whose parents haven’t sent any in yet, despite the fact that I’ve sent home several notes requesting them. I don’t get that. Do you really not want your kid’s picture in the yearbook? or are you just not getting my messages through your fifth grader?
I’m going to have to go to school and actually take pictures of those kids, because I can’t imagine finishing the yearbook without having one single picture with them in it. I’ve also gotta search around in my house and find a couple of their class pictures, which must be here somewhere.
A long time ago (like, back when I only had one kid), I had a great theory that I would make photo albums for both my kids. That dream is long dead, it seems like the least I can do is a half-decent job on the Bee’s yearbook.
spring is here
Every year in the winter, I buy myself a peony to plant in my garden. Peonies are my favorite flower, but they’re also incredibly high maintenance. Before this year, I have not managed to keep one alive long enough to flower. But last week, I noticed this very exciting development:
And then today when I went out to get the paper I saw this:
You can’t imagine how thrilled I am! Maybe next year, I’ll get two!
a pretty bad week for the fifth grade
I had to call landisdad as I was driving home tonight (hands free! honest!). After we talked for a minute, he said, “hold on, the Bee wants to talk to you.”
She had the following updates, and she couldn’t wait for me to get home to tell me:
1) that she had fallen while scootering, and scraped her knees so badly that, “I couldn’t walk, Mom!”
2) a boy in her class, who fell during gym last week, apparently broke his foot, and will be in a cast and on crutches for the rest of the school year
3) a girl in her class got hit by a car! (this was a statement made by another girl in class, and does not seem to have been confirmed by any teacher, so I’m not exactly sure what the deal is)
4) and finally, a different boy in her class brought a pocket knife to school, and is therefore suspended.
I know Teacher Appreciation week is over and all, but I might bring that teacher coffee or something…
class on TV
I’ve recently been watching the Starz show Party Down, largely because it’s free to stream on Netflix, and at a half-hour in length, perfect for my tremendously short attention span. It’s a sitcom about a bunch of people who work as catering waiters in LA, and are actors/screenwriters/comedians in waiting.
I find it very interesting, partly because all the time on the show is spent at the parties they are working–they never show you scenes of the actors auditioning, or the writer writing. And frankly, how many shows are there on TV these days that are about regular working stiffs trying to make it through the day?
I mean, sure there are shows about cops & doctors & nurses, but when was the last time you saw a tv show about a factory worker, or a janitor?
Landisdad and I were having a conversation with the Bee a few weeks ago about the kinds of shows that she likes to watch and how they all seem to feature some element of complete & utter unbelievability. There’s the Wizards of Waverly Place–about a magical family (which, OK, at least their parents run a restaurant, albeit one whose competitor is run by vampires). Or Hannah Montana–secret rock star. Or iCarly–two girls with a hit web show (and come on, does anyone believe Spencer can afford that apartment in Seattle?). Or Tru Jackson, VP–about a girl who gets her own line at a fashion company. It seems like the last thing anyone would do these days is make a show about some kids growing up in the ghetto–but that was the plot of at least three different shows that I could remember from my own childhood (extra credit to any commenter who guesses all three).
There was a period of time when it seemed like shows that focused on rich people were the exception, rather than the rule. Roseanne was a factory worker (later a waitress) married to a guy who did construction and worked on bikes. Of course, there was Alice–another waitress show. And when there were shows about people working in show business, it was things like The Partridge Family–who were not exactly the most successful musical act in TV history.
Why does it matter, whether the kids watch tv shows that feature people in real-life situations? Well, for one, I’d like my kids to grow up with some understanding of how incredibly privileged they are, and if all they see on TV are people who are fantastically successful & wealthy without seeming to work very hard, what does that teach them? I’d like them to see a show where every character isn’t trying to figure out how to be famous, as if just being famous is an end worthy of desiring.
Bumblebee Sweet Potato 