July Reading Notes

Johnny Tremain--I finally finished reading this book to the three youngest kids. (Since we usually read at the bus stop, our routine falls apart in the summer.) It's been almost thirty years since I read it initially, and I'd forgotten everything except the very basic premise: boy in Boston at the start of the American Revolution. I was surprised by the sophistication of the language, which was a definite step above most of the children's books I've read recently.

New York--My first Rutherfurd book, Sarum, has a very Mitchneresque feel. It literally starts with the glaciers receding from Europe. This book starts in New Amsterdam in 1664, and although I was disappointed to see so little of the Native American experience reflected in the book, the shorter time period does make this story more cohesive than Sarum. It's a great overview of the history of New York City since the Europeans settled the area. I learned new things and remembered things I had learned but forgotten. Definitely a good book to read in preparation for my trip to NYC in September.

The Secret Magdalene--My friend who loaned me Queenmaker, loaned me this book also. It takes the premise that the Apostle John and Mary Magdalene are the same person (remember The Davinci Code?) and tells a story of how that came to be. The first half of the book dragged, and I came very close to quitting . There are so many other books on my To Read list, I wasn't sure I wanted to spend any more time with this one. But I have a hard time not finishing a book I have chosen to read, and I'm glad I stayed with it. The book's coverage of the events in the Gospels is more interesting than the coverage of the lost years. I don't think this is a plausible version of what happened, but it did make for an interesting look at Jesus through gnostic eyes.

Harris and Me--This is the assigned summer reading for the twins, so I thought I should read it. It's not great literature, but I did laugh out loud several times. Harris is a delight.

Of Mice and Men--One of the two books EM must read this summer. It met my two expectations: depressing and well-written. The surprises were the length (it's practically a short story) and the Gollum-like scene at the end.

My Life Needs Footnotes

Yesterday I was reading Click, Clack, Moo to LW. It's a delightful children's book about a farmer whose cows find a typewriter, learn to type, and send letters demanding electric blankets because the barn is cold.

We've read the book numerous times. LW enjoys it and always laughs.

This time, he turned to me and asked, "What's a typewriter?"

And I suddenly realized that he's never seen one in action. Have you ever tried to explain a typewriter to a child born in the computer age? NB and IM joined in with questions about how the paper advances and how you correct mistakes when you're typing.

Oddly enough, I'd just shared with a coworker earlier in the day that my children once asked why we say "dial a phone number" when there is no dial involved. And her comments about how people with no memory of carbon copies still cc people on emails prompted me to have a conversation with EM about the origin of the term.

I'm suddenly feeling very old. Things I have used in my life are so strange to my children that they need explanations to understand references to them in text.

How Many Minds Are in There?

LW didn't want to go to sleep because he's been having nightmares. I told him he should think about something happy while he's falling asleep. He said, "I'm sorry, but my dream list has a mind of its own."

Some Ideas Should Not Be Tried

Several years ago, I heard a mom say that during the summer they have ice cream sundaes for Sunday dinner. I thought it sounded fun, but Michael, the family chef, did not. Since he's out of town for the week, I decided today would be a perfect time to try it.

The kids have been counting down the days ever since the ice cream entered the house.

I made sure we all had a healthy breakfast and lunch, and then I made brownies. For dinner, we had brownie sundaes with two kinds of ice cream, hot fudge sauce, butterscotch, and whipped cream. Sugar shock hit me two bites in, and I went in search of the leftover pasta salad. After that, I spent an hour lying on the couch.

NB and LW ate their small first helping and made it half-way through their seconds. NB then made himself a roast beef sandwich.

IM and EM asked for thirds, but when I said no they also scrounged up something healthy.

I learned two things today. One, this is not a new family tradition. Two, there are limits to my sweet tooth.

Who says a word has only one meaning?

LW: Mom, we have a tiny problem. And by tiny, I mean huge!

(For the worriers who might be reading, a Lego structure collapsed.)

No, the non-smoking policy does not have an exception for your before-bed cigarettes

The guest in room 7 just called.

I notice the sign on the door says that it's a non-smoking room.
Yes, we don't have any smoking rooms.
I usually smoke a couple of cigarettes right before bed.
There is no smoking allowed in the room.
I wouldn't smoke any other time.
There's a $100 fine for smoking in the room.
I guess I'll have to go outside to smoke.
That would be great. Thank you.

He's called two other times in the last ten minutes. He's having trouble setting the alarm clock in the room.