House of Estrogen

Current Events Haiku

A few days ago, Elise's teacher sent an email to parents about a homework assignment. The kids were to either watch the news, read the newspaper, or talk to their parents about current events. She suggested topics like the economy and presidential election. That evening, Elise and I watched a few clips on cnn.com, and then we talked. We talked about Romney, Gingrich, Obama, Santorum, Republicans, Democrats, voting, the economy, mortgages, foreclosures, unemployment, the war in Afghanistan, the killing of innocent Afghan people by a US soldier, and post traumatic stress syndrome in soldiers. I thought we did a pretty good job of covering all the big current event topics.

The next day, she was to write a poem about a current event. While politics, the economy, or war wouldn't necessarily be my first choice subject if I was writing poetry, it was her assignment, not mine. I'm just happy to be out of school and in a job that doesn't require any poetry writing.

Yesterday, we had a parent-teacher conference with Elise's teacher, and I asked Elise to show me her poetry journal. I wanted to see which of these serious topics she had chosen for her current events poem.

This was it. It is Haiku (5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables).

Star turns twenty-six.

The same age as Mrs. L.

She is a singer.

Mortgages? Obama? Afghanistan? Romney? 

No...

 

 

 

Lady Gaga's birthday.  I guess I need to broaden my definition of "current events", huh?

Just Because They Make Me Smile

I'm sharing a little more Youtube fun - Jake Bruene and Kurt Schneider. These guys make me smile. You don't necessarily need to watch every video from start to finish, but watch at least a little of each, and watch them in order. These guys are so flippin' talented and creative!

 

Sink or Swim?

Sorry for the lack of blogging lately, but right now I'm teetering between a desperate dog paddle to the side of the pool and lying at the bottom of the deep end with the weight of my world chained to my ankle. I thought my load was heavy before Monday. Then J.C. crashed, and the load just got exponentially heavier. The trashcan in the kitchen that used to empty itself every couple of days now overflows until I figure out I have to be the one to take out the trash. The kids who used to have a ride to track-out camp now depend on me for every ride every day everywhere they need to go.  The diaper pail that used to get dumped when the stench was overwhelming now stinks up the house until I find the time to take it out. The baby who cries during the night now has only me to comfort her. The dishes piling up in the sink don't get washed any more. I think I need to buy paper plates. I know we'll get through this, and I'm hoping J.C. will get upgraded to a brace with some range of motion in the next few weeks, but for now, things are hard. Most days, I feel like I'm drowning, but I'm clinging to a few floatation devices to keep me afloat...

1. Stronger, by Kanye West. Yes, I know he's an ass. I probably shouldn't support his music career, but I bought that song before he was such a jerk to Taylor Swift, so I don't feel too guilty listening to it. Repeating, "N-n-n-now that that don't kill me can only make me stronger" over and over to myself is a good mantra right now.
2. Starbuck's gingerbread - slices of heaven, that stuff. If I gain 50 pounds while J.C. is crutch-bound, you'll know why.
3. Addie's hugs.
4. The gorgeous Carolina blue skies that come out between the rainy days. There are also a few remaining trees with bright red leaves hanging on for me. Once the leaves are all gone though, I am done with fall and winter. Bring on spring, please.
5. Candy Cane Joe Joes - my other seasonal love. Trader Joe's and Starbuck's know how to nail seasonal comfort food. Part of the above mentioned 50 pounds can also be attributed to Candy Cane Joe Joes.
6. Friends and neighbors who have carted my kids around and brought us meals.
7. Hot baths at the end of a long day. If the baby cries while I'm in the tub, she just has to wait.
8. I Gotta Feeling, by the Black Eyed Peas because how can you not smile when you're singing that song? I haven't been smiling much lately, but that one still works on me.
9. McDonald's and Wendy's, while horribly unhealthy for my kids, I figure an overdose of fast food for a couple of weeks is better than their mother having a mental breakdown over trying to prepare a well balanced meal and clean up after it.
10. J.C. trying desperately to help out when he can. There's only so much he can accomplish from his perch on the couch, but he tries hard.

I bow down to all the single parents out there. Thankfully, I am not one, but I'm getting a taste of it with this injury. It is HARD WORK. I have an enormous amount of respect for moms and dads parenting solo. I'll be glad when my partner in parenting is back on his feet. For now, I'll just keep on treading water.