A Brave Little Girl

In Yemen, there is a tribal proverb in the countryside proclaiming: "To guarantee a happy marriage, marry a nine-year-old girl."

While it is important to recognize that different cultures follow different traditions that may differ from our own, it is difficult to understand the belief that marrying a very young child to a man many years her senior could ever be a positive decision.

Yet, that's exactly what happened to Nujood Ali. When she was just ten-years-old (an age which is an estimate by Nujood and her mother as her birth as "out in the countryside, people have bushels of babies without bohering with identify cards"), her father arranged to marry her to Faez Ali Thamer, a delivery man around thirty years of age.

Despite protests from Nujood and her older sister, the marriage proceeded. Although her new husband had promised Nujood's family he would not touch her until she had reached puberty, after taking her to her new home many miles away he raped her, a nightly horror Nujood endured in terror.

After weeks (or maybe months? the timeline is unclear) of crying, Nujood's "husband" agreed to take her to visit her family. Once there, Nujood begged her family for help. In vain. Her father's response? "It is out of the question for you to leave your husband!" Her mother "kept quiet, simply raising her arms to heaven and murmuring, 'That's how life is Nujood: all women must endure this; we have all gone through the same thing.'"

Nujood realized that, were she to ever be free, she would have to find her own solution. After telling her story to her father's second wife, she is advised to go to the court. And so, she does.

Nujood is fortunate to encounter sympathetic judges who assign a confident female lawyer to her case, leading to a battle which ends with Nujood is granted a divorce - the first child bride in Yemen to achieve this.

This story would make a harrowing novel. That it is all true makes it all the more horrific - and inspiring. Nujood's courage to free herself has inspired other children to seek divorces from marriages that, from a Westerner's perspective, seem no more than a way for a father to sell his child as a sex slave.

Nujood's memoir was published in the United States in 2010. It is a slim volume that reads quickly, but will stay with you forever. An epilogue updates us on Nujood's life and a reading group guide is included. There is also information on The Girls World Communication Center, which seeks to help girls who have been forced to leave school and those who are the vicitms of early marriage to continue their education.

An important book, I highly recommend I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali with Delphine Minoui.

How NOT to Tell an Adoption Story

When my mother was newly born, she was adopted by my grandparents, a German immigrant couple who wanted a little girl to love. I have friends who have been adopted, friends who have adopted and a friend who made the selfless decision to give her child the best possible life by allowing another family to welcome him as their son. I believe that adoption is an amazing blessing with the potential to enrich the lives of all involved.


As someone who has always been passionate about books and their connections to children especially, and who spent a lucky 17 years working in public libraries, I am always pleased to find a book that addresses adoption in a meaningful way. Last year’s novel All the Broken Pieces by Ann Burg addressed some of the insecurities and challenges faced by a child adopted from war-torn Vietnam in a sensitive fashion that would speak to children.

Similarly, for younger children, The Red Thread: An Adoption Fairy Tale by Grace Lin uses the fairy tale convention and a Chinese belief about a thread that always binds us to those we love.

Knowing that this often delicate subject can be handled in a gentle and compassionate manner, it was deeply distressing to me to learn about a new book on the market that addresses adoption in a thoughtless and hurtful way.

Quackenstein Hatches a Family by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen is an ugly book. The author’s website offers this description:

“Crack open this tale of family and fright, as cute as it is creepy. All the animals in the zoo have friends and family to play with and love. All of them, that is, except Quackenstein. Lonely and bitter in his ramshackle corner, he decides to adopt an egg. He cares for it diligently, waiting until the moment when it will hatch a baby duck of his own. On a dark and stormy night, the egg hatches, Quackenstein cackles, and lightning strikes, but wait—what’s this? That baby’s not a duck! What will he do? Where can he hide? And will Quackenstein ever find someone (or something) to cuddle?”

So. This nasty, bitter duck decides to adopt (the author introduces this word, making it unambiguously an adoption story). When the egg hatches, it isn’t a duck at all. In fact, in the initial illustrations, it is a red-eyed, long-clawed, black baby with a “chilling glare” who Quackenstein (coincidentally a white duck) quickly labels a “monster” and runs screaming from.

When the storm ends and the lights come on, the “monster” is revealed to be an adorable brown baby platypus. After enduring the horror of being chased by the “monster” Quackenstein is finally convinced by the baby’s persistence to give it a chance and eventually decides he loves “his son.”

So, happy ending, all is well, right?

This reader would answer - Not so much.

For an adopted child who encounters this book, particularly a child who is part of a transracial or culturally blended family, what are the take-away messages? That if you look different from your family (i.e. being a different color) they will consider you a monster? That an adopted child must chase his parent and convince that adult that he is worthy of love?

I don’t think I am being wildly oversensitive here. School Library Journal, for one, recognizes the flaws of this book; it’s reviewer notes, “The idea that prospective adoptive parents would not only abandon, but would also be horrified when the child is not what they expect, or has a birth defect, creates a potentially hurtful scenario.”

And if I am being a little sensitive, so what? Even in the most loving picture perfect adoptions, underlying insecurities and questions may lie dormant – for children and parents alike. Even if a family has been lucky enough to find each other and weather the challenges inherently present in adoptive families, why would you read this book to a preschooler who may be hurt by the idea that if they aren’t very careful and look perfect in their parent’s eyes, they may be rejected?

Ugh. No, thanks. I returned this book to the local library as quickly as I could. I hope no child I love and no child who has been adopted ever has to encounter this misguided harmful book.

How My Sweetheart Did Not Go To Jail

This was definitely an eventful and exciting day. We were determined to go to Babies R Us to see some of the Baby gear we'll need in real life, maybe make a few decisions. We went armed with our library copy of Baby Bargains: Secrets to Saving 20% to 50% on Baby Furniture, Equipment, Clothes, Toys, Maternity Wear and Much, Much More!, a spiral notebook and pen, and an apple (I knew I'd need an eventual snack!).

I think we were both nervous and when we walked in, we were pretty overwhelmed. We decided tp just go aisle by aisle and see what happened. We took notes on things we think we might like, consulting Baby Bargains every few minutes. Choosing a car seat and stroller was fun, especially taking the strollers for test drives, practicing collapsing them, etc. We don't know that we're going to find out the gender (or share if we do), so we chose something gender-neutral.

We had made a deal to spend no more than $100 today, preferably way less since we know we need to make a registry. No worries. My Sweetheart bought Baby his/her first Converse All-Star sneakers and that was all we got.

After a quick lunch out (BRU ate up about 2 hours of our day), we had to go grocery shopping. As soon as we left Aldi, we came to a red light. Stopped and I read bits of the Baby Bargains book out loud to my Sweetheart when...

BAM!

Someone rear-ended us, pretty hard.

We felt okay, besides me being seriously freaked out and foul-mouthed.

My Sweetheart stayed remarkably calm, although he was completely furious. He called the police who asked us to pull into the Walgreens parking lot while they sent an officer.

We did and the idiot who hit us followed. When we got there, said yahoo lowered his window and asked if we wanted to get out and take a look at the car. My Sweetheart said no, no until the police arrived. Throughout, he stayed completely calm, which helped me calm down.

To understand how great his even temper was, understand that he can occasionally have a wicked temper, especially if he feels that me and the Baby are threatened in any way. Just last week, he blew a gasket at some asshole who ran us off the road and almost hit us.

SO.

The police came and we all learned that the kid who hit us has no license, no current insurance papers, and wasn't even driving his own car.

The officer couldn't have been nicer and, when we left, the kid's friend's car was being towed and he was a guest of the Merrilville Police Department. Our car was pretty okay, save a broken license plate holder, though we will take it in to the shop for a checkup.

We finished off the grocery shopping with one more stop and headed home.

I am so grateful that me and the Baby - and my husband - are fine and that my Sweetheart is a Total Rock Star who didn't waste his energy punching the kid who hit us.

I think we need to celebrate with a calm evening watching some tv and eating some Starbucks ice cream. Here's hoping the rest of the week is uneventful!

I Love You, Baby, But...

As of today, I am 17 weeks and 1 day pregnant.

Just to be clear - I am super excited that we are expecting a new little person to join our family next June (although Christmas gave me stress - to be explained in a later post). I'm looking forward to the next doctor appointment, when I will hear the Baby's heart again and even more to the anatomy scan soon after that, when we will see the Baby. Really can't wait to feel him (her) moving around in there.

But.

Last week, I started having some sciatica pain. Yay. The past few nights, hip pain has joined it, leading to little sleep, and what I get is restless. I've gained more weight than I would have liked already but I still don't have a cute obvious baby bump, just looking poofier. My "fat" jeans still fit, but I'm giving them a few more days at most. All the glowing clear skin, baby bump, shiny haired cuteness? Nope.

Of course, I shouldn't complain too much. I've been amazingly lucky. My bestie told me this morning she would never have guessed I have gained as much as I told her (and she'd tell me true, folks!). I have had a few moments of queasiness, but they've been few and far between and I never had any morning sickness. I've had no spotting or cramping or any problems at all. Until the hip pain, the worst symptom I had was exhaustion (very slowly lifting) and occasional light-headedness.

At every doctor's appointment, the doctor has found the Baby's heartbeat without much trouble and it's been strong. Even with the extra weight, I know that I am still eating mostly healthy (I do not give in to my desire for pizza at every single meal). I have a supportive Sweetheart whose been pretty fabulous.

So, healthy baby and supportive spouse = super blessed. Just have to be sure to remember that when I'm tossing and turning at 2 o'clock tomorrow morning!

It's a Beautiful Ride

Now that it's almost over, I can look back at 2010 and be truly astonished at how full and blessed and unexpected it was.

When the year started, I was nursing a broken heart and hoping for something that just wasn't gonna happen. Basically, my plan was to just hold on and keep moving forward. I was lucky to have amazing friends, especially NiNi and my Sweetheart to help me through and to listen to my angst.

Well, I guess he wasn't yet my Sweetheart, just one of my best friends, my "rock."

In April, my world flipped upside down again when my Sweetheart and I reunited after many years, this time for real and for good. Despite the whirlwind madness of moving and leaving my job and preparing for my new life, there were no doubts and we were wed in September. At a library. By a librarian. Of course.

In October, the world flipped again (no wonder I'm so dizzy some days!) when we learned that we are expecting a little person to join our family next June. After initial surprise, we are looking forward to meeting him (or her).

From feeling utterly desolate to genuine happiness in 12 short months...

The song that keeps running through my head this morning is "Beautiful Ride" by Dewey Cox. I guess even on sad days, I can remember, "It's about make a little music every day 'til you die / It's a beautiful ride."   (And, incidentally, that lyric always reminds me of Woody Guthrie.)

Here's to an amazing 2011 for all of us!

Thank You...

.. to Freyja Silver for the lovely new blog template!

Pardon the Mess

I am finally trying to implement a new layout for this blog. I'm sure it will be a mess for a few days (weeks?) as I experiment with different layouts and try to tweak them to work. This is the first time I have imported a layout instead of just using a blogspot provided one, so please be patient!

Quote o' the Day

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord... And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (KJV, Luke 2:10,11,13, 14)

In the Grand Scheme of Things...

...my day wasn't that bad. I understand that. Still, it's been a rough day.


First of all, my attempts to make a Mocha Torte continued to fail. I do not understand. I have made the cake before and it has always turned out well. Sure, it was never as beautiful as the one's Tante Frieda made, but she has been making them for (literally) 70 years, so that's okay.


Nope. Not gonna happen for me this time. It ended up lopsided and sloppy looking. I am sure it *tastes* delicious, but I would be far too embarrassed to serve it to my Sweetheart's family on Christmas Day, our first Christmas together. It is also too expensive and labor intensive to just toss, so I will be taking it to my auntie's for Christmas Eve and saving the chocolate chip cheesecake I made for Christmas Day. Less impressive, but at least not hideous.


Then, after wrestling with that for a chunk of my at-home time (btw, it is currently in the freezer; I am hoping it freezes in place and doesn;t capsize altogether!), I was trying to get laundry done. I decided to wash the last pair of jeans I have that fits along with my winter hoodie and vest. I emptied all the pockets, threw the wash in and went back to the cake.


When I went down to put the wash in the dryer, I was horrified to see my cell phone in the washing machine. Oh. Shit.


Of course it wasn't working. Immediately I freaked out. I have *never* done anything so blatantly stoopid before. It's a new phone and I only work very part-time. How could I tell my Sweetheart that I screwed up like that? This Zombie Baby Eating My Brain crap is getting SO OLD.


By the time I found his number and texted him via the carrier's website, I was pretty worked up. Amazingly, he was sweet and understanding and calming. He promised it is all okay and we would get a new one first thing tomorrow. I just needed t have a cup of tea and call the store to check on hours,


The Verizon guy couldn't have been nicer. He got some info, gave me a web address and within 5 minutes, I had confirmation that my new phone will be here tomorrow. (Thank GOD we got the insurance!)


My Sweetheart called again to check on me and make sure I was okay and reiterated that I am to have some tea and take it easy. And so I shall.


But before I do, can I just say that I am fully cognizant of how ridiculously lucky I am to have such an amazing and wonderful Sweetheart? (Yes, he is lucky, too, but today I am focusing on how fantastic HE is.) I really do love him so!

Bwa-ha-ha!

Just read an Old Wives' Tale that sciatica pain during pregnancy is an indication that the child is a boy. Perhaps because boys can be a pain in the butt? Ha!

BTW...

My youngest brother recently began a blog, too. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you took a peek.

Good morning!

I am *so* ready for a nap!


Yesterday was a fairly productive day. My mother-in-law came to pick up the puppy for the afternoon so I could ScotchGuard our new couches and clean all the floors on the first floor. (We are hosting Christmas dinner for my Sweeheart's parents and his cousin and her family.) I also got some dusting done, put an area rug in the front room and washed all the puppy's blankets.


I got tired so quickly! After 4 months of this, you'd think I'd accept that I wear out quicker, but it always suprises me. After all, I am used to being a hard worker who just keeps going until the job is done (or until I just get sick of doing it which, to be honest, has been known to happen). I am proud of how nice everything looks; let's hope it stays that way!


I am making my Tante Frieda's famous Mocha Torte for Christmas Day. It's fairly labor intensive, but worth the effort. Unfortunately, I left the cake in the pan far too long yesterday. When I finally removed it, it cracked. Trying to slice it into layers finished it off. No worries. The cake itself was delicious, so I just cubed it up and put it in the freezer. I'll figure out a trifle or something to make later. As soon as the oven finishes preheating, I will put the second (and final!) attempt in the oven. I work at 9:30am, so I hope to get the laundry and cake done before I have to leave.


The shop has been slow this past few weeks. No dooubt because of the snow and cold and holiday. Dad already warned me that he may send me home early today. I kind of hope not; it's nice to earn some money so I don't have to ask my Sweetheart (he gladly gives, but it is a hard thing for me to get used to). On the other hand, if I get to go home early, maybe I can take a nap. Or even veg out and watch a Christmas movie (which I haven't done once this season!).


And there's the oven, beeping to tell me it's ready. That's my cue, folks. I wish you all a day in which you recognize the good things around you. (That's what I'll be trying to do.)

Quote o' the Day

"I got a letter a while back from a sappy woman. She wrote me because she knew I was sappy too. She wanted help - if it was a terrible mistake bringing a baby into a world as awful as this one. I told her what made being alive almost worthwhile for me was meeting saints who were everywhere. By saints I mean ordinary people behaving decently in an indecent society. I hope all of you are or will become saints." (Kurt Vonnegut)

'Tis the Season to be Uber-Busy!

Baking, baking, baking! I decided to make an extra batch of my Sweetheart's favorite batch of M&M cookies so he can take some to work and we can share some without dipping into the special batch I made just for him (they are the only cookies I said he doesn't have to share). As soon as these cookies are done, I hope to get the cheesecake in the oven. That bakes for an hour, so it will buy me some time to get a few other things done - like shower, maybe? Perhaps read another chapter of The Phantom Tollbooth aloud to the Baby, too.


I started baking way later than I had planned today since I had some errands to run first. One of those errands included a visit to my niece, Payton. Yesterday, she was at the coffee shop while I was working. We were preparing for a luncheon, so she helped me put the silverware on all the tables. After the luncheon, the Red Hat Ladies were generous with tipping me (something I genuinely did not expect!). It seemed only fair to share a little of that with Pay-Pay.


I put a few dollars in a card and wrote her a note telling her that she had earned this money for working hard to help me. Then I went over to her house to tell her. Well, first of all, she was distracted because I had also brought her a few clementines (which she loves). She was excited that the card pictured Max of Where the Wild Things Are fame. I *think* she kind of "got it," but she is only 3, so maybe not quite. Right thing to do, though. I made sure to tell her that this was not a present, but something she had earned.


Speaking of presents, we have rather challenging neighbors next door. However, when I went out to shovel (carefully!) this morning, I was surprised to see that they had shoveled a path down the middle of our front walk - the entire way. I was so awed and touched by this Christmas generosity. After I shoveled our driveway and back walk, I put together a box of home made treats and left those with a note thanking them on their front porch. I do believe that everyone has the capacity to be good. Perhaps they are genuinely trying to be better neighbors. Kindness on both sides can only be a good thing.

Holiday Update

Just as they've been for everyone else, the past few weeks have been a flurry of activity here. Actually, it hasn't been that bad; it's just that everything seems to be taking four times as long this year. I blame Tex and how utterly exhausting it is to grow him.


Still, accomplishments have been abundant. Christmas cards were written and sent (and, may I just pause here to say how pleased I am that my Sweetheart wants to sign the, himself and not have me sign for him?). 3 kinds of cookies have been baked and 2 kinds of candies have been made. The Lebkuchen dough is done (though not baked - maybe before work today?). I made seven stollen this year. Gifts have all (but one) been purchased and wrapped. The tree is up and the house decorated. Some decluttering and cleaning has started. All in all, it's been a happy and productive time.


Hard to believe we'll have a small child in the house this time next year. We heard Tex's heartbeat again this past week. It took the doctor a minute to find it - during which thime my Sweetheart says I grew visibly stressed - but, when she did, it was nice and strong. Next appointment isn't for four weeks.


Our insurance - as awesome as it is - doesn't cover a slew of ultrasounds. We saw the baby for the NT scan but won't see him (or her, we don't know for sure) again until the 20 week anatomy scan. It's so weird. I know there's a little person growing in there, but there is no real evidence that all is well since we rarely see him and only hear his heart every four weeks or so. I have gained some weight but, since I was already a little chunky, don't have a cute baby bump. I feel pretty fantastic (apart from exhaustion and occasional moments of lightheadedness). It's the ultimate act of faith, isn't it? We just have to believe that he is continuing to develop the way he should and that all is well.


It's a busy week ahead. I'll be working an extra long day at my parents' coffee shop today. I anticipate being wiped out by the time I get home. I rarely get any kind of break when I am there, though I do try to bring a healthy snack along. I have to make arrangements with my Sweetheart's mom to bring the dog for a visit one day this week so I can Scotchguard our new furniture. Have to bake a cheesecake for Christmas Eve and my Tante Frieda's ridiculously good Mocha Torte for Christmas Day. Have a bunch of cleaning and preparation to do - we are hosting Christmas Dinner and expect between 2 and 8 guests. It will probably end up being about 7 people total (including us), but have to be ready in case we have all 10.


(I wonder if it will be considered rude if I sneak off for a little while on Christmas Day for a nap?)


I still hope to do better with this blog, even if it is just an update on my life and nothing more interesting. For now, though, better get moving so I can get some stuff done before heading to work.

One of the Best Books Ever

So, we're 13+ weeks into this pregnancy and we've already read several chapter books aloud to Tex. ("Tex" is the name we have given the little alien who is growing inside me.) I know Tex can't even hear for another 4 or 5 weeks, but it can't hurt, right?


Currently, we are reading The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. I haven't read this book for a number of years and I forgot how amazing and charming it is.  Last night I read the bit about the car everyone had to be perfectly silent in because "it goes without saying" and I laughed out loud. Brilliant!


If you haven't read this masterpiece for a while, I highly recommend it. I'll wager it's even better to you as an adult than it was the first time you discovered it as a kid!

Once Upon a Time...

So, how did I get to this place? Here's the Reader's Digest Condensed Version:

Seventeen years ago, I met a boy. We became friends and, before long I fell in love. He joined the Army, we began a romance through letters and phone calls. Tried dating when he was home. On and off and on and... Didn't work. We parted, kept coming back together, always friends. Finally had a falling out that led to losing touch, presumably for good. Fast-forward. Kurt Vonnegut died and I got an e-mail from the boy. We reconnected. I was in a relationship, he was just out of one. Friends again. Venting, supporting, joking, e-mailing. All good. Fast-forward some more. My relationship ended despite my efforts. The boy was, as always, my Rock, my go-to for a sympathetic ear. We realized we still had feelings for each other. Fell back in Love, got married.

Whew! And that's the super-duper short uncomplicated version!


Now we're living as newlyweds in the suburbs south of Chicago. Lots of adjustments for me - just for starters, I miss the City and my work team in Chicago - but all worth it. We're expecting our first child next June and I couldn't feel luckier!

Can We Start Again, Please?

This blog has been through many incarnations since its inception. Over the past two years, it has mostly been a woefully neglected wasteland, tumbleweeds and all.



Recently, my life has changed dramatically as I transitioned from a crazybusy Administrative librarian who regularly worked 12+ hour days without breaks and little sleep to a newlywed who works part-time in a family owned coffee shop and is preparing to be a first-time Mama.


Rather than begin anew with a fresh blog, I am hoping to revive this one. The postings may be more scattered and less unified around themes as I figure out this exciting and overwhelming new life.

When's the Vote?

I've been wondering when the Illinois Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act (bill HB2514) was finally going to be voted on in the House. The Reader answers thus:

As the chief sponsor, Lang decides when to put the bill to a vote. He says he'll wait until he's sure he has the votes he needs, because he can't afford to fail: "Many members will vote for this but they'll only do it once. They'll go out on a limb once."

The current legislative session ends in early May. In the fall the General Assembly will convene for a veto session; its formal purpose is to consider legislation the governor might veto over the summer, and although the house could consider new business like the medical marijuana bill, a supermajority of 71 votes would be needed to pass it. "It is entirely possible that I won't take a vote until January," Lang says. A new General Assembly will be sworn in on Wednesday, January 12, and on the preceding Monday and Tuesday the old assembly will convene to wrap up unfinished business. Only a simple majority will be required to pass legislation on those two days, and Lang thinks he might be able to talk a few lame duck lawmakers into changing their positions on HB2514.

Aside from them, where could the remaining votes he needs come from? Linn believes some Republicans from collar counties can be persuaded.

"Yeah, that's true," says Lang, "and a few suburban Cook legislators too. Some of the downstaters are hopeless, but we're working on it."

If the act doesn't pass before January 12, it's history. Lang and his allies in the house and senate would have to start all over again.

Sigh. We have seen Prohibition fail to work with a far more dangerous mind-altering substance (alcohol), so let's end this Prohibition. I wish I could afford to send every Illinois lawmaker a copy of Marijuana is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink? (and figure out some way to make sure they all read it).

Again, I say, Sigh.

The entire article is in the current on-line Reader.

Reading IS Fundamental!

The New York Times is reporting today that federal funding for RIF is in grave danger under Department of Education budget proposals. Reading this made me feel ill and, as a proud Chicagoan, almost betrayed by Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. His mother is a respected educator in Chicago, having worked on the southeast side of The City for nearly 50 years. I am quite sure that Mr. Duncan has known from his earliest years just how important it is to cultivate a love of reading in the hearts and minds of our most at-risk children. After all, they will be leading us one day!

When I was in the first or second (I think second) grade, we didn't have much. One magical day, our teacher led us to the school library where tables were set up, piled high with books. Now, I always loved a trip to the library, even then, but on that day, something astonishing happened - she told us to look carefully at the books and then... we could choose one to take home and keep! It was like Christmas and my Birthday and the Luckiest Day Ever, all rolled up together. And, boy, did I take my time! At long last, I settled on Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume. (Some of you remember the awesomely trippy purple cover.) No one told me I was too young or tried to change my mind. The nice RIF lady just confirmed, "That's the one you want? Okay."

I still have that book. There were many times I didn't have "kids" novels in the house. I read the World Book and Harlequin romances and a collection of Poe stories and whatever I could find. I even re-read all the Dr. Seuss books we had around the house, but that novel was something else.

Darlings, I am growing old. That was close to 30 years ago (ack!) and I still remember how special I felt and how that fed my (admittedly, already pretty strong) love of books. And now we want to take that same opportunity away from other kids, those who probably need it more than I ever did?

Shame on you, Arne Duncan and Department of Education. You have cleft my heart in twain.


NOTE: RIF is asking supporters to urge their senators to sign a letter in support of RIF. You can get more info here.

Three Themes?

I think this blog, if I sustain it this time, is going to end up being quite different from what I started. I’ve noticed that, with the many links I post on facebook, they generally fit into one of three categories - libraries and literature, health and fitness, and marijuana policy reform. How did that happen?

Well, I think no one on earth who has ever met me would be surprised by the focus on the world of books. Family legend is that I taught myself to read from a very young age, well before kindergarten. I don’t know if that’s true, but I do know that I have loved books forever, since my memory begins. So, that’s a no-brainer.

But health and fitness? That story is a little longer. For much of my life I was overweight. No, let’s be honest. I was fat. And I was not fit or very physically active. And, for the most part, I was okay with that. I felt like I wasn’t eating that much and I thought I was pretty healthy.

I met Science Boy when I was fat and he loved me the way I was (although he did encourage me to exercise with him because, he claimed, he wanted me to be a little healthier, not because of my weight). I was determined not to give into societal pressure or to make myself miserable trying to meet someone else’s standards. But then, on (I think) July 5, 2006, something changed. I don’t even know what, exactly, it was. SB and I were in Grant Park at the free India.Arie concert and I announced to him that I planned to lose weight and that I needed him to be supportive to let me do it my own way. He was and I did.

Now, although I have not yet reached my goals, I see that I have made tremendous progress. For the first time in my life I am athletic. Maybe not an elite athlete, but an athlete nonetheless. I am eating healthier. I have lost more than 70 pounds. I have muscles. I do not know everything, not by a long shot and I have yet to conquer my relationship with cigarettes, but I am a work in progress and I am going to keep working toward progress.

I have become passionate about learning more and sharing information, particularly with children and families. (Lucky for me, the amazing corporation that funds our grant project has recently asked us to make fitness and nutrition a part of programming.) I think a lot of people just don’t know some things because no one ever told them. I just want everyone to have access to the information (that’s the librarian I am at my core). What they do with the information is up to them, but they should have access to it. (For example, I think restaurants can serve 3,000 calorie chili cheese fries if people want to buy them but, as a consumer, I want that nutritional information available so I can make an educated choice.)

So. That’s the second focus.

And now. Marijuana Policy Reform. That one either shocks the hell out of people or doesn’t surprise them in the least. First of all, I am not a frequent – or even regular – user. I have indulged (and inhaled). However, in general, I have control issues and prefer to have complete control of my facilities. (This is the same reason I very rarely drink much.) For me, the issue of Marijuana Policy Reform is one of Justice and Fairness.

As I have done my whole life, when I began to wonder why marijuana is regarded so differently than, say, alcohol, I started to research. I have read many different books and articles as well as considered personal accounts (both written and oral) on both sides of the issue. I have thought about medicinal cannabis and whether it should be considered in a different way than cannabis used for recreational purposes. After much thought, I think it is ridiculous to enact Prohibition against cannabis when alcohol is legal and far more sinister. I hate the drug testing laws. In theory, I can drink all weekend, beat the shit of kid or partner while drunk, maybe drive drunk and endanger a few lives and show up to work Monday with a raging hangover headache and keep my job.

On the other hand, if I take a hit of week Friday night, maybe eat a few more cookies than I should and go to sleep, then show up to work stone cold sober on Monday, I could lose my job if a random drug test is demanded, regardless of how exemplary my performance at my job. (That goes for if I have used cannabis not recreationally but under a doctor’s advice to ease the nausea caused by chemotherapy.) How does that even make sense?) So. I think that the Prohibition of Marijuana is ridiculous. (I won’t even go into how legalization would lead to regulation, which could enable taxation which could help many states that are currently in dire financial straits, plus ease the hold of some drug cartels, plus actually make it harder for kids to get weed – a business owner who stands to lose his license and face a huge fine is less likely to sell to a kid than an unscrupulous thug on the street corner. At least right now I won’t go into all that. No promises for later.)

So, let’s see where this goes and how long I maintain it this time. Maybe having the netbook will help. Both of these entries were written when I had no internet access and then posted to the blog that evening. (I recorded the time when I wrote them.) So, that gives me more opportunity to write.

Building a Healthier Chicago

I have been attending the Building a Healthier Chicago conference the past few days. There has been a lot of fascinating information provided so far and a number of things I plan to look into more thoroughly. Beyond my personal interest, I am interested in ways we can better integrate messages that stress better nutrition and fitness into our library programs. I have encountered some resistance form a few people who think that, as librarians, that “is not our job,” but isn’t a healthier community the job of EVERYone who serves that community? I am not saying that we sacrifice the literacy and love of reading piece of our work to become nutritionists, but it is vital to help families understand healthy living messages when we can. It has been proven through plenty of research that children learn better when they receive proper nutrition and appropriate physical fitness. If they are eating well and getting movement, they will also be able to better love reading. All the pieces fit together, people!

Yesterday, I got a pedometer from the conference. The recommendation is that everyone takes 10,000 steps a day. I thought, piece of cake! I am active. 10,000 steps will be nothing! Well. As I write this, it is 11:30am and I am right around 4,900 steps. And that’s when an extra 1.5 mile walk from the parking garage to the conference and a walk during break factored in. I think I will hit the 10,000 steps today, but what about a “typical” day when I am *not* walking 1.5 miles one way to work? I plan to wear the pedometer tomorrow to see what I get when there are no special events or extended breaks and I guess I will work my way up.

Dr. James O. Hill presented the Keynote Address yesterday and he was fantastic. He emphasized how important it is not to be too stressed about reach goal immediately. He gave the example of a woman who started using a pedometer and found she was taking 2,000 steps a day. She wanted to improve but became discouraged because after using a pedometer again a week later, she was only at 3,000 steps a day. He pointed out that that had been a “heroic improvement.” I think that’s true. We beat ourselves up for not achieving perfectly, instantly, instead of looking at where we are coming from and appreciating that any improvement, no matter how small, is still an improvement. So, we’ll see. Wherever I find my step count tomorrow, I won’t beat myself up over it. I’ll just figure out ways to take more steps and I will reach 10,000, then make that sustainable.

No Excuses

I have no excuses for how woefully remiss I have been about blogging - unless you count exhaustion, some mild depression and too much time at work vallid! It probably doesn't help that Facebook makes it ever so easy to post articles, which I do often. The downside of that is that I usually post the link to the article and that's it. Often I offer no commentary or anything.

I hate to make promises to start posting here again; I have broken those before. Hell, I don't even know if anyone is even still reading! But I am going to try. I've really missed my musings here. I have things to say. Right now, I am really interested in helping children (and their adults) live healthier lives through incorporating health messages into literacy based programming, the "no excuses" brand of school reform (particularly in low-income communities) I have been reading about, and marijuana policy reform. Let's see if I can get my act together enough to start writing again...

Where Ya Been?!?

I know, I know. Once again, I disappeared from Book-Kitten and, once again, I have gotten a few kind e-mails from my tiny circle of readers inquirng after my general well-being.

Thank you. I am fine, just unbearably busy. I think about the site, I mean to post, and then time slips away and I still haven't done it.

I haven't completely given up on this yet. I have hope that I will somehow manage my time a tiny bit better in the near future and will, once again, post here. Whether I have any readers left at that point is not clear, but...

If you're on facebook, look me up. I do manage to post there (mainly because it takes an average of 3 seconds per post).

Thanks again to those of you who wrote.

Remembering Janet McDonald

Janet McDonald would have been 55 years old today. Sadly, she passed away two years ago, far too young. In my corner of the world - and I suspect most others, her books are still speaking directly to many of the young people who need her most, letting them know that they are NOT alone. What a wonderful gift she gave the world!

So Sad.

John Updike has died at the age of 76.

He wrote one of what I consider the most perfect sentences ever: "All of a sudden I slid right down her voice into her living room."

When I wrote to him some years back and said I loved this sentence but couldn't quote it directly at the moment, he wrote back and included a photocopy of the appropriate page from his story "A&P," the sentence marked in red. What a gracious man, as well as a talented writer.

I had a professor who was convinced that Updike deserved - and would receive - the Nobel Prize in Literature. He made me believe it, too, and every Nobel season, I would wait to see if this was the year. I am convinced that Pink Floyd were fans (how else to explain their lyric, "Rabbit, run?").

The literary world shines a little less brightly today.

ALA Awards

I think everything has been corrected and updated now and that all links are working.

John Newbery Medal

WINNER
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

HONORS
The Underneath by Kathi Appelt
The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom by Margarita Engle
Savvy by Ingrid Law
After Tupac and D. Foster by Jacqueline Woodson (I love, love, LOVE this book, so I am *thrilled* it got an honor!)

Ralph Caldecott Award

WINNER
Beth Krommes for The House in the Night written by Susan Marie Swanson

HONORS
Marla Frazee for A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever
Uri Shulevitz for How I Learned Geography
Melissa Sweet for A River of Words: the Story of William Carlos Williams written by Jen Bryant

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award

WINNER
Are You Ready to Play Outside? by Mo Willems

HONOR
Chicken Said, "Cluck!" by Judyann Ackerman Grant
One Boy by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Stinky by Eleanor Davis
Wolfsnail: a Backyard Predator by Sarah C. Campbell

Andrew Carnegie Medal

Paul R. Gagne and Melissa Reilly, Weston Woods Studios, producers of March On!: the Day My Brother Martin Changed the World

Lauara Ingalls Wilder Award

Ashley Bryan

Robert F. Sibert Medal

WINNER
We Are the Ship by Kadir Nelson

HONOR
Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past by James M. Deem
What To Do About Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy! by Barbara Kerley

May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award

will be delivered by Kathleen T. Horning

Mildred Batchelder Award

WINNER
Moribito : Guardian of the Spirit by Nahoko Uehashi

HONORS
Garmann's Summer
Tiger Moon

Pura Belpre Author Award

WINNER
Margarita Engle for The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom

HONORS
Francisco Jimenez for Reaching Out
Yuyi Morales for Just in Case
Lucia Gonzalez for The Storyteller's Candle/La velita de los cuentos

Pura Belpre Award for Illustration

WINNER
Yuyi Morales for Just in Case

HONORS
Rudy Gutierrez for Papa and Me written by Arthur Dorros
Lulu Delacre for The Storyteller's Candle/La velita de los cuentos written by Lucia Gonzalez
Amy Cordova for What Can You Do With a Rebozo? written by Carmen Tafolla

Michael L. Printz Award

WINNER
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

HONORS
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves by M.T. Anderson
Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Nation by Terry Pratchett
Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan

William C Morris YA Debut Award

WINNER
A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce

FINALISTS
A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Absolute Brightness by James Lecesne
Madapple by Christina Meldrum
Me, the Missing and the Dead by Jenny Valentine

Margaret A Edwards Award

to Laurie Halse Anderson

Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production

WINNER
Recorded Books for The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian written and narrated by Sherman Alexie

HONORS
Listen and Live Audio for Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady written by L.A. Meyer and narrated by Katherine Kellgren
Listening Library for Elijah of Buxton written by Christopher Paul Curtis and narrated by Mirron Willis
Weston Woods Studios for I'm Dirty by Kate and Jim McMullan and narrated by Steve Buscemi
Peachtree Publishers for Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: a Cuban Folktale written and narrated by Carmen Agra Deedy
Harper Children's Audio/HarperCollins Publishers for Nation written by Terry Pratchett and narrated by Stephen Briggs

Coretta Scott King Author Awards

WINNER
Kadir Nelson for We are the Ship

HONOR
Hope Anita Smith for Keeping the Night Watch
Joyce Carol Thomas for The Blacker the Berry
Carole Boston Weatherford for Becoming Billie Holiday

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award

WINNER
Floyd Cooper for The Blacker the Berry, written by Joyce Carol Thomas

HONOR
Kadir Nelson for We are the Ship
Sean Qualls for Before John Was a Jazz Giant, written by Carole Boston Weatherford
Jerry Pinkney for The Moon Over Star, written by Dianna Hutts Aston

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award

to Shadra Stickland, illustrator of Bird (written by Zetta Elliott)

Schneider Family Book Award

Best Children's Book
Piano Starts Here: Young Art Tatum written and illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker

Best Middle School Book
Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor (yay!)

Best Teen Book
Jerk, California by Jonathan Friesen

Alex Awards

City of Thieves by David Benioff
Dragons of Babel by Michael Swanwick
Finding Nouf by Zoe Ferraris
The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti
Just After Sunset: Stories by Stephen King
Mudbound by Hillary Jordan
Over and Under by Todd Tucker
The Oxford Project written by Stephen G. Bloom, photographs by Peter Feldstein
Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow
Three Girls and their Brother by Theresa Rebeck

ALA Book Awards

Time again for the most exciting day in the children's lit year -- announcement of the ALA Children's Book Awards.

Awards to be announced today are: Alex Awards for the best adult books that appeal to teen audience

Andrew Carnegie Medal for excellence in children's video

Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children

Coretta Scott King Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults that demonstrate sensitivity to "the true worth and value of all beings"

Laura Ingalls Wilder Award honors an author or illustrator whose books are published in the U.S. and have, over a period of years, made a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children

Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults

May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award recognizing an author, critic, librarian, historian, or teacher of children's literature, who then presents a lecture at a winning host site

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults

Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children's book translated from a foreign language and subsequently published in the United States

Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature

Odyssey Award for audiobook excellence

Pura Belpre Award for a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work "best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth"

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children

Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the outstanding book for beginning reader

William C. Morris Award honors a book written for young adults by a first-time, previously unpublished author. The first award will be given in 2009

I'm going to try to get in on the webcast and post the winners as announced. Later, I will add links and pictures to those entries.

As y'all know, I suck at predicting winners. I would love to see The GUardian by Julius Lester recognized. I am pretty confident that We Are the Ship by Kadir Nelson will at LEAST get an Honor, but more likely, the Caldecott (and Coretta Scott King). WOuldn't be a bit surprised to see The Hunger Games honored in some way. And really hoping that The Underneath is *not* on any lists (though I really think it will be).

Only a few more hours!

wow. so sad.

I have been terrible about finding time to blog this summer. I have been blogging from time to time on myspace, but not even a lot there.

sigh. I will try harder. I miss my bloggy friends.

ANYway, what shook me out of my stupor was waking up to the terribly sad news that David Foster Wallace has apparently hanged himself. What a loss - to his family and friends and to the literary world. I am so sad he had so much pain.

There is an unofficial David Foster Wallace website here.

Wishing peace and comfort to his family and friends. I hope he is at peace now.

LOVE this!

A judge cited my all-time favorite poem in the Guantamano case:

"The government insists that the statements made in the documents are reliable because the State and Defense Departments would not have put them in intelligence documents were that not the case," the court wrote. "This comes perilously close to suggesting that whatever the government says must be treated as true."

The judges compared the argument to the logic in Carroll's nonsense poem, in which a hapless crew hunts for a creature that is never quite defined. The Bellman, the ship's leader, led his men across the ocean, guided by a map that was just a blank piece of paper. He rallied and reassured his crew simply by repeating himself.

"I have said it thrice: What I tell you three times is true," the Bellman says in the poem.

"Lewis Carroll notwithstanding, the fact that the government has 'said it thrice' does not make an allegation true," the court wrote.

Read the whole story here.

Better yet, read "The Hunting of the Snark." I know I plan to re-read it when I get home!

I've changed my mind

(Thanks to The Boy for sending this on...)

In Memoriam: Tasha Tudor

I just received word that the incomparable Tasha Tudor died yesterday at the age of 92.

She is, of course, best known for her detailed and delicate illustrations in books for young people. My personal favorite is The Doll's House written by Rumer Godden. Yes, the story captivated me, but all these years later, I can still easily call to mind the face of Birdie, the sweet and flighty and doomed celluloid mother doll.

There is magic in the art of Tasha Tudor, and we are lucky she shared it with all of us.

Quote o' the day

"There's more to life than books you know, but not much more." (from "Handsome Devil" by the Smiths)

Finally!

I will *finally* read Pride and Prejudice! I will be reading it on-line at this too-clever-for words site.

no big shock here...

What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm You're probably in the final stages of a Ph.D. or otherwise finding a way to make your living out of reading. You are one of the literati. Other people's grammatical mistakes make you insane.
Dedicated Reader
Literate Good Citizen
Book Snob
Non-Reader
Fad Reader
What Kind of Reader Are You? Create Your Own Quiz

Fight the Power

In a brilliantly proactive move, Barack Obama's team has set up a website specifically to combat false information being disseminated by those who would have him lose.

¡Sí se puede!

"There has never been anything false about hope." (Barack Obama)

My heart is overflowing right now. For the first time in too long to remember, I am truly hopeful about the future of our country.

As a people, we are *not* apathetic, letting others do unto us without asserting ourselves for what we believe to be true and right. Our votes *do* make a difference.

Science Boy laughed at me a little bit this morning. We were speaking about the nomination and suddenly, I said I wished Tupac was alive. SB gave me the "is my Babi crazy?" look, so I explained. Tupac's amazing hit, "Changes," is one of the songs I play when I am running. it carries me through. But lately, everytime I hear the lyrics, "And though it seems heaven sent / We ain't ready to see a Black president," I want to cry out, yes! Our world is changing! We *are* ready! I love that song, and I am so happy that it seems that maybe that lyric is wrong now...

I was moved to tears by the news of the nomination. It seems like this is a new world that, to quote my favorite high school valedictorian:

We will be teaching the next generation, spreading our ideas throughout the world, and providing a lasting legacy for humanity to come. Even though it may be a little scary, we will do our best to create a saner, more stable planet for our children, and will try to disprove ignorance, intolerance, and hatred.

The incomparable and tireless hero, Caesar Chavez, champion of a people who were marginalized by mainstream society, reminded those who would be trampled that they deserved better, that they could *make* it better, that "¡Sí se puede!"

Yes. *WE* can!

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek." (Barack Obama)

My heart is so full. My hope shines so bright.

I am *so* digging this!

Give the Gift of Life

On any given day, more than 6,000 men, women and children are searching the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry for a life-saving donor like you. These patients have leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases that can be treated by a bone marrow or cord blood transplant. For many of these patients, a transplant may be the best and only hope of a cure.

You are giving someone hope when you join the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry.

Help the NMDP reach their goal of recruiting 46,000 members to the Registry during the Thanks Mom marrow donor drive. During Thanks Mom, May 5 - 19, you can join online for free, while funding remains.

Until the NMDP reaches its goal during Thanks Mom (May 5 to May 19, 2008), generous partners and contributors are covering the costs to add members to the Registry.

It's easy to join:

Step 1. -- Confirm you meet basic donor guidelines.
Step 2. -- Complete the online registration form and order your tissue-typing kit. This step will take about 30 minutes. Please remember funding is limited. To join for free, you must complete the online registration step before May 20 or while funding remains.
Step 3. -- Use the kit to give a swab of cheek cells to test for your tissue type.

I signed up tonight. If this is something you'd like to do, click here.

I Always Feel Like, Somebody's Watching Me...

This picture was on the on-line Chicago Tribune today, and, for some reason, it was creepin' me out.

Bad.



Maybe because it firs put me in mind of looking in your reaerview mirror and seeing a person where there shouldn't be one. (Oh, crap. Now I'm freaking myself out more...)

Clicking on the photo reveals that it is a crop of a larger photo, one that depicts, "An August 1, 1951, photo shows a slotted peephole in the steel door of gambling room in Melrose Park that was raided by Cook County sheriff's police. (Tribune archive photo)"

Still creepy, though.

FREE is my favorite price!

Thursday, May 15 is Free Iced Coffee Day from 10am to 10pm at Dunkin Donuts:

“Stop by your local Dunkin' Donuts on Thursday May 15, 2008 from 10am
until 10pm and receive a FREE small (16 oz.) sized Iced Coffee*.

You will have the option of trying one of our 9 flavors (French Vanilla,
Toasted Almond, Raspberry, Hazelnut, Coconut, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Caramel, and Blueberry) or create your own flavor by combining 2-3 flavors.

*At participating Dunkin' Donuts shops only. Thursday, May 15, 2008 from 10am-10pm. Cannot be combined with any other offer. One free small 16 oz. Iced Coffee per person, per visit.”

Thursday is also the day McDonald’s is giving out free samples of their new chicken breakfast and lunch sandwiches (but you have to buy a drink to score that one...).

I'mma skip on the McDonald's (Science Boy and I are taking Gram out for dinner tonight, so trying to have a low-cal day), but think I'm just about ready to go get a blueberry iced coffee.

Crockpotting

Science Boy and I have been using the crockpot more often in the past few months. (Or, rather, I have been using the crockpot and he has been happily eating the results!) Gram even gave us hers when she found out I use it since she says she hasn't used it in 20 years. Still works great!

I love the way the house smells delicious when I get home from work and how lovely it is to have dinner ready to go.

While doing a random search, I came across the fantabulous Crockpot Lady's blog. She has resolved to use her crockpot Every. Single. Day. Wow. Looks like she has lots of great ideas and recipes. I think I {heart} her!

Look at Meez!

If you haven't created your cartoon avatar at Meez.com, you should try it out sometime. It's fun!

HELP!! Walk NOW for Autism!

Hi, friends!

Walk NOW for Autism!

Well, not *right* now. And you don't actually have to walk anywhere. I will do it for you.

May 18 is the Walk Now for Autism 5K walk in Chicago. My colleagues and I have spent a lot of time this past year discussing autism and how we can best serve those families with a member on the autism spectrum. I decided that one thing I, personally, can do is to help raise awareness and money for research by participating in the event.

I will be walking and I would like to ask every one of you to contribute in any way you can. Seriously. If you can only give $1, I will take it and thank you with sincere appreciation.

A few facts (I am, after all, a Librarian):

* 1 in 150 children is diagnosed with autism
* 1 in 94 boys is on the autism spectrum
* 67 children are diagnosed per day
* A new case is diagnosed almost every 20 minutes
* More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined
* Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
* Autism costs the nation over $90 billion per year, a figure expected to double in the next decade
* Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases * Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism
* There is no medical detection or cure for autism

You can contribute directly online by going to our Baby Got Book team page. If you are not comfortable using your credit card (or want to give less than the $20 minimum the site requires from credit card donations -- and we would appreciate ANY amount!), you can click on "make offline donation" and a form will pop up. Fill out the form, print it, and you can mail it with a check made out to "Autism Speaks" to the address they provide (or, if you'll see me soon, just give it to me and I can take it along to the walk).

Proceeds from sales of the Baby Got Book shirts at http://www.cafepress.com/book_kitten/1909160 will also be donated to Autism Speaks.

Please feel free to pass this on to others who might be interested in contributing, too.

THANK YOU!

wishing peace, love, and healthy children to all,
Katharine

Hey! Where'd those blogs come from?!

I added a few posts I had put up at my myspace blog. I really do plan to start blogging here again soon - I *like* this site! - but until then, I pasted a few from the other blog.

Sticks and Stones... But Mostly Stones

On Saturday, Science Boy, The Boy and I went to the Art Institute of Chicago to see the Edward Hopper / Winslow Homer exhibit. It was lovely and exhausting. We had a great day -- the two of them always enjoy ganging up on me to tease...

We rode the train home and then just had a short walk. There were three boys playing in a field on our way. I would have guessed them to be between 10-13 years old. I noticed them and then didn't pay any more attention.

Suddenly, one of the boys shouted something. I glanced over and saw them watching us. He yelled again, his words clearer.

"White Bitch!"

And then, the little darling threw a rock at me.

He missed.

SB saw a rock land but had missed the yelling. He asked, "Did someone throw a rock at us."

"Yeah, those kids," I nodded that way. We kept going and the same kid called out, loud and clear, "White Bitch!" again. Another rock. (Thankfully, another miss.)

This time, SB heard and froze. He turned to look at the kids. The same one who seemed to be doing all the yelling and rock throwing called out that ugly name one more time and then yelled, "We'll beat all your asses!"

Then, he and his friends, turned and ran away.

Our mood was somewhat subdued after that. I felt so wounded. "They don't even know me," I said. "I am a bitch sometimes, but I don't think it's because I'm White."

This might be the time to mention that SB and I live in a relatively poor, predominantly African-American community on Chicago's West Side. We've only lived here since August, but I like it. People are pretty friendly and our apartment is beautiful. I like our neighbors. When an electrical fire broke out on our back porch a few weeks ago, neighbors saw, called the fire department, and alerted SB. People say hi when they pass you on the sidewalk.

SB is African-American; I am Caucasian. It's never been an issue.

This is the second time I have been called a White Bitch since we moved. The first time, Two teen girls were walking past my house as I was bringing mail in in the evening. I said, "Hello."
One replied, "White Bitch."

That time hurt, too.

I just don't understand what would move someone to call another person, one they don't even know, an ugly name based on nothing more than race. I try to be pleasant to the people I encounter. These children, both of them who have called me this name, are very likely neighbors.

And do I have to worry that might run into these boys again one day while I am walking home, heaving their nasty words and solid rocks?

I've been lucky that their aim with the rocks was not good this past Saturday. Their words, however, hit their mark.

Lighten Up!

Oak Lawn, IL put up auxiliary stop signs a little while back, hoping they would get attention and gently encourage drivers to actually heed the "stop" on the top sign.

IDOT, however, is not amused and has insisted the signs come down.

How sad. The Mayor complied, but said, "I think government needs to take itself less seriously... We have to take the work seriously, but it's OK to smile and to be creative in enforcing a serious message."

Very true.

And, NOT from Oak Lawn (actually, I am not sure *where* I got this), my all-time favorite STOP sign:

Well, Reading *is* a very fresh way to learn!