Friends Don't Understand Why I Read the NYTimes Online

This is why. Great story, great writing.

Way Up North

We're visiting friends in Albion, CA which is near Mendocino. It's a beautiful cold (low 50s) and damp day. The sky is grey and the water is grey and there are whales out there somewhere -- we haven't seen the whales themselves, but we see the spray from their blowholes. One of the houseguests here is a Cordon Bleu-trained pastry chef, so we are expecting something spectacular for dessert!

Quote of the Day, Christmas Eve Edition

Boylee: I have to go to bed. It's practically my job!

Last Week at the Music Center

With Papa and Noni.

We Sewed a Fighting Sash

He selected the fabric.

Quote of the Day

Boylee: "Mama, will you teach me how to sew?"

Mama: "I would love to."

Boylee: "I'm so happy I'm about to start crying!"

A Sad Legacy?

So Boylee had a headache. Then he said the light was hurting his eyes. Then he barfed.

So maybe that was his first migraine? Or just food poisoning/stomach flu. We shall see how he feels tomorrow.

Chanukah was a Big Hit

He loved everything he got -- which was mostly books. But this was the gift on the final night, and he can't get enough of it:

It's got the perfect combo of chaos and drama for our little Boylee.

The Buzzard Before the Big Show

Ready for Tomorrow

I had to do a kamikaze run today in search of menorah candles. Somehow I'd ended up with only half a box left for this year, and those candles do go fast when you start getting to the sixth and seventh nights. Ralphs and RiteAid were useless, but Bed Bath and Beyond had lots of candles left. And the candles were pretty, and 50% off.


But the best score was that placemat thingy -- the package said something like, "the holiday is full of traditions, like the tin foil you use to keep the wax off your table, but use this instead." At 50% off it was worth trying, and Boylee was mightily interested in the printed prayers -- the one we know already, and two more that he wanted to read himself.

Maybe next year: a bigger, better menorah.

Our Family Chanukah Gift to Each Other

We needed it, plus it'll make it easier for people to find our house.

Progress Report

Today Scott and I went to our first official conference with Boylee's teacher. (Boylee stayed home with a sitter.) Here are some highlights:

Boylee has perfect attendance so far. That's kind of a surprise with all the hysteria over illnesses this year.

For all of the Social Skills and Learning & Social Behaviors, Boylee scored "A," which stands for always. This is for phrases such as, "Shows respects for the rights of others," "Seeks help when necessary," and "Collaborates with a variety of peers." Stuff like that.

For all of the academic subjects -- Language Arts, Math, Arts, Social Studies and Science -- Boylee scored 3s and 4s (on a scale from 1 - 4) which mean "Progressing towards understanding and application," and "Demonstrating understanding, consistent application, and independence."

He got no mark for PE, since he broke his arm in the third or fourth week of school, and has only been cleared to rejoin PE at the end of this week.

Here's what the teacher wrote:

Boylee is a cooperative student and is making progress in all areas. He is showing interest and enthusiasm for the things we do. He volunteers often and speaks with confidence to the group.

In particular, the teacher noted that Boylee stood out in the ballet portion of their dance curriculum. She said the dance teacher was enthralled with his focus. (Right now they're working on the Hora, so I guess ballet is over for now.)

The one area of improvement she suggested? Boylee needs to be slightly less social when the kids are sitting on the carpet.

Princesses for Everyone!

You do not have to be a girl to like a Disney princess movie, as Boylee proved last weekend.

He gave me a big thumbs up when it ended.

My favorite character was Ray, the Cajun firefly.

The Four Seasons of L.A.

Rain
Fire
The Academy Awards
The Other 48 Weeks of the Year

An Editorial

From hollywood-elsewhere.com:

Amazing Mystery of Anvil


So how did Sacha Gervasi's Anvil! The Story of Anvil manage to win two IDA Documentary Awards -- i.e., best feature-length doc and best music documentary -- last night while not even making the Academy's feature-doc shortlist? How could there be such a huge disconnect from between the Academy's documentary committee and the IDA? Especially with Anvil's recent nomination for a Best Doc Spirit award?

Is it that the IDA and the Spirit committees are younger, hipper, less stodgy? Except Anvil! is about balding heavy-metal musicians in their 50s afraid of losing their mojo. The film is about struggle, rebirth, redemption. It's primarily a heart movie. The ending is pure Hollywood. How old and blinkered and plugged up do you have to be to consider Anvil too hip for the room? 85?

Anvil producer Rebecca Yeldham told me this morning that "one of our most amazing screenings was up at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival where the median age was 55. And when it ended we got a rousing standing ovation from an audience of upper middle-class Jews. It's really a movie for everyone. Hopefully people will open their minds [after last night's win]."

An editorial from me: Do yourself a favor and rent this movie!

Letter to Santa

Dear Santa dont think I dont believe in you so let me just get this straight I do believe in you.

On the wish list:
DS (that's a game system)
Star Wars and Batman Lego (games for DS)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book
Diary of a Wimpy Kid #1
Costumes
Lots of Star Wars toys

What Boylee & Aunt Laura Worked On

The Next Project

Wings for Boylee's buzzard costume, for the class play.