The Worms

A Thirdlander asked me yesterday to help her with worm rescue during recess.  There was a puddle on the blacktop, brimming with writhing worms. The Thirdlander said, "When this puddle dries up, these worms will die.  Let's move them."  Luckily I had a pencil with me and come to find out, a pencil is an excellent tool for moving a worm.  We moved all the worms.  There were probably a couple dozen.  I wonder if those worms made it. The Thirdlander asked me on one of our last runs, "What do you think about what we're doing?  Do you think this is a good way to spend recess?"  I told her I was glad some of the worms might live, but I definitely wasn't having the time of my life.  She seemed okay with that.  Come to find out, worms have small brains.  They're probably doing the best they can.If you get a chance, rescue a worm today.

The Shots

My editor asked me last week, "Can you send us some headshots for the book and the webpage?"  Lucky for me, I know an A1 photographer whose name is Goodwoman.  She's going to take my headshots soon. THANK YOU GOODWOMAN!

I'm thinking about ways to make the headshots unique.  You know I'm creative that way.  I'm going to suggest that Goodwoman come over to the house early one morning and get some headshots of me while I'm sound asleep in my bed.  Later, we'll get a few of my head in the shower, as I'm shampooing.  Those are the two ideas I've come up with so far.

I want the headshots to be friendly, professional, tell a bit about me as a person, and also be surprising, catch people off guard, so to speak.  Maybe Goodwoman can get a headshot of me applying bright red lipstick to my lips. I don't usually wear make up, so that could leave people wondering about what's going on.

I'll keep you posted on the headshots.

The Sculpture

Photo from bradjgoldberg.com

Indianapolis Museum of Art.  Sorry, Artist, I can't find your name.

George Rodrigue, NOMA Sculpture Garden

Bloomington Stoneware is a sculpture in front of the Showers Building.  We've been studying this sculpture.  It looks like this.  The artist is Brad J. Goldberg and he lives in Texas with his wife and collaborator, Diana Goldberg.  Bloomington Stoneware is 14 feet high and 9 feet in diameter.  It is made out of locally mined, hand carved limestone.  The curvy water trough is called a runnel.  The sculpture may bring to mind Native American designs, limestone craftwork, and the uses of stone and water in times of yore.  The Thirdlanders and I are studying Bloomington Stoneware.  We are also looking in to some of Goldberg's other projects, which I believe are amazing.  Next time you're down at Farmer's Market, walk over to Bloomington Stoneware and take it all in.  Because of this blog post, I think you'll now not only have an even greater appreciation for the importance of public art, but you'll be able to use the term runnel while discussing the sculpture with your friends and family.

The Peace

 So it's getting to be the time of year when I've gotten maybe too close to The Thirdlanders.  It always happens eventually, sometimes sooner, sometimes later.  We're at the point where they feel like we're all on an even playing field and they're basically me and I'm basically them.  They come in each morning, offer a hug and then start in on the advice about how the day should go.   They ask what Husbandman made for dinner last night.  They tell me why we need 5 more minutes of extra recess.  They suggest I purchase another soccer ball for them because sometimes they get two games going. They interrupt my lessons to tell me something that happened to their dog last night.  They walk up to me in the middle of a lesson and tell me they need to talk to me about something important. They thank me for a good lesson with an added, "That was actually interesting.  We should try this again."   They ask for my phone so they can take my picture after I shoot a stunning basket at recess.  They tell me to make a peace sign for the photo.  It's a schizophrenic time, as you can well imagine, but a bit fun too.  But I've probably got to work on re-establishing some basic procedures and routines.

The Photos

  There's a Bloomington Photography Club and I'm pondering joining it.  The problem is I don't like to meet new people.  Might give it a try though.  I've been reading about Meet Ups too.  I'm looking for a meet up where you go to a place and just look at your iPad and your iPhone and don't talk to anyone.  Or maybe a meet up where everyone draws in their notebook quietly.  That could be fun. Or a meet up where you look at hamsters at the pet shop and maybe tell some stories about hamsters of yore.  This whole meet up thing connects to my desire to develop some hobbies outside of the work space.

The Blooms

Fabulous exhibit at NOMA yesterday. I think it was called Art in Bloom.  Inspired by various works of art, gardenists arranged flowers as you can see above.  I love cross disciplinary projects like this.  Last night we heard two bands on Frenchmen Street.  Both were excellent.  Then we watched the St. Pat's Parade.  The men in kilts handing out green beads and plastic flowers wanted cheek kisses in return. The wait staff at Ruby Slipper are used to us now, and welcome us to breakfast each morning. We are totally in the groove here now, and wondering how we can stay.  #1 Son has a large bedroom that opens out onto a cozy courtyard.  With the warm weather, I think we can set up some hammocks out there.  We'll talk to #1 about this today and I will keep you posted.

The Bobble

We got to watch #1 Son with Mighty Brother in the recording studio yesterday.  Mighty Brother has the best songs. Their recording work fascinated me. I'm probably going to take some classes in sound engineering soon.  We walked down Magazine Street to Audubon Park and watched the live oaks and the birds.  A kid walked by us carrying a bobble head doll.  As he passed us, he asked his doll, "Am I your best friend?" I looked around for his family and they were there, just trailing behind.  We sauntered over to St. Joe's Bar for a drink on the patio.   Then off to dinner with #1, the best son in the land.

The Break

 It's all bon temps down here on the spring break.  Lots of walking and talking.  Some wine and some oysters. We heard some music and we sat in some courtyards.  We visited the temple of William Faulkner.

I like the vibe here.

The Finale

Will the Bachelor find the love he's been looking for?  Or will he find heartbreak?

It's been an incredible journey.

When you marry someone, you also marry their family.  No Husbandman here tonight, but I'm with my mom and my sister watching Nick's quest for love.

We're watching Raven right now.  Mom says, "Look at how fake her eyelashes look!"

"But do you think they're beautiful?"  I ask because Raven's eyelashes are quite remarkable, in my opinion.

Younger Sister says, "No, they look stupid. I'm sure it's an eyelash weave.  I know someone who paid 600 dollars for an eyelash weave and they started bothering her after awhile and she pulled them all out.  What an idiot."

Sister thinks Vanessa is also a "fake eyelash girl."

I think Nick's grown up a lot over this season and I sincerely hope things work out for him this time.

The Break

I'm watching a movie with amy mom.  It's called Monte Carlo.  It's about 3 friends who take a trip to France.  Selena Gomez is in it. She has accidentally switched identities with a fancy wealthy look-alike and things are starting to get interesting.    After a few days in New Orleans with my famous family, I'll join Husbandman in NOLA.  Spring break has sprung.

The Literacy

I'm ticked off at literacy right now. I had my book club last night, and now I'm super tired and dragging myself to work.  Why do we have to read and discuss books with friends?  I have a faculty meeting to attend in 28 minutes and I'm nervous about displaying an upbeat attitude because come to find out I'm wicked tired right now. Because of literacy I did not get to sleep at a good time.  Literacy needs to knock it off.

Having said that, the book we read was really good.  But that's neither here nor there.  I'm sick to death of literacy wrecking my life.