Unhistoric Acts

PROM!!

I've been seeing actual graduation photos all over the Internet and Instagram. Seemingly, we are just getting our end-of-the-year groove on around here. Prom this weekend. Graduation next.

Jordan started the day getting her nails done. Madison and I joined her just to be festive, and also because it was Jordan's FIRST PEDICURE EVER. Don't think this is because I have denied her the privilege. No way. But her feet and ankles are the worst spots for her ezcema, so she really can't tolerate any fragrant-y lotions, or lots of rubbing, or really any stranger touching them whatsoever. Poor baby. 

However, the last time I had a pedicure the nail technician spoke fluent English, and I was able to ask her about Jordan (I was angling for prom). She told me her son has eczema and she was sure she could give Jordan a safe pedicure. And she did. No scented water...and only natural potions and such. Jordan managed to get out of there with a manicure, pedicure, and eye brow waxing with no hives, which is a minor miracle. 

But enough of that medical-y stuff. Check out my beautiful baby, err....ummm....grown daughter:












 

We love Texas.

We've been all over the Texas countryside lately. Last weekend Sterling and I had date night in Brenham -- a darling Texas town just about 40 miles from us. It's got painted, vintage houses and cows and a stately courthouse. We ate dinner at a reported haven for the 'country-fried steak.' The food was doubtful, but the people watching was exquisite. I highly recommend small town dates.

Yesterday Debbie, Becca and I drove the two hours to Austin to meet up with Jordan at the State UIL Academic Meet. I've had lots of questions via Instagram about UIL and just what the heck it is. Well. UIL governs all competitions for junior high and high schools in Texas: choir, orchestra, band, all sports (yes, even Texas football), and academic categories as well. For the past two years Jordan has been on the Literary Criticism team for her school. For Literary Criticism a novel, play, and collection of poems is selected each year. At the competition the students take an exam based on those selections as well as historical and critical data. Then the top scorer is named champion and presented with a tiara and a champion steer of her very own.

Really, they just get a medal.

The competition starts at the district level, progresses through Region, and then ends with State. The top two competitors and the top team move on each time. Jordan placed 1st at district and region. Her team took second at region...so they didn't qualify for State. At state she technically tied for 3rd place. Three competitors scored the same on the test...but the judges did NOT enjoy her essay...so she ended up "officially" with 5th place. We were just happy to claim that State medal and trot ourselves out of that place. Yay for Jordan!

That place, by the way, was the University of Texas. As an Aggie I should probably find something ugly to say. But I'm too tired for that right now. Plus, I love anything Texas. The pic at the bottom is of Jordan and her awesome Coach Mrs. U. I, for one, know how inspiring English teachers can be (as in inspiring one's entire, ahem, career choice), so I'm so grateful to Mrs. U and all she's done for Jordan. 



 

 

may stuff

So...Wednesday was the last day of seminary for this school year. Yay! As in YAY! I had my students over for a big breakfast, gave them one last message of encouragement, and released them into the wild. Right now it's 8:55 AM and I'm still in my pajamas. This is new to me. I think I'll really like it.

My girls finally finished their AP testing this week. This is good because they were starting to get a little loopy from the stress.

Madison found out yesterday that she made the Wildthings team. This is the same team Jordan was on this year. They dress up in white overalls and run giant flags that say CY WOODS up and down the football field when our team scores. Also, they cheer in front of the student section during the game and generally act crazy. It's a really fun group, and we are all happy to have one more reason to attend Friday night games and sample the concession fare.

Have I mentioned Parker is going to be in the elementary school talent show? A few weeks ago he mentioned an idea for a skit. I did one of those nod-your-head-and-smile moves, hoping he would quickly forget about it. But no. On his own he typed up a script, wrangled some fellow students into participating with him, and tried out. So....game show skit on the last day of school. Love his moxie.

Father and son campout tonight. The girls have lots of plans of their own. Looks like it's me and Netflix...which sounds mighty nice. 

hey ya'll

We are back into concert season round these parts. And graduation season (Parker is graduating from elementary school!). And prom. Jordan's got a few days in Austin for the state UIL academic meet. Seriously, there are like two or three things scheduled for every Friday and Saturday from now until June. It's kinda fun actually, but also causes a worry-wart like me a tad bit of anxiety.

This week (aside from some montrous AP testing for Jordan and Madison) is choral pop show week. By some strange cosmic clash of the universe the junior high and high school pop show were scheduled for the same weekend. Luckily, the high school pop show has a two night run, so we were able to watch Becca last night and will see Maddie tonight.

If you don't know already, Becca's greatest passion in life EVER is singing. She loves performing, and pop show is an obvious outlet. It's not exactly the biggest venue, but getting to sing a solo involves many steps: Waiting for the theme to be announced (Disney), picking a song, this year involved learning the song on the guitar, tryouts, waiting for the tryout results to be announced, a bunch of after school rehearsals. You get the idea. So, Becca's pop show was last night, Friday. On Monday she comes down with a killer cold. When she sings...it's pretty much all in her nose. Uh oh. I was dosing her up on cold medicine and doing everything I could think of to move that mean old mucus along. On Wednesday? She loses her voice. Great. I thought she was a goner. But she was determined. She gargled with warm salt water three times daily. She drank herbel tea with honey and lemon. She stopped singing to rest her voice. Even with all of that I was only giving 50/50 odds on her actually singing.

But she did it. Her voice is a little huskier than normal but she sounded beautiful. Sorry for the terrible videography. For once my iphone was not the "perfect tool."

 

She did this without any original sheet music. She and her guitar teacher (a crusty but lovely hippie guy) decided on a bluesy version and he helped her pick out the chords. She did all of the vocals. I know just enough about music to be rather blown away by the fact she could piece this together in the week and a half before auditions. I mean, the guitar accompanies her...but the melody has got to come straighter from her. I can't do that. Okay, I couldn't even do it if the accompaniment contained the melody line.

Yes, I'll quit writing now.

Happy Saturday!

link love

Pictured above: awesome junk store finds (those are 1/2 gallon Ball canning jars).

Usually I compose blog posts in my head all day long. Then when I sit down to post I just rifle through the post file in my head and type one up. Except lately my blog post creator has been silent, or broken, or severely lacking in material. And really, I'm just trying to survive May. Yep, survive in the most dignified, unscattered, grown-up way possible. Yesterday I ate three pieces of potato bread (sooo carby) ...so...ummm...I'm not doing so well. But I'll keep on trying.

I will try to share some links with you. Cool stuff on the Internet always ranks high in my book:

• I love this travel trailer (originally featured in Sunset Mag). I've officially given up camping (because of old age and orneriness), but maybe one summer Sterling and I could travel the US in this. Sounds charming and fits in completely with my hippie fantasies.
• My friend Kate sent me a link to this lovely article. If you have a daughter you should def read it. I kept shouting "AMEN" the whole way through. Except for this one part where I thought she was saying women had it all figured out...but then she reminds us we don't. And I shouted "AMEN" one more time and ate some sugar.
• Need a new iPhone obsession? My whole family has been working feverishly on the Logos Quiz Game. I found myself laying in bed last night (long after my bedtime) googling various corporate logos so I could move on to the next level. I'm not sure why I care. But I do.
• For Sunday dinner last week I made Heidi Swanson's Weeknight Curry and Couscous Stuffed Tomatoes. Both were tasty and well-received by the young 'uns. Heidi's blog is 101 Cookbooks, but these recipes are from her cookbook Supernatural Everyday Foods (which I highly recommend). I did have to go rogue and find the recipes as posted on various blogs. You are welcome.

That's it folks. The men folk are at scouts and the girls are headed out to church as well. Which leaves little ole' me all alone with some Netflix. Later.

wherein I act like I'm 18

Have I been clear on this blog that I'm a big Ingrid Michaelson fan? Because I am. Like huge.

I can't remember exactly when I happened upon her music. I know I read something about her on a blog and wanted to freshen up my playlists. I also know that I listened to her music endlessly on my uber-long commute to College Station back in my "class" days. That was three hours round-trip...up to four times a week. So, to say that I know all of her music is a bit of an understatement.

I was able to snag four standing-room-only tickets way back in February for her May concert (which was last night). So the girls and I brushed off our end-of-the-week exhaustion and took ourselves to downtown Houston.

I was a tad worried about the standing part, but it turns out this old girl can stand for four hours just fine. (One of my toes was numb, btw.) We arrived about 6:45. Scars on 45 opened for Ingrid at 8, and they were really good (surprise #1). Ingrid didn't come on until about 9:15. I screamed like a little girl (surprise #2). Also, I stayed up past 10 (surprise #3).

I really haven't been to many small venue concerts. Let's be honest, I just haven't been to that many concerts period. During what might be considered my "prime" concert years I was way too poor to spend money on concert tickets. That just wasn't in the cards. And then I was birthing and tending the people pictured above for most of my 20s. So folks, seems like I'm just now coming into my own.

This was definitely the first concert where I really knew all of the music. The girls and I all had our favorites and were hoping she would play them. Finally, during the encore she played my fave, "You and I." It's an oldie but a goodie.

Ingrid had an incredible band, but I was also amazed by how much she could do with just a ukelele. Whenever she played the ukelele a guy would carry it out to her. When she was done he'd take it back stage. I just have two questions: First, why did the ukelele get carried back and forth when there was something like 9 guitars that stayed on stage? And, second, how could I get the gig as the ukelele carrier? Cuz I'll either take that job...or I'll sell the t-shirts. Or sweep the stage. Or carry stuff. Or anything really.

stuff

Guess who?

• My tall, lanky 14-year old Rebecca was once this precious baby. I had to turn in photos today for her 8th grade choir slide show -- one baby picture and one current pic. There's nothing so likely to sidetrack me as pulling out the photo albums. (P.S. I took this photo with a film camera back in the dark ages.)
• Only 8 more instructional days of seminary. Can I just say wahoo????
• Tomorrow the girls and I are going to the Ingrid Michaelson concert. Again, wahoo!!
• Wrote three pages yesterday but only one today.
• I got my hair cut yesterday (and it's pretty darn short). I was brave enough to walk into the salon with some pretty dirty hair swept up into a messy ponytail. Usually I'd be too embarassed, which would necessitate washing and blow drying my hair BEFORE my appt. Look at me...I'm growing up OR growing lazy.
• Working on the details for Jordan's Graduation Open House. 
• Jordan's working on the details for her prom.
• I'm also hosting a seminary end-of-year breakfast and last of school party for Parker.
• May is already making me tired, but June? June is looking mighty nice.

spring

The weather here in Houston has been spectacular. It's been cool and sunny -- almost too cold to swim. But today, when I walked out of the grocery story, laden with powdered donuts and bug spray and a giant box of Tide, I could actually feel the balmy breezes of the gulf. It was warm and slightly humid, and I knew that summer was making her fateful way towards me. After last year...quite frankly...I'm afraid of summer. She was mean and scary and full of fire. Not that I'm opposed to strong women, but still.

I don't have much else to tell you other than I need this school year to be over. I am so exhausted by the 5:00 AM wake up call I can't even begin to explain. And the lessons and school work and heavy schedules? I could do without those.

I've been surfing the net a bit, looking for inspiration. I really like this essay. And check this video. I'm seriously tempted to do this, excepting I need my Mac to write on.

 

First seen here.

That's all. I'm hoping for more than five hours of consecutive sleep tonight. Cross you fingers!

 

tap...tap...is this thing on?

Well, shoot. I've misplaced my blogging mojo. But I'm fighting to bring it back. It's hard to sit up to one's computer when it's sunny and beee-utiful outside.

Folks, I started watching Mad Men on Netflix. I wouldn't be lieing if I said I watch primarily for the furniture. Like 85% furniture, 10% clothes, and 5% storyline. I'll tell you that I am sick to death of Don cheating on Betty. Why can't he get his existential act together anyway? 

As a result of my previous LUV of mid century furniture AND my recent exposure to Mad Men, I became obsessed with these chairs. I knew they would probably go too high. They are an excellent deal right now if you didn't have to include $295 in shipping. I'm also interested in this chair, but keep in mind it's a reproduction whereas the ebay chairs are the real mccoy. I want some real mccoy Hans Wegner lounge chairs. Universe, I'm just putting that out there for you.

I did, however, score this sweet little mid century nightstand while in Lampasas the other weekend. Junk shopping can pay off. I turned the corner and saw this wee beaut.

It still needs some TLC, but for the most part it's in great shape. To make it really authentic I'd have to recline on the chaise with a cigarette in one hand and a drink in the other, but I'm working with what I've got here.

Also at the junk shop?

I found this awesome letterpress drawer. I've been wanting one (or five) to hang on Parker's wall for his lego men. I put a few in to model the idea for you. I kind of want to paint the drawer to clean it up. The only thing holding me back is this:

I hate to deface the property of the Democratic Voice Publishing Company. But the compartments tends towards icky. So, forgive me oh Democratic Voice of Coleman, Texas.

And one other thing:

Antlers! Yep, I paid real money (although not very much) for these real life antlers. Have you seen West Elm lately? Antlers everywhere. And they're fake. For mucho dinero. I'll be hanging these up someplace cool. Or leaving them in the bowl. Cuz I'm lazy.

And that, folks, concludes this week's shopping trip. Tune in next time...I'm always on the lookout for paint-by-numbers. 

gone fishin'

Last week I took off for the country with my Mom and Aunt Rebecca. We didn't bring kids or husbands. Or expectations -- much beyond eating a lot of good food. We stayed up late, had an extremely fruitful vintage shopping excursion, and completed an important taste test in search of Texas's finest peanut patty. Do they have the peanut patty in places other than Texas? It's violently pink. And round. And chock-ful of peanuts. Let me know.

We also knitted with a delightful woman who goes by MJ. She's a fiery "mature" woman with a limitless supply of good stories to tell. She taught us Continental style knitting (whereas I have previously attempted English knitting). And even though I've yet to actually finish something that is both useful and beautiful, I still love knitting with all of my heart. Must be all of that 19th century literature I read.

This week has to be all about getting down to business on my chapter. I'm turning it in at the end of April come hell or high water. I said hell just so you know how serious I am.

And as a side note? Jordan has her dorm assignment. And things are lining up college-wise, which leaves me a bit weepy and emotional. Like the other day -- I totally started freaking out when I heard Alan Jackson's "Remember When." Ugh. If you want to climb deeper into my pit of despair...then read this. If you need something more frivolous and upbeat then just go and peruse the Anthro site (although I'm not super in love with the Southwest vibe they've got going. Just saying.)