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Loading ...Archive for October, 2007
We Now Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Program
Lois and Hannah are in middle school choir together this year. I like that. I chaperoned at their first concert was tonight. I liked that, too. I like seeing how all the kids have grown, and visiting with the other parents and sneaking a wave at my girls from across the room as they pretend not to notice me. I like the school principal opening the program, and all the well-deserved applause for the teachers. Mostly, I like the music. I’d paid for entertainment not as good as what I’ve experienced at Bush Middle School.
Music alone shall live….That’s Hannah, far right on the top row.
Musica Dei….that’s Lois, second row from the top, fourth from the left. I adore their spirited director, Ms. Jarvis.
Today has been really stressful. But I feel better now – after the concert – than I felt when I was rushing out the door at 5:50 because we can’t be late Mom we can’t be late Mom hurry hurry hurry.
I’ve always heard that music soothes the savage beast, but I think it also interrupts the stressful schedule.
Thanks, girls. I needed that.
Posted in 
Nervous Brake Down
Keith and Rachel have begun ingesting the 89-page online Texas driver’s ed course.
Ssshhhhh…don’t rat me out. I can hear plenty well from up here. I already know what to do a four-way stop, though.
Rachel. Driving.
I was born into an American Baptist family – reared in the church of Christ - joined the Southern Baptist church in 1987. But all I can think of now is, “Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us now and at the hour of death. Amen.”
Name Calling
Lois got a haircut today – a dramatic one, about 12″ whacked off. I love it! I’m trying to select a new nickname for her. Well, really any nickname other than “Lois Below Us.”
I’m thinking “Sassy,” which fits the hair style (and sometimes the mouth.)
Note the Barbara Bush Middle School choir faux pearls, required wearing today for all members of the 8th grade girls’ choir. The real Barbara Rush would be pleased.
Keith thinks “Dorothy,” for Dorothy Hamill.
Ice, ice, baby….
So what nickname with this new flippin’ style? Please suggest one in Comments. The winner might get a hair-raising prize! So comment now, and comment often!
We have a winnah!
Keith is a big e-bay buyer/seller so boxes on our front porch are common. But a box from Nickelodeon? And addressed to Lois? The whole family was standing by for the opening.
Turns out Lois is one of 50 second-place winners in the Nickelodeon Anime contest. They run two contests – one for live action cartooning, and one for still anime. She’s one of 50 #2′s in the still anime category. Each contestant submitted drawings and a story as an idea for a new anime cartoon.
Along with a 3-D T-shirt, viewing glasses and notepaper, she got this stuffed art case….
…with a nifty Nicktoons Network Animation Festival wood cut logo on the exterior.
Lois told me about her entry because she needed a catalog mailing envelope and postage. I’m very interested in her artistic talent because I have absolutely none. In my 20′s, I even read and performed the exercises with “Drawing from the Right Side of the Brain,” and all I got in return was charcoal and ink stains on my hands. I have no artistic talent. Neither does Keith. Yet she – effortlessly – cranks out sketches all the time, on everything – church bulletins, notebook paper, grocery lists – you name it, she adorns it.
One wall of her room, filled with her favorite notebook sketches.
So here are drafts of what she submitted. I was impressed enough at the time to scan them. I wish I’d scanned the all the final versions, but I’m a bad mother.
Meet Jamie, a teenage girl supposedly born without a left arm (mystery looming). She’s lonely and teased often at school. Mom is dead; father is not supportive. (Note: Their entire lives, my girls have played games revolving around dead mothers. Like with dolls, “Let’s pretend the mother is dead.” I watch my back around here, I tell. you.) Jamies uses music composition – like her “Cloudy Melody” tune - for emotional release.
Meet Lieirose (lie-rosk), Jamie’s guardian angel who looks like a teenager but is thousands of years old. He often appears in a cloud. The Council (other guardian angels) is angry with Lieirose for failing to protect Jamie at birth (more mystery) and because he’s appeared directly to her (big no-no.) The Council has branded Lieirose with the “Mark of the Traitors.” They’ve also covered his mouth and nose to muffle screams during punishment.
Jamie in a final sketch, which I did think to capture – in her handmade prom dress with a corsage from Lieirose, which he offered “from a secret admirer.” She attended the prom dateless but a bit cheered by Leirose’s gift.
As Lois told me the story, I was more and more engrossed. How did Jamie lose her arm (really?) Is her mother truly dead (sigh?) From what does she draw the inspiration for her music? Whom else has Lieirose protected, and what was their fate? And the father – why is he so disengaged?
Unless Nickelodeon chooses to develop the story, we may never know.
Lois needs to win a few cash prize contests so she can buy her mother – her living mother – some really nice gifts, don’t you think?
