Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Happy summer


As you all know, we spent a few days with the Tharps on Caddo Lake and had the opportunity to do some fishing in the cypress swamp. Here is a view of one of the scary fish that are found there. We did not get pictures of the cotton mouth snakes that were plentiful!
I wish that I had a picture of Dan and David from kindergarten to better illustrate the significance of this picture....a testimony to the truth that friendships can endure separation, differences in religious sentiments and politcal persuasions, the passage of time and the onset of grey hair !
We had a great time but I am not certain that Uncertain, Texas is a place that I want to revisit.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Music Movies

Just finished watching August Rush with the kids, even though I initially told them we were only going to watch 30 mins and then go to bed, because they stayed up late watching Willow last night. When Daddy's away...

Anyway, what does anyone make of this movie? While watching it, I kept having flashbacks to this confrontation Lebo had in the Blockbuster in our old neighborhood in Dallas with a couple of effetes who were checking out Mr. Holland's Opus, which she promptly derided as Mr. Holland's Doofus. So she stood and argued with them about the de-merits of this movie, which she claimed was overly sentimental, canned, predictable, etc, while Nate, Dan and I stepped out of the store to avoid engaging. Same comments could be made of August Rush: adolescent acting, manipulative emotional scenes, a love affair built on a couple of upclose eye-locks. Robin Williams is a cheesy rehash of Fagan, supposedly threatening, but really laughable, who spouts a bunch of neo-platonic hoohah about the music of the spheres to the kid musicians he's hiding in an old theater. And the ending is predictable. And even though it took Annie awhile to figure out who August's parents turn out to be, everyone else knows as soon as the movie starts. I did fastforward a little of the romance at the beginning: it goes from a rooftop kiss, to the lovers waking on the roof, all clothed, but spooning.

But at the same time that I'm going through this argument in my head, after fast forwarding the scenes where the girl cellist's father tries to break them up and the rock star renounces his music, we started watching when August is at the boys' home and learns to whistle. And I got sucked in, as did all the kids. I tried telling myself that I appreciated the movie's message about the power of the arts to lead to transcendence. And it had a good message about faith. And a warning about falling in with suspicious characters. The choreographed grand finale was almost too obvious to enjoy, and yet I enjoyed it. I let myself be manipulated. And I hope my kids are now more interested in music.

In other news, our inspection seemed to go well today: no electrical, plumbing, roof, or foundation problems. We don't have the final report of what we'll have to fix, but most of the repairs the inspector noticed are minimal - biggest is getting the wrought iron railing resoldered and the bricks that it's anchored to replaced. And getting a window in the stairwell replaced with tempered glass, which is apparently now the code. To celebrate the inspection being over, I let the boys get down the little GI Joes from the attic, where I've stashed a bunch of toys. Next step: the appraisal. Happily a house similar to ours just sold, and it compares favorably to ours. St. Joseph, we're not quite ready to dig you up yet and have a feast in your honor. but we're starting to think about it. Keep petitioning for us!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Wild Ride




Joe wanted to share this photo with you all from our trip to Busch Gardens. We had a great time on the coasters before getting drenched on our way out by a downpour. Even Claire rode some rides, and Ben agreed to ride the Big Bad Wolf because John was riding it again. Busch Gardens has a great deal for military: Four free passes. Then Dan was able to sweet talk our cashier into letting all 8 of us in for free. Double sweet. This gift, value about $350, is a slight consolation for the $$ we stand to lose on our house if it doesn't sell soon. Still entertaining lookers, which means the house is cleaner than it has ever been.
Hope all the moms in the fam had a great Mother's Day. We had fun with Dan's brothers and cousins and Grandma and beautiful weather in Lancaster. Dan's aunt and uncle's neighborhood had a garage sale Saturday morning which was the busiest garage sale I have ever seen. Amish were everywhere on their scooters and bikes with trailers. There was even a buggy with a red radio flyer wagon hitched on the back for all the loot. Policemen were at the end of the road directing traffic. Mikko and I cased a few sales, and I regretfully walked away from a pretty cherry end table for $35. Annie bought a first Communion dress for her American Girl doll, James bought a stuffed animal, and Joe wanted to buy what he thought was dynamite, but it turned out to be road flares. Disappointing. Not disappointing: for Mother's Day, my kids and husby gave me a pink ipod, the fancy kind that plays movies. We downloaded a bunch of stuff from Brian, but now it is formatted for a Mac, and we have a Dell. Well, I guess I'll watch Ironman, Pixar shorts, and Muppets Christmas Carol a few times before reformatting and reloading.
Dan received an honor today: For his end of tour award he was given a meritorious service medal which is about as high a medal as you can get without being in battle. But then Claire rudely told him he looked scary. I guess camo makes anyone look a little dangerous.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Happy Mother's Day!

We love you!