Did I forget to say that the Big Read List was missing two books? See the addendum here, or I’ll just tell you: Life of Pi and A Prayer for Owen Meaney.
Gearing up for a shift of focus. Things have felt stagnant lately. The same Internet which freed me from my housewiferly solitude is now my prison. I long to interact with people that I can touch, smell, hear. Instant Messaging has long seemed inadequate, and though this surprises the hell out of me, this socially awkward girl finds herself wishing for a phone conversation instead.
So I’m turning off the chat for a while. Having Google Talk up all day pulls my brain in that direction: Who’s on now? Did I miss a beep? Okay, now who’s on? And while it doesn’t really take any time, because I’m not chatting much, it does divide my attention. Email will work fine to keep in touch, but even that seems too impersonal. I crave an organic connection, I realize after getting Falcon’s letter today, so if anybody wants to be pen pals, send me your address.
What I think is going to end up happening is I’m going to find a writer’s group close by–a hard thing to find here in the boondocks!– or maybe take an art class at the vo-tech. I’m ready to be part of regular society again.
Since I’ve been especially antsy lately, I took the kids to the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History this afternoon. DH wasn’t wanting to go, and I was getting all depressed thinking I would have to be here all day again, and it suddenly occurred to me I could take them by myself! For so long I’ve had small babies that require help on outings, but the youngest is four now. I can take them anywhere without a diaper bag or stroller or juice. It’s funny how much of a shock that realization was. I can do it myself.
I’m also so used to penny pinching that I just assume I can’t afford EVERYTHING. But admission to this museum is only five bucks for me, three for the kids. We spent more on lunch beforehand. Another shocking, but delightful, realization. I can afford to have fun.
So we had a great time. Nobody got mad or had a fit, and I was totally relaxed the whole time. We looked at the “Super Croc” (I could have stretched out inside his jawbone–scary!), and did the Discovery Room where we felt different animal pelts and learned a lot about uses for buffalo parts. I got a huge amount of information for one of the cultures I’ll develop in the Ea’s Gift series.
AND I finally found out what the fossils in my driveway gravel might be. One kind is definitely a brachiopod (looks like a clam to me) and another is possibly a bryzoan (a branching underwater creature) but the pictures I’ve found don’t look exactly like it, so I’m not sure. If I can get my camera working I’ll take some pictures.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Filed under: Life | Tagged: museum, fossils, super croc, pen pal
Welcome to the world! Have a nice stay!
Meanwhile, I’m trying to get OUT of it …
Gimme a call sometime and we’ll rap!
And yay for getting out of the house!
Ian
Kids and museums equal FUN, for sure.
I wanna hear more about why you didn’t (so much) like Duma Key. Dang, that book made me draw dragonflies…didn’t you want to draw?
I have a whole stash of seekrit pencils now.
I can very much relate here. I would love to find some other real-life mothers (better yet, writer/mothers!), but we in the country - not too far from town but just far enough to make gas prices an issue.
My son is almost two, and it’s getting so easy to care for him and take him out. We’re thinking of having another child, and though I want one, there’s that part of me that isn’t looking forward to the time and care two will take.
Shelli, it sounds like we’re about in the same situation, having to drive to get anywhere. Not about the kids, though. I’m SO done. Stick a fork in me.
Cheryl, I probably should have given DK 4 stars, I guess, but I hated the ending, starting with the out-of-the-blue ventriloquism, so it left a bad taste in my mouth. It made me want to create art, definitely, and I loved King’s characters, as usual. But it seemed like the characters got King to a certain point in the book and then he looked at his watch and said, “Okay, gotta wrap this up… Let me pull a climax out of my butt.”
Probably should have phrased that differently.
I’m so glad you had a good time! That supercroc - wow! Wonder how many supersized burgers would fit in that mouth!
Aren’t letters fun? There’s something so personal about them, more than the words, I mean, the whole tactile thing. They’re like little gifts somehow, and I eagerly look forward to getting another one from you.
Love you lots!