>#6: I speak three languages, (including English).
I speak American English (Wisconsin style, y’know).
I speak Spanish very well; with a little practice I could become near fluent. I spoke it better in high school and college when I used the skills more often. Occasionally, I’ll have a chance to use my language knowledge when I have a Spanish-speaking child in class and the translator isn’t available.
A third language? Not unless you count PigLatin or Gibberish.
>5. I drive a soccer-mom style minivan and live in a basic three bedroom ranch.
I drive a minivan, but I don’t live in a three bedroom ranch.
I gave in and bought the van when La Petite was 14 and we found ourselves car pooling groups of her friends to various places. It comes in handy now when we move her to and from her college dorm room.
The house? We bought an older, character home instead. This one spoke to us the first time we walked through it. It needs a lot of work — always — but it’s worth it. It’s not big, but with the high ceilings and the roomy spaces, it feels big. The neighborhood is lovely, complete with full grown trees. You’d be amazed at how many of La Petite’s friends envy our trees! There’s enough room for a few pet rabbits.
And the backyard has room for a garden, too. 🙂
>There won’t be any heirlooms or trust funds, surprise visits to the Antiques Road Show, or other unexpected windfalls for my children to inherit. Instead, I wish for them these three thoughts, these three concepts.
I hope my children will inherit a passion for learning. Whether they seek knowledge through books, the Internet, or quality cable television, I hope they will always want their minds to grow.
I hope my children will inherit an attitude of caring and stewardship for the world they live in. They might take on the reality of slogans such as Think Globally, Act Locally and Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Maybe they’ll grow gardens or have compost bins of their own. Their generation may find new, more efficient ways to care for and preserve our Earth. Whatever the future holds for the land around them, I hope my children take an active part in it.
And finally, I hope my children will inherit an appreciation and enjoyment of stories, their own and those of others. Family stories, often passed on in the oral tradition, are part of the fabric of our lives. (“Brother, you’re adorable.” “Mom! She called me adorable! Mom, what’s adorable?”) Those stories we learn from others are part of their fabrics, woven to complement and contrast our own. Stitched together, they make a patchwork quilt of both harmony and dissonance, and ultimately a richness that cannot be equaled.
Would you like to join the Group Writing Project organized by Jordan at MamaBlogga, click here for more information or a submission form.
>4. My favorite teams are the Green Bay Packers, The Milwaukee Brewers, and Gryffindor House Quidditch.
Oh, and the Packer Petunias are thriving.
MamaBlogga has suggested another Group Writing Project, one I couldn’t resist. Her topic is: “Three Things I’d Like my Children to…” and then it’s open ended. Scribbit, in a departure from her usual cheery self, wrote a serious yet optimistic post about “Three things I’d like my children to appreciate.” Jordan, the MamaBlogga herself, has a growing list of all submissions, including links so that you can read them yourself.
Reading Scribbit’s monthly Write-Away contests can be fascinating. I’ve found many, many good blogs and read too many great posts to count. This Project looks quite promising in that vein. If you’d like to read my post on the topic, it’ll be up tomorrow in honor of Love Thursday. If you’d like to enter, the link will also be up tomorrow.
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This is a trick question. I grow vegetables; La Petite is in charge of the flowers around here. I thoroughly enjoy the process: the planting, the weeding, and of course, the harvest. Preparing compost for next year is slow and steady, much unlike my fast-paced and stressful work as a public school teacher. The garden and the compost help me slow down in this speedy and multi-tasking world. I grow a few herbs, too, and I’m still learning how to incorporate them into my cooking. Harvesting fresh basil smells so good!
So no, I’m no expert. I learn a little more every year. I grow a simple vegetable garden, and my darling daughter puts flowers around the deck and the house every year.
>2. I rode a motorcycle before I drove a car.
My brother and I learned to ride a mini-bike (50cc) and then an on/off road Suzuki 185 when we were in our early teens. The day I got my driver’s license, I took the test for my motorcycle temporary, and followed that with the regular cycle license soon afterwards. It came in handy. During the fuel crisis of the late 70s (hmm, sound familiar?) I was filling the tiny tank much less often than my friends were filling theirs. I actually saw more of my paychecks from my summer jobs because it took so little gas to run my “wheels”.
So when Husband insists he’s getting convertible and calling it his “midlife crisis,” I counter with the statement that when he gets his convertible, I’m getting my Harley. We’d have a lot of fun following each other down the highways!
>It was minor league baseball time last night. Amigo’s Little League team had tickets, so we joined the other families to cheer on the locals. A game at Fox Cities Stadium is more than just a game; it’s an event. Contests, freebies, fireworks, and more, make this a great family fun night.
A local band was playing outside the stadium, and Fang the mascot was dancing with fans. Oreo cookies’ equivalent to the weinermobile was outside with their own mascot, a giant cookie.
We didn’t catch any foul balls or flying t-shirts, but Amigo responded when the announcer asked fans to stand up and hold their Pepsi products in the air. Apparently his enthusiasm with the Mountain Dew bottle was obvious, because the usher chose him to win a prize. Free soda? A gift certificate for Pepsi products? Nothing so mundane.
He won four tickets to a White Sox game two weeks from today.
I guess it’s time for a road trip to Chicago!
>#1: I believe in the three Rs, with a twist. This one is TRUE.
Reading, and Writing (‘riting) and Math (‘rithmetic) are the basis for many learning skills. However, the three Rs to which I refer are actually Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
My family likes to tease me about my penchant for reusing instead of throwing things away. I don’t hoard junk (at least I sure try), but I re-use a lot. For example, I haven’t bought file folders in years. I often run copies for my class on the backs of old, unused papers. And yes, I buy from used book stores and clothing consignment shops, as well as donate our no-longer-usable clothing and household items to local thrift stores.
I recycle a lot, too. On the rare occasion when we order a pizza delivered, I will recycle all parts of the box that did not touch food particles. Tissue boxes? Tear out the small piece of plastic and recycle the rest. Finish off the cereal? Recycle the box, compost the inner wax paper lining.
Compost is another form of recycling. Grass clippings, food scraps (within limitations), coffee grounds, and more, will end up in the compost bin instead of the garbage can. Seeing the natural process of decomposition and knowing that I’ve contributed in a small way to lessening landfill use is very, very satisfying. Tilling the finished compost into my small garden in the spring is a part of this. We’ve reused that which we recycled, and in the end we’re reducing our purchases of vegetables trucked in from elsewhere, which reduces… well, you get the picture.
Think globally, act locally. It works.
>One Wacky Mom from “Murphy’s Law” tagged me with the Random Eight meme. I wasn’t sure if I could come up with another random eight that wouldn’t put readers to sleep (no comments from the peanut gallery, please), so I’ll link you to my last random eight and offer you a variation on a theme.
One of the latest “quizzes” going around the blogosphere isn’t a meme or a “who are you” test: it’s a true/false list made by the blogger. Vodkarella (formerly Troll Baby) and Dana, among others, have posted lists like this one, and I’ve found it fun to keep up with their answers. Here’s mine. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to guess which are true and which are false. Feel free to post your guesses in the comments. I will reveal the answers one by one.
1. I believe in the three Rs — with a twist.
2. I rode a motorcycle before I drove a car.
3. I am an expert at flower gardening.
4. My favorite teams include the Green Bay Packers, the Milwaukee Brewers, and Gryffindor House Quidditch.
5. I drive a soccer-mom style minivan and live in a basic three bedroom ranch.
6. I speak three languages, (including English).
7. I resist buying wrapping paper whenever possible.
8. Whenever possible, I shop early for Christmas. In fact, I’ve already started.
>Ever since last summer’s lightning strike, we’ve been very careful. The conversations in our house run something like this.
Husband: I hear thunder.
Daisy: I’ll turn off the computer.
Husband: Don’t forget to unplug the modem!
La Petite: Must you be so paranoid?
Daisy and Husband: YES.