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Satchel had a book report yesterday. Book reports have become impossible because even though he reads the book with no problem, he procrastinates on the project. So it's always me nagging him incessantly the week of then going nuts the night before.
Thursday night, I made sure there were no distractions and it had the bonus effect of inspiring Jiro to do a "book report" of his own. This in turn motivated Satchel. Then they even did a little collaboration.
When Jiro told me he wanted to practice, I told him I'd make a video. I've been wanting to do a video of him for speech therapy purposes anyways, so this was the perfect excuse. Now, I have to say that Jiro, when excited and using his imagination, is extremely hard to understand. Here he is talking super fast and talking about made up things. Without context, it is a challenge to decipher his words.
I'm pretty sure he's got Ricky Ricotta and his Giant Robot battling a evil building from the city!
Satchel's is next. He chose to make a comic book based on the Ricky Ricotta series. (He specifically asked that I put it on YouTube!)
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Satchel & Technology
My six-year-old is delving into the world of technology thanks to his friends at school. He wants an ipod, his own cellphone, and free reign on YouTube. He's even got a gmail account now.
I'm actually considering setting up a facebook page for him! (Not really.)
Two funny stories from the past week:
Friday afternoon when I picked Satchel and Jiro up, Satchel excitedly showed me his new cell phone. “Smile,” he said as he took my picture.
“Where did you get that?” I asked. My cell phone doesn’t even take pictures. “Will gave it to me,” he said.
He handed it over and I inspected it. There was no phone service, but it seemed to be functioning otherwise. After talking to Will and Will’s mom, I decided to let Satchel keep it for a few days, or until the battery ran out. (Will, who is almost nine, has a new phone.) Satchel continued taking pictures until he discovered Will’s phonebook listing several of the big kids at school and a few teachers.
“I want to call Caleb!” he begged. “Fine,” I said, handing over my phone. I listened as he dialed the number, identified himself to Caleb, and then said, “Ok, bye.”
“What happened?” I asked. “He’s in the car. He’s going to call me back,” Satchel reported. Later, when we arrived at a friend’s house for our usual Friday night get together, a.k.a. Cocktail Hour, Satchel tried Caleb one more time, but Caleb was still “in the car.”
After an hour or so my phone rang. It was a number I didn’t recognize, but I answered anyway. “Hi, I got a call from this number,” a nice woman said. “Uh, no, I don’t think so,” I said, confused. “Who is this?” the woman asked. “Stacey,” I said. “Who’s this?” “Melissa,” she said.
Melissa? Hmmm…oh! Miss Melissa from school! Once I made the connection, I explained about Satchel having Will’s phone numbers. Then I asked if she wanted to talk to him. “Sure,” she said.
I went in search of Satchel. He and the other kids in attendance were very busy playing Club Penguin. “Miss Melissa is on the phone,” I told him as I handed it over. He smiled and put the phone to his ear. After a minute he said, “Sorry, I’m at Cocktail Hour. It’s really loud. I’ll call to you later.”
* * *
Saturday morning, Satchel came running into my room and asked if he could use the computer. Considering the computer is older than he is and Saturday morning is the only time I get more than six hours of sleep in a stretch, I said yes. I figured he wanted to play Club Penguin after learning about it at Max’s house the night before.
“How do you spell YouTube?” he asked.
Normally Satchel will use Google’s image search to find pictures of characters from his favorite TV shows or games. Once he finds a picture he likes, he draws it.
“What are you going to do on YouTube?” I asked.
“I want to watch the humping Storm Trooper video,” he said. “It’s supposed to be hilarious,” he continued in his most animated voice, nodding his head, acting as though this was a perfectly reasonable thing to want to watch.
“How did you hear about this video?” I asked.
“Theo told me about it,” he said.
I was certainly curious about this video, but I didn’t want to leave my warm bed and my Saturday morning NPR fix. “Why don’t you check on your Webkinz?” I suggested. “We can look at the humping later.”
It wasn’t until after dinner that I remembered about the video. Here it is:
Satchel collapsed in giggles, as his did his little brother.
Warren and I looked at each other, laughed, and agreed that Facebook is way cooler than YouTube.
I'm actually considering setting up a facebook page for him! (Not really.)
Two funny stories from the past week:
Friday afternoon when I picked Satchel and Jiro up, Satchel excitedly showed me his new cell phone. “Smile,” he said as he took my picture.
“Where did you get that?” I asked. My cell phone doesn’t even take pictures. “Will gave it to me,” he said.
He handed it over and I inspected it. There was no phone service, but it seemed to be functioning otherwise. After talking to Will and Will’s mom, I decided to let Satchel keep it for a few days, or until the battery ran out. (Will, who is almost nine, has a new phone.) Satchel continued taking pictures until he discovered Will’s phonebook listing several of the big kids at school and a few teachers.
“I want to call Caleb!” he begged. “Fine,” I said, handing over my phone. I listened as he dialed the number, identified himself to Caleb, and then said, “Ok, bye.”
“What happened?” I asked. “He’s in the car. He’s going to call me back,” Satchel reported. Later, when we arrived at a friend’s house for our usual Friday night get together, a.k.a. Cocktail Hour, Satchel tried Caleb one more time, but Caleb was still “in the car.”
After an hour or so my phone rang. It was a number I didn’t recognize, but I answered anyway. “Hi, I got a call from this number,” a nice woman said. “Uh, no, I don’t think so,” I said, confused. “Who is this?” the woman asked. “Stacey,” I said. “Who’s this?” “Melissa,” she said.
Melissa? Hmmm…oh! Miss Melissa from school! Once I made the connection, I explained about Satchel having Will’s phone numbers. Then I asked if she wanted to talk to him. “Sure,” she said.
I went in search of Satchel. He and the other kids in attendance were very busy playing Club Penguin. “Miss Melissa is on the phone,” I told him as I handed it over. He smiled and put the phone to his ear. After a minute he said, “Sorry, I’m at Cocktail Hour. It’s really loud. I’ll call to you later.”
* * *
Saturday morning, Satchel came running into my room and asked if he could use the computer. Considering the computer is older than he is and Saturday morning is the only time I get more than six hours of sleep in a stretch, I said yes. I figured he wanted to play Club Penguin after learning about it at Max’s house the night before.
“How do you spell YouTube?” he asked.
Normally Satchel will use Google’s image search to find pictures of characters from his favorite TV shows or games. Once he finds a picture he likes, he draws it.
“What are you going to do on YouTube?” I asked.
“I want to watch the humping Storm Trooper video,” he said. “It’s supposed to be hilarious,” he continued in his most animated voice, nodding his head, acting as though this was a perfectly reasonable thing to want to watch.
“How did you hear about this video?” I asked.
“Theo told me about it,” he said.
I was certainly curious about this video, but I didn’t want to leave my warm bed and my Saturday morning NPR fix. “Why don’t you check on your Webkinz?” I suggested. “We can look at the humping later.”
It wasn’t until after dinner that I remembered about the video. Here it is:
Satchel collapsed in giggles, as his did his little brother.
Warren and I looked at each other, laughed, and agreed that Facebook is way cooler than YouTube.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Busy Bee
I've been so busy (see last post) that Richard almost got two columns in a row. At the eleventh hour, I came up with this: Um, sorry, no time to talk, seeyalater. (Oh but I can't take credit for that awesome title!)
Makin' Music
I took the day off of work to hang out at the kids' school and help with the instrument making classes. Oh my god! I am so tired! How do teachers do this everyday?
We had a great day though. Sean & Anne are just amazing. We started off with the primary students. We made little shakers out of bamboo, balsa wood, and BBs. Then we made harps out of rubber bands and tupperware (or salad bowls). The kids loved it! We were a little more organized by the second group so they got a chance to use their shakers. Sean led a few patterns then they did a song together. (The upper elementary kids also helped us out all morning which was awesome.)
Next we had lunch with the elementary students and I finally got to try out Chef Steven's amazing lunches. (Lasagna!) I also got to observe as the kids set the table with actual linens, real plates and flatware, pitchers of water, etc. Then we were done, we all helped clear the tables and then composted our fruit scraps. It warmed my heart as you might imagine. (Better than the earth, right?)
One we were full and happy we went to work setting up for the elementary class--outside. (The rain that sent us indoors in the morning never materialized.) The big kids had a much more complicated task at hand: rainstick/guiros. This involved them cutting their bamboo with hacksaws, curing them with a blowtorch, filling them with nails and BBs (or popcorn seeds), and securing them with fabric, rubber bands, and twine.
You heard me!
It was very daunting at the outset, but it all came together thanks to several volunteers and the natural tendency for the students to help each other out. To say I was impressed was an understatement.
The best part? Several times Satchel came up to me and said, "Mom, this is a great day!"
It was also pretty awesome how much stuff I learned today. Don't tell Warren that it was my first time using a hacksaw!
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Stay tuned for the amadinda details!
We had a great day though. Sean & Anne are just amazing. We started off with the primary students. We made little shakers out of bamboo, balsa wood, and BBs. Then we made harps out of rubber bands and tupperware (or salad bowls). The kids loved it! We were a little more organized by the second group so they got a chance to use their shakers. Sean led a few patterns then they did a song together. (The upper elementary kids also helped us out all morning which was awesome.)
Next we had lunch with the elementary students and I finally got to try out Chef Steven's amazing lunches. (Lasagna!) I also got to observe as the kids set the table with actual linens, real plates and flatware, pitchers of water, etc. Then we were done, we all helped clear the tables and then composted our fruit scraps. It warmed my heart as you might imagine. (Better than the earth, right?)
One we were full and happy we went to work setting up for the elementary class--outside. (The rain that sent us indoors in the morning never materialized.) The big kids had a much more complicated task at hand: rainstick/guiros. This involved them cutting their bamboo with hacksaws, curing them with a blowtorch, filling them with nails and BBs (or popcorn seeds), and securing them with fabric, rubber bands, and twine.
You heard me!
It was very daunting at the outset, but it all came together thanks to several volunteers and the natural tendency for the students to help each other out. To say I was impressed was an understatement.
The best part? Several times Satchel came up to me and said, "Mom, this is a great day!"
It was also pretty awesome how much stuff I learned today. Don't tell Warren that it was my first time using a hacksaw!
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Stay tuned for the amadinda details!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Derby Family Action (No, Not Mine)
Check out my story on one of the most awesome derby families around in today's CA. (And check out Brandon Dill's amazing pictures!)Family's togetherness is on track in rough-and-tumble roller derby...
Monday, February 23, 2009
A Night at the Oscars
After a long day, Satchel and I settled in to watch the Oscars. I didn't really think that Satchel would be too interested. In fact, I hoped he'd fall asleep.
That was before I knew that WOLVERINE was hosting!
"Oh my gosh that doesn't look like Wolverine!" Satchel exclaimed as Hugh Jackman told jokes in his fancy tux.
"I didn't know Wolverine could sing!" Satchel exclaimed as Hugh sang his way into our hearts.
"I didn't know Wolverine could dance!" Satchel exclaimed as Hugh nimbly pranced across our TV.
After Hugh continued to wow us with his talent for another twenty minutes, Satchel said, "I guess that does kind of look like Wolverine."
THEN James Franco, excuse me, the Hob-Goblin from Spider-Man, appeared on TV as his Pineapple Express character, Saul Silver. Just when I thought things could not get any more exciting, the Hob-Goblin, I mean James Franco as Scott Smith in Milk, kissed Sean Penn as Harvey Milk.
"WHOA!" Satchel said. "Did you see THAT?"
"Yeah," I said nonchalantly, "Sometimes guys kiss each other."
It kind of made the WALL-E win anti-climactic.
(Satch was snoring by the time Qui-Gon Jinn, er Liam Neeson, took the stage.)
That was before I knew that WOLVERINE was hosting!
"Oh my gosh that doesn't look like Wolverine!" Satchel exclaimed as Hugh Jackman told jokes in his fancy tux.
"I didn't know Wolverine could sing!" Satchel exclaimed as Hugh sang his way into our hearts.
"I didn't know Wolverine could dance!" Satchel exclaimed as Hugh nimbly pranced across our TV.
After Hugh continued to wow us with his talent for another twenty minutes, Satchel said, "I guess that does kind of look like Wolverine."
THEN James Franco, excuse me, the Hob-Goblin from Spider-Man, appeared on TV as his Pineapple Express character, Saul Silver. Just when I thought things could not get any more exciting, the Hob-Goblin, I mean James Franco as Scott Smith in Milk, kissed Sean Penn as Harvey Milk.
"WHOA!" Satchel said. "Did you see THAT?"
"Yeah," I said nonchalantly, "Sometimes guys kiss each other."
It kind of made the WALL-E win anti-climactic.
(Satch was snoring by the time Qui-Gon Jinn, er Liam Neeson, took the stage.)
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Underground Memphis
Yesterday we went to the Pink Palace to see the new exhibit, Underground Memphis. It displays the artifacts that Warren and his fellow archaeologists uncovered at the FedEx Forum construction site. (There were also some artifacts from a couple of other major sites, like the Hildebrand House.) It was really thrilling to be at the Pink Palace and say, "Look! Daddy found that!"
It's really a neat exhibit. Check it out!
And, of course, we couldn't leave without showing Warren the Scoop on Poop exhibit. It was a lot less crowded than on our first visit, which gave us more time to really enjoy it. (Read my review here.) The rubberized poop match up game is hilarious.
It's really a neat exhibit. Check it out!
And, of course, we couldn't leave without showing Warren the Scoop on Poop exhibit. It was a lot less crowded than on our first visit, which gave us more time to really enjoy it. (Read my review here.) The rubberized poop match up game is hilarious.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Chez Dixon
Last night we had Cocktail Hour at the Dixons'. It was lovely.
I want a house like the Dixons' when I grow up! There is absolutely zero clutter. Everything single thing in their house is special and looks as though it was thoughtfully selected, created, or placed. It's like being in an art gallery. I could spend all night asking, "Where did you get this?"
The food was also fabulous. Brian made about ten pizzas, all of varying toppings and all extremely yummy. Warren made pesto stuffed mushrooms that even the mushroom haters gobbled up. And, Toby brought some pizza loaf! (Which Shannon turned into pizza bites.)
The kids busied themselves with LEGOS, Club Penguin, my cellphone, and general running around. (Satchel called one of his teachers, but cut the conversation short saying, "I'm at Cocktail Hour and it is really loud. I'll call you later.") I was very impressed with little Emma's ability to fit right in with the big boys.
The adults enjoyed some wine and a lot of laughs.
Thanks Dixons!
I want a house like the Dixons' when I grow up! There is absolutely zero clutter. Everything single thing in their house is special and looks as though it was thoughtfully selected, created, or placed. It's like being in an art gallery. I could spend all night asking, "Where did you get this?"
The food was also fabulous. Brian made about ten pizzas, all of varying toppings and all extremely yummy. Warren made pesto stuffed mushrooms that even the mushroom haters gobbled up. And, Toby brought some pizza loaf! (Which Shannon turned into pizza bites.)
The kids busied themselves with LEGOS, Club Penguin, my cellphone, and general running around. (Satchel called one of his teachers, but cut the conversation short saying, "I'm at Cocktail Hour and it is really loud. I'll call you later.") I was very impressed with little Emma's ability to fit right in with the big boys.
The adults enjoyed some wine and a lot of laughs.
Thanks Dixons!
Friday, February 20, 2009
World Music at Evergreen
A few months ago, I took the monkeys and their friend, JP, to GPAC for the Peanut Butter & Jam session on World Music. Satchel had gotten it into his head that we were going to eat breakfast so he was disappointed and refused to pay attention to the show. Jiro and JP followed suit. However, I know a good thing when I see it.
I found the performers--Sean, Anne, and Jason--on Facebook and started chatting with them. Originally, I wanted to get them to a Rock-n-Romp, but after meeting with them and learning about all of the cool things they can do, we decided to do a music program at the kids' school.
Today, Sean, Anne, and Jason came to the school to perform. Next week they will come back and lead an instrument making workshops with each class. (The primary kids are making maracas and the elementary kids have a choice of rainsticks or guiros.) Then a week from tomorrow, parents and students will get together with Sean, Anne, and Jason to build an amadinda for the outdoor environment. (The amadinda is the wooden xylophone-like instrument near the end of the pics.)
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
The kids were all really excited about the show and had a great time singing, dancing, and checking out all of the cool instruments that they brought. I was really excited that everything turned out so well. I can't wait until next week!
To learn more about Sean, Anne, and Jason, check out their website: Being:Art.
I found the performers--Sean, Anne, and Jason--on Facebook and started chatting with them. Originally, I wanted to get them to a Rock-n-Romp, but after meeting with them and learning about all of the cool things they can do, we decided to do a music program at the kids' school.
Today, Sean, Anne, and Jason came to the school to perform. Next week they will come back and lead an instrument making workshops with each class. (The primary kids are making maracas and the elementary kids have a choice of rainsticks or guiros.) Then a week from tomorrow, parents and students will get together with Sean, Anne, and Jason to build an amadinda for the outdoor environment. (The amadinda is the wooden xylophone-like instrument near the end of the pics.)
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
The kids were all really excited about the show and had a great time singing, dancing, and checking out all of the cool instruments that they brought. I was really excited that everything turned out so well. I can't wait until next week!
To learn more about Sean, Anne, and Jason, check out their website: Being:Art.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Jamboree Kids
Wednesday night was the first ever CPOP Old Forest Jamboree. Like all CPOP events, we made it kid-friendly. Yes, even at a bar. We started the show at 7pm and the Hi-Tone is non-smoking, serves pizza, and has video games. Plus it is big enough that the kids were able to stay in their own area away from the crowd.
Satchel and Jiro were very happy to see their cousin and two of their best friends. They kept themselves busy with the games, food, etc. They even managed to play darts without incident! They took turns helping me at the door (i.e. stamping hands) and Jiro even asked me to dance. It was great having them there, even if it was just for an hour or two. (Warren took them home at bedtime.)
The Jamboree was a huge success for us, and I am thankful for everyone who came to the show, and especially for the great musicians who played. Also a nice big shout out to Ghost River for the beer and Umai for the sushi!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Old Forest Jamboree
Come hear some good music and support a good cause at the same time!
This is an all ages show and kids under 12 get in free. Keep in mind there will be loud music and alcohol being served. (Everyone 21 and up gets a free beer courtesy of Ghost River!) Veterans of Rock-n-Romp should be fine, but those of you not familiar, just sayin'.
Hope to see you there!
Here's the line-up:
7:30: Hoots & Hellmouth
8:30: Jimmy Davis
9:30: Bluff City Backsliders
10:30: Giant Bear
Click here for more info on Citizens to Preserve Overton Park.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Post-Modern Play Date
On Saturday night, Satchel came over to me and asked, “When is Five coming over again?”
Five is the nine-year-old son of one of my friends/fellow board member of Rock-n-Romp. The board meetings are usually at my house, and I always invite everyone’s kids to come along. However, Robby (Five’s dad) stepped down from the board this year, so Five hasn’t been over lately.
“Hmmm…I’m not sure,” I said. “Why?” I asked. “Do you want him to help you with one of your games?”
I remembered that on Five’s last visit, he revealed himself to be a master at Super Mario Galaxy. I also remembered that he seemed to enjoy playing with Satchel and my husband, Warren, overheard him say something like, “You should invite me over sometime.”
Satchel nodded and said, “Can Five come over tomorrow?”
I thought about it. Would a nine-year-old want to have a play date with an almost seven-year-old and his almost five-year-old brother? Would Five even want to play Super Mario Galaxy? (Mario Kart is the best game ever! And more than one person can play at a time.) Not to mention, would Robby think I was a loser if I invited him over just to play video games?
I checked with Warren to see if we had anything pressing happening on Sunday and then sent Robby a text: Satchel wants to know if Five can come over tomorrow to play Wii and go on a hike through Overton Park. (I figured adding a hike would balance out the Wii playing.) Then I held my breath.
Robby texted back: How about 11am?
I’m not sure who was more excited, me or Satchel. Actually, Jiro was pretty excited too. On Sunday morning he said, “I’m going to tell Five that Super Mario Galaxy is my game and not Satchel’s, but that it’s OK for him to play.”
“Okay,” I said, laughing at how he and Satchel keep track of who’s game is who’s when neither of them have ever spent a dime of their own money on any of them.
Then he added, “If Five can’t understand me will you tell him what I said?”
“Of course,” I said, somewhat pleased, yet crushed. Obviously he knows he’s in speech therapy, but he’s never actually acknowledged his communication issues in words.
“I’ll help you too,” said Satchel sweetly.
All morning Satchel was watching the clock, counting down to 11am. Warren and I both lectured the boys on behaving, and reminded them that their friends don’t come over to watch them fight. We also threw in a few, “Remember Five is a big kid, so you don’t want to act like babies,” for good measure.
Five arrived right on time, and immediately joined the monkeys in front of the TV. Robby came in to chat for a few minutes and I told him how relieved I was that Five wanted to come over. “He was really excited,” Robby assured me. He also said that Five was looking forward to going on a hike.
“How long can we have him?” I asked, calculating how long it would take to drag the three boys away from the Wii in order to get them to the park.
“Until 2pm?” Robby suggested.
“Perfect,” I said.
Robby went to run errands, Warren went to his office to study, and I set up my laptop in the kitchen, right outside the living room door. Five happily took control of the Wii remote and started talking through his every move as Satchel and Jiro watched and listened intently. Every time he beat someone or something, moved up a level, etc. there was lots of cheering. Satchel was so excited, he had to stand next to Five and jump up and down every few minutes.
I tried to translate this scene into adult terms. I equated it with me calling a friend for help. I’ve certainly called Robby a number of times to ask him Internet questions. And my friend, Chip, recently came over to set up our wireless connection. There isn’t anything wrong with having a more knowledgeable friend come over and help out with something you find difficult, is there?
Sure, there’s something to be said for figuring stuff out on your own, but not all of us are good at that. (I know I’m not.) I’d much rather have a friend show me how to do something than read a manual. Warren thinks this is laziness on my part, but I really learn better that way. And besides, this was definitely a step up from loaning their game to an older kid in order for him to beat all of the levels, like they did with their Mario game for DS.
Five was an excellent teacher. He listened to Satchel’s 1001 questions and answered them all without a hint of annoyance. He genuinely seemed to be enjoying the act of passing on his knowledge. I actually wished I could be as patient as Five. The never-ending questions are sometimes too much for me!
For his part, Satchel was an ideal student. He paid attention, asked pertinent questions (“Can you do this? Can you do that? Can you do it again?”), showed his appreciation (“Wow! You’re the best! You’re like an expert! Thank you! You’re my best friend!”), and even fetched some ice water when Five got thirsty. (He came running into the kitchen exclaiming, “Five needs water!”)
Jiro was similarly glued to the television, and gave Five his undivided attention. I don’t know if he had a hard time getting a word in with Satchel’s constant questioning and Five’s detailed answering or if he felt self-conscious, but I have never heard him be so quiet in my whole life!
Every once in awhile I would go in and watch for a minute, ask a few questions, see if anyone needed anything, and mention that we were going to go to the park soon. Finally, at 1pm, I decided to pull the plug. “You guys ready to go on a hike?” I said enthusiastically.
“Sure,” Five said. (He had answered, "Maybe in a minute" every other time I asked this question.)
“No!!!!!!!!!!” Satchel and Jiro said in unison, cracking their metaphorical whips. Clearly they wanted to keep Five hooked up to the Wii for eternity.
“Come on,” I said. “I’m sure Five is tired by now. Let’s go run around.”
They had no choice but to follow Five out of the door. They played in the front yard while I got the dogs and alerted Warren that it was time to head home. Soon we all set off down the street. Satchel and Five were talking a mile a minute (about Mario). While they were talking, they naturally gravitated towards each other and were walking as close as humanly possible without tripping each other. Jiro kept trying to wiggle his way in the middle of them, but his little legs couldn’t keep the pace, and they unconsciously edged him out.
Once we got to the trails, Satchel finally found something more interesting than Mario: a giant tangle of fallen trees. He immediately started climbing and expertly traversed the mob of branches. Five, who was wearing Crocs and seemed a little unsure of himself, looked at me and said, “Mind of I give it a try?”
“Go ahead,” I said. “Just be careful.”
A few steps in, Five looked around and then called out to Satchel, “How did you do that?”
I encouraged Satchel to help Five with the trees the way that Five had helped him with Mario. He thought about it for a second, then retraced his steps and told Five where to go. Soon he had an entire obstacle course set up. Warren, Jiro, and I waited patiently as Satchel and Five made their way through. I was happy that Satchel was getting the chance to reciprocate.
As we made our way through the trails back to the red playground, where Robby was scheduled to meet us, Satchel continued to amaze Five with Old Forest wonders. (He was especially awed by the hundred year old grapevines that enable you to swing like Tarzan.)
At the playground, Warren and I chatted with Robby and his wife, Rachael, about linking up through the Internet so we could play Mario Kart against each other and Satchel and Five whispered about future sleepovers. Jiro, still wasn’t saying much, but he seemed happy.
Later that evening, when Satchel attempted to recreate Five’s moves, he and Jiro both celebrated his victories by dancing around the room, singing, “Oh yeah! Oh yeah!” And there were several times I overheard Jiro say, “Wait, I know something…do it this way.”
Five is the nine-year-old son of one of my friends/fellow board member of Rock-n-Romp. The board meetings are usually at my house, and I always invite everyone’s kids to come along. However, Robby (Five’s dad) stepped down from the board this year, so Five hasn’t been over lately.
“Hmmm…I’m not sure,” I said. “Why?” I asked. “Do you want him to help you with one of your games?”
I remembered that on Five’s last visit, he revealed himself to be a master at Super Mario Galaxy. I also remembered that he seemed to enjoy playing with Satchel and my husband, Warren, overheard him say something like, “You should invite me over sometime.”
Satchel nodded and said, “Can Five come over tomorrow?”
I thought about it. Would a nine-year-old want to have a play date with an almost seven-year-old and his almost five-year-old brother? Would Five even want to play Super Mario Galaxy? (Mario Kart is the best game ever! And more than one person can play at a time.) Not to mention, would Robby think I was a loser if I invited him over just to play video games?
I checked with Warren to see if we had anything pressing happening on Sunday and then sent Robby a text: Satchel wants to know if Five can come over tomorrow to play Wii and go on a hike through Overton Park. (I figured adding a hike would balance out the Wii playing.) Then I held my breath.
Robby texted back: How about 11am?
I’m not sure who was more excited, me or Satchel. Actually, Jiro was pretty excited too. On Sunday morning he said, “I’m going to tell Five that Super Mario Galaxy is my game and not Satchel’s, but that it’s OK for him to play.”
“Okay,” I said, laughing at how he and Satchel keep track of who’s game is who’s when neither of them have ever spent a dime of their own money on any of them.
Then he added, “If Five can’t understand me will you tell him what I said?”
“Of course,” I said, somewhat pleased, yet crushed. Obviously he knows he’s in speech therapy, but he’s never actually acknowledged his communication issues in words.
“I’ll help you too,” said Satchel sweetly.
All morning Satchel was watching the clock, counting down to 11am. Warren and I both lectured the boys on behaving, and reminded them that their friends don’t come over to watch them fight. We also threw in a few, “Remember Five is a big kid, so you don’t want to act like babies,” for good measure.
Five arrived right on time, and immediately joined the monkeys in front of the TV. Robby came in to chat for a few minutes and I told him how relieved I was that Five wanted to come over. “He was really excited,” Robby assured me. He also said that Five was looking forward to going on a hike.
“How long can we have him?” I asked, calculating how long it would take to drag the three boys away from the Wii in order to get them to the park.
“Until 2pm?” Robby suggested.
“Perfect,” I said.
Robby went to run errands, Warren went to his office to study, and I set up my laptop in the kitchen, right outside the living room door. Five happily took control of the Wii remote and started talking through his every move as Satchel and Jiro watched and listened intently. Every time he beat someone or something, moved up a level, etc. there was lots of cheering. Satchel was so excited, he had to stand next to Five and jump up and down every few minutes.
I tried to translate this scene into adult terms. I equated it with me calling a friend for help. I’ve certainly called Robby a number of times to ask him Internet questions. And my friend, Chip, recently came over to set up our wireless connection. There isn’t anything wrong with having a more knowledgeable friend come over and help out with something you find difficult, is there?
Sure, there’s something to be said for figuring stuff out on your own, but not all of us are good at that. (I know I’m not.) I’d much rather have a friend show me how to do something than read a manual. Warren thinks this is laziness on my part, but I really learn better that way. And besides, this was definitely a step up from loaning their game to an older kid in order for him to beat all of the levels, like they did with their Mario game for DS.
Five was an excellent teacher. He listened to Satchel’s 1001 questions and answered them all without a hint of annoyance. He genuinely seemed to be enjoying the act of passing on his knowledge. I actually wished I could be as patient as Five. The never-ending questions are sometimes too much for me!
For his part, Satchel was an ideal student. He paid attention, asked pertinent questions (“Can you do this? Can you do that? Can you do it again?”), showed his appreciation (“Wow! You’re the best! You’re like an expert! Thank you! You’re my best friend!”), and even fetched some ice water when Five got thirsty. (He came running into the kitchen exclaiming, “Five needs water!”)
Jiro was similarly glued to the television, and gave Five his undivided attention. I don’t know if he had a hard time getting a word in with Satchel’s constant questioning and Five’s detailed answering or if he felt self-conscious, but I have never heard him be so quiet in my whole life!
Every once in awhile I would go in and watch for a minute, ask a few questions, see if anyone needed anything, and mention that we were going to go to the park soon. Finally, at 1pm, I decided to pull the plug. “You guys ready to go on a hike?” I said enthusiastically.
“Sure,” Five said. (He had answered, "Maybe in a minute" every other time I asked this question.)
“No!!!!!!!!!!” Satchel and Jiro said in unison, cracking their metaphorical whips. Clearly they wanted to keep Five hooked up to the Wii for eternity.
“Come on,” I said. “I’m sure Five is tired by now. Let’s go run around.”
They had no choice but to follow Five out of the door. They played in the front yard while I got the dogs and alerted Warren that it was time to head home. Soon we all set off down the street. Satchel and Five were talking a mile a minute (about Mario). While they were talking, they naturally gravitated towards each other and were walking as close as humanly possible without tripping each other. Jiro kept trying to wiggle his way in the middle of them, but his little legs couldn’t keep the pace, and they unconsciously edged him out.
Once we got to the trails, Satchel finally found something more interesting than Mario: a giant tangle of fallen trees. He immediately started climbing and expertly traversed the mob of branches. Five, who was wearing Crocs and seemed a little unsure of himself, looked at me and said, “Mind of I give it a try?”
“Go ahead,” I said. “Just be careful.”
A few steps in, Five looked around and then called out to Satchel, “How did you do that?”
I encouraged Satchel to help Five with the trees the way that Five had helped him with Mario. He thought about it for a second, then retraced his steps and told Five where to go. Soon he had an entire obstacle course set up. Warren, Jiro, and I waited patiently as Satchel and Five made their way through. I was happy that Satchel was getting the chance to reciprocate.
As we made our way through the trails back to the red playground, where Robby was scheduled to meet us, Satchel continued to amaze Five with Old Forest wonders. (He was especially awed by the hundred year old grapevines that enable you to swing like Tarzan.)
At the playground, Warren and I chatted with Robby and his wife, Rachael, about linking up through the Internet so we could play Mario Kart against each other and Satchel and Five whispered about future sleepovers. Jiro, still wasn’t saying much, but he seemed happy.
Later that evening, when Satchel attempted to recreate Five’s moves, he and Jiro both celebrated his victories by dancing around the room, singing, “Oh yeah! Oh yeah!” And there were several times I overheard Jiro say, “Wait, I know something…do it this way.”
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Free Wheeling
Team Oster decided to celebrate Valentine's day with a downtown skate/bike ride. It was a bit chilly, but once we got movin' it felt fine. It's been awhile since we did this and it was super fun. The sidewalks downtown are very challenging, especially on skates and training wheels, but we made it through unscathed. The patch of sidewalk along the train station was lovely, and we spent a good while just enjoying the smoothness. We stopped for a snack at Frank's deli, and then headed home. It was a lovely afternoon.
Daddy's Office
Friday, the kids were out of school, so they spent the day at Warren's office. They love going to work with Daddy. They get to walk across Sam Cooper, play games, use the computer, play hide and go seek, snack all day, etc. Warren even manages to get a little work done.
When I called to check on them around four, Warren admitted that they were getting a little antsy. So I left work a little early and went to pick them up. I found them waiting for me on the back door step. Like this:
I still haven't gotten a clear answer on who's idea this was.
When I called to check on them around four, Warren admitted that they were getting a little antsy. So I left work a little early and went to pick them up. I found them waiting for me on the back door step. Like this:
I still haven't gotten a clear answer on who's idea this was.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Lunch List
While doing my taxes, I came face-to-face with a mound of receipts. In my lunch stack, I was pretty surprised by the sheer number of times I ate at a handful of places. Since I write about food so much, I'm always on the hunt for "new and exciting." (Or at the very least, off the beaten path.)
Looking at them as a group, I see that what they have in common is an easy "grab-n-go" vibe. Here's my top five (all of which you may have already read about in the Flyer's Recommended Dish section or on Dining with Monkeys):
5. Whole Foods. I find it very hard to drive past the store without stopping in for a spicy tunacado roll. I can be in and out in 5 minutes. (Yes, I eat the roll with my hands while driving. The rice is doused with sesame oil so no soy sauce is required.)
4. Elliot's. A group of us celebrated "Monkey-less Mondays" at Elliot's for a good nine months before everyone got too busy or moved East. Nine times out of ten, I get the Santa Fe. (One out of ten is the hamburger.) Getting stuff to go here is easy too, but I almost always eat in because my reason for being there usually revolves around someone else suggesting we meet there. (Harry, the owner, used to clip my CA column to the bulletin board when I was a regular. On my last visit, I noticed that the column was two months old!)
3. Fino's. If I'm out and about in Midtown anywhere near lunch time, I make a point of stopping at Fino's for a half of a prosciutto cotto. I get it to go a lot, but I also like eating in. There's always someone famous there like Coach Cal, Harlan T. Bobo, etc. (I love that they wrap their sandwiches in paper and use paper bags. If only they would nix the styrofoam cups and soup containers!)
2. Sekisui. Even though the Sekisui downtown is really just a scaled down version of the other Sekisuis, I love getting a spicy tuna and a spicy crawfish to go. They know my voice on the phone now so I don't even have to identify myself. I do eat in on occasion, and if I'm feeling fancy, I get the tekka ju, which is a bowl of sushi rice with raw tuna on top.
1. Flying Fish. I would say my Flying Fish habit is verging on addiction. I seriously have withdrawal if I don't get the fish tacos (w/grilled tilapia, snappy) once a week. We had a few Monkey-less Mondays there, but I normally go with my friend, Chip, who is hooked on the tacos and the oyster po-boys, or I get it to go. (They are a bit crazy with the styrofoam so I avoid the to-go scenario if at all possible.)
Coming in at a close six, was Miss Cordelia's. Had they started carrying Umai sushi a bit earlier, they would have been in the top three for sure.
What are your regular haunts?
Looking at them as a group, I see that what they have in common is an easy "grab-n-go" vibe. Here's my top five (all of which you may have already read about in the Flyer's Recommended Dish section or on Dining with Monkeys):
5. Whole Foods. I find it very hard to drive past the store without stopping in for a spicy tunacado roll. I can be in and out in 5 minutes. (Yes, I eat the roll with my hands while driving. The rice is doused with sesame oil so no soy sauce is required.)
4. Elliot's. A group of us celebrated "Monkey-less Mondays" at Elliot's for a good nine months before everyone got too busy or moved East. Nine times out of ten, I get the Santa Fe. (One out of ten is the hamburger.) Getting stuff to go here is easy too, but I almost always eat in because my reason for being there usually revolves around someone else suggesting we meet there. (Harry, the owner, used to clip my CA column to the bulletin board when I was a regular. On my last visit, I noticed that the column was two months old!)
3. Fino's. If I'm out and about in Midtown anywhere near lunch time, I make a point of stopping at Fino's for a half of a prosciutto cotto. I get it to go a lot, but I also like eating in. There's always someone famous there like Coach Cal, Harlan T. Bobo, etc. (I love that they wrap their sandwiches in paper and use paper bags. If only they would nix the styrofoam cups and soup containers!)
2. Sekisui. Even though the Sekisui downtown is really just a scaled down version of the other Sekisuis, I love getting a spicy tuna and a spicy crawfish to go. They know my voice on the phone now so I don't even have to identify myself. I do eat in on occasion, and if I'm feeling fancy, I get the tekka ju, which is a bowl of sushi rice with raw tuna on top.
1. Flying Fish. I would say my Flying Fish habit is verging on addiction. I seriously have withdrawal if I don't get the fish tacos (w/grilled tilapia, snappy) once a week. We had a few Monkey-less Mondays there, but I normally go with my friend, Chip, who is hooked on the tacos and the oyster po-boys, or I get it to go. (They are a bit crazy with the styrofoam so I avoid the to-go scenario if at all possible.)
Coming in at a close six, was Miss Cordelia's. Had they started carrying Umai sushi a bit earlier, they would have been in the top three for sure.
What are your regular haunts?
Movie Madness
My column Kids' films with adults in mind just the ticket runs today in the Commercial Appeal. Check it out.
Monday, February 09, 2009
The Mysterious Case of Miss(ing) Manners
I don't usually read Miss Manners in the Commercial Appeal, but it caught my eye last Sunday. The title was "Leftovers raise dining-out issues."In a nutshell, the "Gentle Reader" wrote that she liked to be eco-conscious when dining out. This involved her bringing her own "to go" container (which I advocate), rather than accepting say, a styrofoam container, which is an eco "no no." The problem was, her date found this to be socially inappropriate and (gasp!) lambasted her!
Miss Manners responded that the Gentle Reader should try to order only the amount of food she could eat, or only order appetizers. Or share her meal with her dining companion. Or call ahead and ask the restaurant if she could have an appetizer-sized portion of whatever she wanted to eat.
Well, I am no manners expert, but I found this answer to be completely out of touch with contemporary society. (Not to mention it goes against everything that Project Green Fork is trying to accomplish in Memphis.) Plus, I thought it would be much ruder, or more high maintenance, to ask for a special serving size at the restaurant. And it would be especially wasteful if the diner had to pay full price.
I looked on the CA's site for the link, but couldn't find it. However, since Miss Manners is syndicated, I was able to find the full text on the Washington Post's site.
And guess what?
Not only did I discover that the question had a different title (Eco-Minded Diner Has a Bone To Pick With Doggie Bags), I discovered that the CA only printed half of Miss Manner's response. Her final verdict? It's perfectly fine to bring your own container!
In a restaurant, you could respond to a waiter's offer to wrap your leftovers by saying, "Thank you," and asking if he could please use your container.
Surprised that Miss Manners came back to the private container, after all? How the food is wrapped does not interest her so much as how the question of taking it home is handled. You must promise her to behave as if the possibility of another meal from this comes as a pleasant bonus, not as if you had schemed to stock your larder.
So, did the CA clip the answer (and the title) for space or is it a conspiracy against the eco-minded diners in Memphis?
And what other answers have they altered? Just imagine the faux pas being committed in Memphis as we speak!
Jiro-isms
When Jiro gets mad, he says, "I hate you, Mommy." When he gets really mad he says, "I hate everyone in my whole family." When he gets really, really mad he says, "I hate everyone in the whole world...except Santa Claus."
***
Jiro is learning to read/spell and is at that stage where he says things like, "I know how to spell fox, f-o-x!" Today, while we were on a hike in the Old Forest, he ran up to me and said, "I know how to spell DS." (Yes, as in Nintendo DS.) I said, "How?" He said, "D. Uh...er...I forgot."
***
Jiro is still learning his "f" sound in speech. Usually he will get a word like foot and is instructed to make the "ff" sound first, then make the rest of the word. So foot would be f-oot. Fence=f-ence. Fan=f-an.
His teacher gave him a sheet with pictures on it to practice with. The handouts that the city schools use are so out of date and drawn so weird, very often it is hard for even me to tell what the picture is depicting.
There was a picture of a camera with a roll of film next to it. The teacher pointed at the film, which was unspooling a bit, and asked "What is this?" Jiro looked at it and said matter-of-factly, "f-toilet paper."
***
Jiro is learning to read/spell and is at that stage where he says things like, "I know how to spell fox, f-o-x!" Today, while we were on a hike in the Old Forest, he ran up to me and said, "I know how to spell DS." (Yes, as in Nintendo DS.) I said, "How?" He said, "D. Uh...er...I forgot."
***
Jiro is still learning his "f" sound in speech. Usually he will get a word like foot and is instructed to make the "ff" sound first, then make the rest of the word. So foot would be f-oot. Fence=f-ence. Fan=f-an.
His teacher gave him a sheet with pictures on it to practice with. The handouts that the city schools use are so out of date and drawn so weird, very often it is hard for even me to tell what the picture is depicting.
There was a picture of a camera with a roll of film next to it. The teacher pointed at the film, which was unspooling a bit, and asked "What is this?" Jiro looked at it and said matter-of-factly, "f-toilet paper."
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Southern (Monkey) Routes-Live(ish)
The segment for Southern Routes has been digitized and you-tubed for your viewing pleasure:
And yes, I'm sticking with writing.
And yes, I'm sticking with writing.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Contra Dancing v2
Remember I told you how much fun Warren and I had contra dancing? Well, today the Commercial Appeal is telling the whole city...
Joan Kelly is wearing a black shirt, a long flowing skirt, black leggings and a smile as she explains to a group of newcomers that swinging is the heart and soul of contra dancing.
"Make eye contact and look happy," she coaches. "And always leave the lady on your right."
The group nods, then follows Joan's instructions to "gypsy, then melt into swing" while smiling and gazing into their partner's eyes...(Read more)
Friday, February 06, 2009
3-D
We went to see Coraline in 3-D tonight. It was awesome. (And probably too scary for all of the children of my core readership!)
Did you know that when you see a 3-D movie it costs $1.50 extra? Apparently the 3-D glasses, which are worth $50 each I'm told, must be cleaned in a special machine and they need extra personnel to issue them and take them back at the end. I was expecting something way less fancy. Maybe not the paper glasses of old with one red lense and one blue, but the green plastic variety that was standard issue a few years ago when the Night Before Christmas was re-released.
When Jiro put his glasses on he exclaimed, "This makes everything look like real life!"
After 100 minutes, I had a headache and just felt old. Twice my brain attempted to go to sleep to compensate for the visual gymnastics I was asking it to do!
But yes, we loved the movie. It has a great "appreciate your parents" message that I plan to milk in the future. (Today, while paying my utility bill, the woman next to me convinced her 2 year old to let her hold her by telling her that there was a dog somewhere in the lobby. I can only assume that the little girl feared dogs. She curiously looked for the dog and said in a whispery voice, "Where's the doggy?" Had she freaked, I wouldn't have found this tactic's effectiveness to be so inspiring.)
Did you know that when you see a 3-D movie it costs $1.50 extra? Apparently the 3-D glasses, which are worth $50 each I'm told, must be cleaned in a special machine and they need extra personnel to issue them and take them back at the end. I was expecting something way less fancy. Maybe not the paper glasses of old with one red lense and one blue, but the green plastic variety that was standard issue a few years ago when the Night Before Christmas was re-released.
When Jiro put his glasses on he exclaimed, "This makes everything look like real life!"
After 100 minutes, I had a headache and just felt old. Twice my brain attempted to go to sleep to compensate for the visual gymnastics I was asking it to do!
But yes, we loved the movie. It has a great "appreciate your parents" message that I plan to milk in the future. (Today, while paying my utility bill, the woman next to me convinced her 2 year old to let her hold her by telling her that there was a dog somewhere in the lobby. I can only assume that the little girl feared dogs. She curiously looked for the dog and said in a whispery voice, "Where's the doggy?" Had she freaked, I wouldn't have found this tactic's effectiveness to be so inspiring.)
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Ricky Ricotta Makes Reading Fun
As a young girl, I loved reading. My first grade teacher had the most awesome reward system ever. Every time we read a book, she wrote the title on a strip of construction paper and taped it to our locker (in the classroom). For every 10 books we read, we got to choose a toy from her secret toy bag. (And yes, the prizes were cumulative, so 20 books meant 2 toys!) Mrs. Jones would open up her bag and place the toys out for everyone to see. The whole class would gather around and "ooh" and "aah" as the kid(s) with ten books (or more) under his/her belt made his/her selection(s). Not surprisingly, I read over 300 books in the first grade. My strips of construction paper extended up my locker, up the wall, and across the ceiling.
I read all of the Dick & Jane books, and who knows what else. I remember my mom taking me & my sister to the library on a regular basis and I loved picking out books. Eventually I became a big fan of Nancy Drew, the Boxcar Kids, Judy Blume, Little House on the Prairie, Amelia Bedelia, etc. You know, the usuals.
Satchel started doing a monthly book report when he started elementary last fall. For his first book, I worried one month would not be long enough to for him to finish reading it. But by last month, he was able to read his book on his own in about an hour.
This month, he doesn't care about his book report as much as he cares about reading every single adventure of Ricky Ricotta and his Mighty Robot. We went to library last week and requested that all of the books at other branches be sent to us. They didn't have them all, but they had six of them. Warren was assigned the task of picking them up this evening after class. Satchel was literally counting the minutes until he got home.
When he did, Satchel rushed over, grabbed the Mecha Monkeys adventure, sat on the couch and commenced reading. Even though the books are a little silly, and way less awesome than my old favorites, I am thrilled that Satchel is now officially a self-motivated reader.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
DS
Unfortunately, this feature doesn't work the same with all games. Sometimes both players have to have the same game in order to play together. So for the monkeys that meant we needed TWO copies of Lego Batman.
This was the greatest thing ever, until all of their hard work somehow got erased. They were constantly stealing each other's cartridge in order to have higher levels & more players, so maybe that had something to do with it. (I'm not exactly sure how it all works.)
And of course, there are days when they just absolutely do not want to play together. This does not mean that they won't sit and watch the other play for hours.
Last week, Satchel took the Nintendo craziness to a new level when he gave Mario to one of the older boys at school. This boy apparently offered to beat all of the levels for Satchel. It took him a week to do it, but he did. I thought for sure the levels wouldn't transfer once Satchel put the game in his machine, but I was wrong.
Warren and I spent a week telling Satchel how this maneuver was what we would call cheating. We also tried to explain that the point of having various levels, was so that you could practice and be rewarded. We reminded him of how he learned to play Lego Star Wars and how he is now super awesome at Star Wars.
I'm pretty sure he just smiled and nodded the whole time we were talking, because he has been nothing but 100% thrilled that he now has access to every Mario level ever made.
We have banned him from sending out other games to older boys, and he has somberly agreed.
I'm still going to check his pockets.
Oh, and the other DS feature that Satchel absolutely loves and thinks is totally amazing? The calendar. The fact that his DS tells him what day it is astounds him.
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