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Missoni Home, the beloved fashion brand's home collection, features a range of richly patterned rugs, throws, pillows, linens and accessories. Strong colors, bold graphics and whimsical layering are all hallmarks of the creative vision behind Missoni Home.
The Botanica Velours Rug is available with the following:
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Leverage mouse gestures
KDE has built in support for mouse gestures enabling you to greatly increase your productivity by just drawing thing with your mouse on the screen. You can configure gestures under
System Settings,
Shortcuts and Gestures,
Custom Shortcuts, then check the
Gestures checkbox. The gestures you define can execute commands, call D-Bus API calls or emulate key presses.
Example: launching applications
You could for instance draw a plus-sign gesture with your mouse to activate


text:
Water lilies (Nymphaea sp.) in bloom
Credit: James Randklev
Creative #: 490079-001
Restrictions: Cannot be used for or to illustrate the following subject areas in the territories indicated: Calendar Publishing, Greeting Card/Postcard Publishing, Poster Publishing, Product - Retail - Other (checks, souvenirs, gift items), Product - Retail Calendar, Product - Retail Postcard / Greeting Card, Product - Retail Poster, Europe, North America, end date of restriction Perpetual.
Available for Editorial uses. Editorial use: To report or illustrate a newsworthy event or matter of general interest. Editorial uses do not typically require a model or property release.Learn more
License type: Rights-managedRights-managed products are licensed with restrictions on usage, such as limitations on size, placement, duration of use and geographic distribution. You will be asked to submit information concerning your intended use of the product, which will determine the scope of usage rights granted.
Collection: Iconica
Max file size: 4716 x 3699 px (15.72 x 12.33 in) - 300 dpi - 6.48 MB
Release info: Not releasedNot released: This imagery has no model or property release. Any commercial use requires additional clearance from third parties.
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Water Lilies In Bloom Stock PhotoAquatic,Color Image,Day,Flower,Green Color,Horizontal,No People,Outdoors,Photography,Pond,Tranquil Scene,Uncultivated,Water LilyPhotographer James RandklevCollection: Iconica


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Lyrics Depot is your source of lyrics to Better Unborn by Amorphis. Please check back for more Amorphis lyrics.
Better Unborn Lyrics
Artist: Amorphis
Album: Elegy
Better it would be for me
And better it would have been
Had I not been born, not grown
Not been brought into the world
Not had to come to this earth
Not been suckled for the world
If I'd died a three-night-old
Been lost in my swaddling hand
I'd have needed but a span of doth
A span more of wood,
But a cubit of goof earth
Two words from the priest
Three verses from the cantor
One clang from the bell
Amorphis Lyrics
Amorphis Elegy Lyrics
More Amorphis Music Lyrics:
Amorphis - Cares Lyrics
Amorphis - Leaves Scar Lyrics
Amorphis - My Kantele Lyrics
Amorphis - My Kantele (acoustic) Lyrics
Amorphis - Nightfall Lyrics
Amorphis - Shining Lyrics
Amorphis - The White Swan Lyrics
Amorphis - Weaving The Incantation Lyrics


text:
Fiscal Stewardship:
A Critical Challenge Facing Our Nation
GAO-07-362SP: Published: Jan 31, 2007. Publicly Released: Jan 31, 2007.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
- Accessible Text:
(202) 512-8815
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
The U.S. government is the largest, most diverse, most complex, and arguably the most important entity on earth today. The United States is also a great nation. It has much to be proud of and much to be thankful for. However, our nation is not well positioned to meet the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities of the 21st Century. We are also failing to properly discharge one of our biggest stewardship responsibilities to our children, grandchildren, and generations of unborn Americans: fiscal responsibility. The purpose of this publication is to assist both the Congress and American citizens in understanding and evaluating the federal government's current financial condition and long-term fiscal outlook.
The federal government's financial condition and fiscal outlook are worse than many may understand. Despite an increase in revenues in fiscal year 2006 of about $255 billion, the federal government reported that its costs exceeded its revenues by $450 billion (i.e., net operating cost) and that its cash outlays exceeded its cash receipts by $248 billion (i.e., unified budget deficit). Further, as of September 30, 2006, the U.S. government reported that it owed (i.e., liabilities) more than it owned (i.e., assets) by almost $9 trillion. In addition, the present value of the federal government's major reported long-term "fiscal exposures"--liabilities (e.g., debt), contingencies (e.g., insurance), and social insurance and other commitments and promises (e.g., Social Security, Medicare)--rose from $20 trillion to about $50 trillion in the last 6 years. The federal government faces large and growing structural deficits in the future due primarily to known demographic trends and rising health care costs. These structural deficits--which are virtually certain given the design of our current programs and policies--will mean escalating and ultimately unsustainable federal deficits and debt levels. Based on various measures--and using reasonable assumptions--the federal government's current fiscal policy is unsustainable. Continuing on this imprudent and unsustainable path will gradually erode, if not suddenly damage, our economy, our standard of living, and ultimately our domestic tranquility and national security.
Sep 29, 2016
Medicaid Fee-For-Service:State Resources Vary for Helping Beneficiaries Find ProvidersGAO-16-809: Published: Aug 29, 2016. Publicly Released: Sep 29, 2016.
Sep 28, 2016
NIH Biomedical Research:Agencies Involved in the Indirect Cost Rate-Setting Process Need to Improve ControlsGAO-16-616: Published: Sep 7, 2016. Publicly Released: Sep 28, 2016.
Sep 15, 2016
Long-Term Care Workforce:Better Information Needed on Nursing Assistants, Home Health Aides, and Other Direct Care WorkersGAO-16-718: Published: Aug 16, 2016. Publicly Released: Sep 15, 2016.
Sep 14, 2016
Health Care:Results of Recent Undercover Testing for Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Coverage, and Review of Market Concentration in the Private Insurance MarketsGAO-16-882T: Published: Sep 14, 2016. Publicly Released: Sep 14, 2016.
Sep 12, 2016
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act:Most Enrollees Reported Satisfaction with Their Health Plans, Although Some Concerns ExistGAO-16-761: Published: Sep 12, 2016. Publicly Released: Sep 12, 2016.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act:Results of Undercover Enrollment Testing for the Federal Marketplace and a Selected State Marketplace for the 2016 Coverage YearGAO-16-784: Published: Sep 12, 2016. Publicly Released: Sep 12, 2016.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act:Final Results of Undercover Testing of the Federal Marketplace and Selected State Marketplaces for Coverage Year 2015GAO-16-792: Published: Sep 9, 2016. Publicly Released: Sep 12, 2016.
Generic Drugs Under Medicare:Part D Generic Drug Prices Declined Overall, but Some Had Extraordinary Price IncreasesGAO-16-706: Published: Aug 12, 2016. Publicly Released: Sep 12, 2016.
Sep 9, 2016
Medicaid:Key Policy and Data Considerations for Designing a Per Capita Cap on Federal FundingGAO-16-726: Published: Aug 10, 2016. Publicly Released: Sep 9, 2016.
Sep 6, 2016
Private Health Insurance:In Most States and New Exchanges, Enrollees Continued to be Concentrated among Few Issuers in 2014GAO-16-724: Published: Sep 6, 2016. Publicly Released: Sep 6, 2016.
Looking for more? Browse all our products here


text:
Latest Weather Blog
Content Tagged As will
Tagged News
Lawyer: Dividing Prince estate may be difficult
April 26, 2016 12:23 PMMINNEAPOLIS - A top Minnesota probate lawyer says resolving Prince's estate may get extremely complicated if his siblings and half-siblings can't agree how to do it. Prince's sister, Tyka Nelson, filed court documents Tuesday saying she knew of no will and asked the court to appoint a corporate trust... more »
4 B.B. King daughters raise possibility of 'missing' will
June 10, 2015 5:12 PMLAS VEGAS - Four of B.B. King's daughters are raising the possibility that he has a second will, and they're again accusing the blues legend's longtime business manager of stealing his wealth and endangering his health in the days before he died. A lawyer for Patty King, Karen Williams,... more »
Media wants Benson trial to be public
May 29, 2015 9:20 AMNEW ORLEANS - More people are getting involved in Tom Benson's legal battle. ESPN and other media outlets are saying the trial should be open to the public. Earlier this month a judge ruled the trial would be closed. Now, the media is asking to have that decision... more »
Woman admits digging up dad's grave in search of 'real will'
March 2, 2015 12:20 PMLANCASTER, NH - A New Hampshire woman who told police she dug up her father's grave in search of his "real will" but found only vodka and cigarettes has pleaded guilty. Melanie Nash was one of four accused in the plan to open Eddie Nash's vault in Colebrook, then rifle... more »
AP sources: Smith, Vilma get new deals with Saints
March 12, 2013 5:10 PMNEW ORLEANS - People familiar with the situation say defensive end Will Smith and linebacker Jonathan Vilma have agreed to restructure their contracts in order to remain with the New Orleans Saints. Meanwhile, one person says reserve linebacker Will Herring is being released. The people spoke to The Associated Press... more »


text:
Rainey Mountain Grace
Grace used at Camp Rainey Mountain
Northeast Georgia Council
Clayton, GA
Through the spirit of camping, may you bless this food, Great Creator.
May it keep us strong and steadfast,
In service, devotion, and conservation,
For the tranquility of these hills.
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Property for sale in Llangoed, Beaumaris LL58
Property type
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£750,000 Offers in region of
Property for saleLlangoed, Beaumaris, Anglesey LL58
A 1920's building, this Countyr House @ Lodge boasts elevated panoramic views, across he Menai Strait to Snowdonia. Substantially increased in the 1980's requiring renovations & modernisation, offering development potential as a commercial, tourism, ...
Note: Distances are straight line measurements
- Bangor (Gwynedd) (5.3 miles)
- Llanfairfechan (5.3 miles)
** Calls to this number will be recorded for quality, compliance and training purposes.
Latest Llangoed, Beaumaris LL58 property for sale
Zoopla is one of the UK's leading property portals, helping you to find property for sale and to rent and make smarter decisions when buying and renting homes in the UK. Discover information on homes in Llangoed, Beaumaris LL58 by researching Llangoed, Beaumaris LL58 property values, Llangoed, Beaumaris LL58 house prices paid, our Llangoed, Beaumaris LL58 property market overview and find Llangoed, Beaumaris LL58 agents.


text:
SkillSoft Agrees to $1.1 Billion Private-Equity Buyout
SkillSoft PLC said it agreed to be taken private in a $1.1 billion deal that underscores the reduced ambitions of many private-equity firms after the financial crisis.
The Dublin-based maker of e-learning programs on Friday said an investor group comprised of Berkshire Partners LLC, Advent International Corp. and Bain Capital Partners LLC would pay $10.80 for each of its American depositary shares, a 9.6% premium to Thursday's closing price and a 26% premium to the average closing price over the past year.
The agreement includes a three-week "go-shop" period that allows SkillSoft to entertain offers from other prospective buyers. Investors indicated they thought a superior offer might emerge by sending SkillSoft shares 13% higher to $11.03 on Friday.
The deal comes as private-equity firms scale back transaction sizes following a financial crisis that has made borrowing money for buyouts more difficult. At the top of the buyout boom, private-equity firms would fund some deals with as much as 80% debt. By comparison, the investor group will fund the SkillSoft transaction with $605 million in debt, a little more than half of the total value.
It also comes as private-equity firms increasingly find it difficult to cash out of their investments. Earlier this past week, Blackstone Group LP postponed the initial public offering of an online travel business it owns, while another portfolio holding halved the size of its offering.
The trio of private-equity buyers are all headquartered in Boston. Though smaller in scale, the deal still ranks as the second-largest going-private transaction since the beginning of 2009, ranking behind the $4 billion takeover of IMS Health Inc. led by buyout shop TPG Inc.
A SkillSoft representative didn't return a phone call seeking comment. Bain and Advent spokesmen declined to comment. A Berkshire representative didn't respond to a request for comment.
In November, SkillSoft posted higher-than-expected results in its fiscal third quarter amid higher margins and boosted its outlook for the year. The company cut jobs and costs last year as customers trimmed the size of contracts because of the recession.
Still, the Standard & Poor's Ratings Services put SkillSoft's ratings—already at junk level—on its watch list, saying a downgrade was highly likely because the deal would significantly weaken the company's credit metrics.
S&P rates SkillSoft at BB-, three steps below investment grade.
—Joseph Checkler and Peter Lattman contributed to this article.
Write to Tess Stynes at firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Exposed as a myth: Men don't have a one-track mind... they think about sleep and food as much as sex
Rumour has long had it that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.
And it turns out it's true. Men spend more time thinking about food – and sleep – than they do about sex, a study shows.
They think about all three more often than women do.
Food for thought: Men spend more time thinking about food - and sleep - than they do about sex, a study shows
The research found that, contrary to popular wisdom, men do not think about sex every seven seconds.
In reality, it is more like once every waking hour.
The study was carried out by Professor Terri Fisher, a psychologist at the Ohio State University in the U.S.
She asked 163 students – male and female – to carry around a chart and mark it every time they thought about sex, food or sleep.
The numbers varied widely, from one student who only recorded one sexual thought a day to a male who wrote down 388 in 24 hours.
But on average, men thought about food and sleep more often than they thought about sex.
And they thought about all three more often than women did.
Prof Fisher said: 'Men are more aware of need-related states such as being hungry or tired or sexually aroused, and focus on those. They are also better at detecting these states in themselves than women and more willing to express their thoughts.'
Men are more aware of need-related states such as being hungry, according to the psychologist who carried out the study
She added that even the student who thought about sex 388 times in a
day was only thinking about it every 158 seconds – far fewer than the
'every seven seconds' that myth would suggest.
'When people hear about some of these differences, I think sometimes
they don't question it because it fits the stereotypes we have of men
and women,' Prof Fisher said.
'When you stop and take a closer look at the origins of some of these alleged differences, they sometimes have no empirical support.'
Behavioural Psychologist Jo Hemmings, author of How To Have Great Sex, explains why men are so preoccupied with their stomachs.
She told MailOnline: 'There tend to be more trigger mechanisms to thinking about food. The sights and smells associated with eating, as well as simple hunger or thirst, tend to be more commonplace in everyday life than the trigger mechanism for thinking about sex, so inevitably we think more about it.'
Aside from this, those with a mathematical mind will have realised that the 'sex every seven seconds' stereotype doesn't make sense.
For to achieve this, a man, if he was awake for 16 hours, would be thinking about sex 8,000 times a day - or as often as breathing.
However, Hemmings explained that men are 'more "hot wired" to think about sex from the physiological point of view, so they invariably think about it more than women'.
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Ask our Counsellors
without classs????????
i have done my graduation in pub adm.so i want to do my b. ed from your institute. so tell me i can do my b.ed or not in having pub adm..........
kindly inform me the details contacts and the adimission periodof Angul B.ed college
Kindly inform me the details contacts and the adimission period Angul B.ed college.
kindly inform me the detail contactsand the adimission period of Angul B.ed College
Top 10 BEd Colleges in Angul | B.Ed
B. Ed stands for bachelor of education. There are various teaching colleges in Angul that provide b. ed courses in Angul. Those candidate have completed graduation or post graduation from recognized university are applicable for B. Ed course. Your graduation or post graduation marks must be hold above 5%. For SC/ST candidate this marks is decreased to above 45% marks. Only Arts and Science departments are eligible for B. Ed course. There are some institute provide B. Ed course for B. Com and BBA candidates. There are various B. Ed colleges in Angul that provide various B. Ed courses in Angul. There are also B. Ed. colleges in Angul that offers courses to train teachers at pre-primary schools. B. Ed courses in Angul are provided at both regular and correspondence levels. There are many correspondence colleges in Angul that offer B. Ed through correspondence in Angul. Entrance exams are conducted for seeking admissions to various B. Ed colleges in Angul which will be held usually in the month of July/August every year. Mentioned here is the list of Top 10 B. Ed colleges in Angul,Private B. Ed colleges in Angul,Government B. Ed colleges in Angul and other good institutes in Angul that offer B. Ed courses in Angul.


text:
Real news. Real funny.
Real news. Real funny.
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Helen Adams Realty was founded four decades ago in the growing city of Charlotte. Her goal was to create a company which was based on a strong commitment to personal service, unmatched area knowledge, exceptional real estate expertise, and the highest ethical standards.
Helen Adams Realty has office locations throughout the Charlotte area to service your needs. Click here for contact information and directions to our offices..
Helen Adams agents represent some of the finest and most experienced in the real estate industry. Click here for our agent directory.
We can help match you with an agent that meets your specific needs. We'll make sure that agent specializes in the area of your home sale or purchase, and fits the personality type you are looking for. Contact us toll free at 800-851-5253 or via email, and we will respond promptly!


text:
Illinois Public Media
All articles tagged Default
Durbin: Budget Battle Should Pave Way To Bipartisanship
What Happens If Congress Can't Make A Deal On The Debt?
Reid And McConnell Cite 'Progress' As Default Deadline Looms
Erika Harold: Default More Critical Than Shutdown
Some Republicans Say Debt Limit Fuss Is A Lot Of Hype
Page 1 of 1 pages
WILL Highlights
Vintage Vinyl is back!
Huge sale of used vinyl records, DVDs, CDs, and other musical ephemera to benefit Illinois Radio Reader returns on Oct. 1.
The Bandwagon
Not your typical sports podcast. Forget the "hot takes" and meet us at the intersection of sports and culture every two weeks.
Classic Mornings
Get more out of your classical music experience and check out Vic Di Geronimo's blog.


text:
Rent All I Wanted Was to Be Loved 1st edition today, or search our site for other textbooks by J. L. Miller. Every textbook comes with a 21-day "Any Reason" guarantee. Published by AuthorHouse.
Need help ASAP? We have you covered with 24/7 instant online tutoring. Connect with one of our tutors now.


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A season with dimmed lights, changing shadows and metallic reflections, with gold and contrasts, intense winter colors , like a cocoon. Precious and discrete collections under the winter sun and the morning mist . They are called Irina , Pyrite , Aurora or Golden blue ...
We closely collaborate with local ceramists, gilders to guaranty a high-quality and timeless jewel.
* As usual, all are jewels are 16K gold-plated unless indicated mentions (raw brass or golden brass).
Find the closest store and et like us on Facebook


text:
Animal Tracing
Animal Tracing: This Application includes a collection of tutorials for drawing of the nice animals. Whether you like to draw a bear, cat, elephant, fox, hippo, zebra, tiger they all could be available in this app. You can choose one of them to draw. Keyword: bear, cat, elephant, fox, hippo, zebra, tiger , tracing, drawing, pencil, learn, ki…
Free • 14


text:
For the best grocery shopping around, shop at Ingles Markets to find great values on quality foods. Search through their large selections of frozen foods, deli foods, produce, bakery items, and pharmacy to find great deals on large selections of valued groceries. Go to Ingles Markets online to find even better deals and coupons to save even more money on everyday grocery shopping, and even save on gas with Ingles gas express!
Have been shopping at Ingles in Seneca for 12 years, love this store!
LOVE Ingles! They have great sales and I can always manage to save with coupons!!!
Pretty high prices on most stuff. Sometimes you can find a good deal.


text:
Alien Invasion
By Webfoot Technologies, Inc.
Open the Mac App Store to buy and download apps.
Defend your space station against wave after wave of evil aliens! Incredibly creepy aliens and lots of weapons breath excitement into a favorite classic. Catch the power-ups to upgrade your weapons system and teach the invading aliens a lesson!
* 30 amazing levels
* 5 weapons
* High-score table
* Super addicting game-play
* Cool soundtrack
Customer Reviews
Fun Game But ...
I enjoy this modern update to the old space invaders style, my first love. However, the number of lives doesn't change. Always shows 3 in my case and do I have to keep track in my head. Also there seems to be a lag between when I hit the arrow key and when it responds on my 2010 MacBook Air. Other than that really fun game, but nees polish. Would also like to enter my initials after the game with they keyboard instead of the old arcade style way.
Goood Game
Worth the 99C however could have a few updates...maybe diffuculty levels and maybe let me play it out of full screen (cosmetic)...AWSOME GAME OVER ALL!
Reminiscent of Space Invaders, Galaga and all the greats
Except it's in 3D. Those crabby aliens are so cute.
- $0.99
- Category: Games
- Released: Feb 28, 2011
- Version: 1.0
- Size: 33.5 MB
- Languages: English, French, Spanish
- Seller: Webfoot Technologies, Inc.
- © 2011 Webfoot Technologies, Inc.
Compatibility: OS X 10.6.6 or later


text:
Edinboro Art and Music Fest turns 10
Turning 10 is a terrific milestone in the world of music festivals. You survived the hard, get-your-feet-wet days. You cultivated a following, continued to blossom. Reaching 10 means you established a name, tradition and trust with artists, promoters and music fans.
Fans of the Edinboro Art and Music Fest know it'll be there mid-May every year, anchored by Donna the Buffalo on opening night, followed by a boatload of gifted roots artists who, this weekend, include Americana icon Jim Lauderdale, Big Daddy Zydeco with veteran accordion great Preston Frank, Jim Donovan, Driftwood, Jim Avett -- the father of the Avett Brothers -- and more, plus more than a dozen free workshops.
"This is our 10th anniversary; it really is a big one," said event founder Fred Parker, who plays in Tiger Maple String Band. "It definitely shows that we're still around and, I don't know, just doing a good thing, just for the whole scene.
"Everyone is welcome -- kids, older folks, rich and poor. Everyone's welcome, and everything's free to take a break from our day-to-day lives and mobile devices and enjoy the music."
What music, too: zydeco, country, blues, string band, acoustic, folk, bluegrass and permutations of all of those. Don't miss Lauderdale, who'll play Sunday with Donna the Buffalo as his backing band. They did a great CD together, "Wait 'Til Spring," in 2003.
"He's such an icon with Music City roots," Parker said. "He's done stuff with Buddy Miller, plus he's been collaborating the last few years with Robert Hunter. He's written for George Jones and Patty Loveless."
Avett has become a big Edinboro fan; he's back for a third straight year. His sons played this fest in 2006, before they hit the big time.
"We've become pretty good friends," Parker said of Jim Avett. Look for Ali Parker, Fred's daughter, who also plays in Tiger Maple, to join Jim Avett this weekend.
The fest is full of riches. Don't miss Frank, Demijohn or Red Dog Run (see sidebar); all of whom include Jim Miller, formerly of Donna the Buffalo.
Erie-area bands are a big part of the fest. Jake Banta and Rick Magee will join forces for their first show together at the event, while the lineup also includes Eric Brewer & Friends, Potwhole, Salmon Frank, former Big Leg Emma violinist Amanda Barton with Bill Ward, Claire Stuczynski and the riveting duo Honey Spine from western New York.
Arrive early to catch Fred & Friends tonight before Donna the Buffalo. Fred is Fred Parker, and he has a lot of friends. You never know who'll show up to help kick off the 10th anniversary of one the region's musical highlights.


text:
In Toby's Brain: Six is My Favorite Number
I've been posting quite a bit about Lottie, but it's probably because I've discovered I like two and a half as a parent. But, if you remember, I have a Toby, too.
Toby is six, and as a friend of mine aptly put it, he is very much "in his own brain." He babbles and jabbers and all his thoughts come out of his mouth whenever I'm in his company.
When Toby was just learning to talk, I told myself, "I will listen to everything this kid says." Well, I was wrong in promising that to myself. Sometimes, I just can't handle hearing the sound of his voice because he goes on and on and on… Sometimes, this makes me guilty– occasionally, he has amazingly creative and ingenious ideas that I love to hear! But it's usually surrounded by half-baked ideas that I end up using quite a lot of effort correcting. Or rehashing of PBS shows he watches and melding them with obvious ideas from the current video game he's playing.
For several years now, he has talked about the restaurant that he will build when he grows up. By now, it has turned into The World's Largest Mall; it has fishtanks lining the walls and a roller coaster in the middle… ugh, I've lost track of all the stuff he has said will be in his restaurant.
I'm also proud to say that Toby can carry a tune and make all the rude and cool sound effects that boys make.
I'm also kind of happy to see that he uses mild potty language because it means he's a boy with normal feelings. I often worry that Toby will be gay. Sometimes he has feminine mannerisms and sometimes the things he says and feels sound distinctly feminine. I have decided that I will still love him and support him if he is gay, but he'll have an awfully hard time in society, in spiritual matters, with friends, finding a job…
All the friends he talks about at school are girls, and he plays in a very feminine way by standing around and talking instead of running or shouting or being mostly physical. He loves cooperative play– working together with a group of kids to achieve a building project. He loves board games; today, he and I played four games in a row, from setup to someone winning, before his feeling were hurt and he ran off in a tizzy.
However, I remember when I first met Just'In and when I was first establishing a friendship with him. My first impression was that he was really hot. And as I talked with him, I recognized that he had very feminine hands and gestures. I asked him at one lull in the nearly-nonstop conversation: "So, not offend you or anything, but are you gay?" He just looked at me and said, "No! Why would you think that?" And I sighed a really big sigh of relief and told him why.
And eventually, I married him.
Also, my dad loves talking. As a kid, we'd all get out of church and head toward our cars. While walking through the parking lot, we'd see the men of other families waiting for their wives with their kids; their wives were inside, lining the halls, checking up on each other, renewing friendships, and laughing. My siblings and I would stand around the car or get into the car after Mom had let us in, and we'd all sit in the car and wait. For Dad.
This didn't last too long before he drove the truck to church.
To counter this thought, there's also this: we just got back from camping last week. While I was at our campsite, preparing food, there were three boys, climbing over huge tree skeletons and talking with each other loudly, as kids do. The boys were probably eleven or twelve, and they stopped on a huge log and just stood there, talking at each other, much like my six-year-old son does with his friends.
Their tone, their stances, even the content of their conversation sounded exactly like Toby's, which made me wonder whether, like his academic skills and his vocabulary, he just has social skills that are very advanced for his age. Did I mention that he started reading on his own in preschool and he can now read at the end of second grade reading level? Yeah, I'm both proud and freaked out about that.
The worry that he may be gay is very similar to a worry that he might lose an arm or that he might get run over by a truck. I just don't want to see him hurt. I want him to be more successful than I am, faster, stronger, smarter than I am. More socially successful, more financially successful, more spiritually in tune…
Six is my favorite number, but it is not my favorite age right now. I don't want to be in school myself anymore, but I love school because Toby can talk someone else's ear off for many hours every weekday. Or he can be silenced by being freakishly well-behaved in public all day. Right now, I don't care which one it is.
Toby is my investment. I pray for patience every day, and I know it works when Toby tells Heavenly Father in a prayer that no one got mad that day. He has small endearing moments, and I still love him.
Can I get a hallelujah?
Flowers & Shoes For Lottie
Two-year-old Lottie has an emerging clothing style:
-She doesn't like dresses and is dubious about skirts. I only insist that she wear one of the two on Sundays, and she the only thing she absolutely refuses to wear is a grey, floofy, all-made-of-mesh-and-tulle-and-ruffles skirt. You know, the one that other girls insist on wearing every day, even when it's torn and dirty. If I manage to get it on her while she screams, she shouts, "No like it!" and immediately pulls it off.
I keep it in her drawer for Sundays when she refuses to pick something and doesn't want to wear anything to church. If I put The Floofy One on her, she'll pick something after she yanks it off.
-Lottie is beginning to like what society deems as "girl" colors nowadays, but she's still working on identifying colors as a whole. Yellow and orange are both "orange". Pink and purple are both "pink", but purple and blue are also both "blue". Knowing this, I favor purple.
-When she chooses everyday clothes, she goes for blue and turquoise and teal when offered cool and warm colors. She doesn't like play skirts or jumpers or jean skirts. She associates all jeans with Toby, since many of his pants are jeans nowadays, and she doesn't want to dress like Toby. Just straight shorts and t-shirts for Lottie.
Lottie picked a pair of pink socks this morning on impulse, but then changed her mind and went with one black and one purple instead. Sometimes, she doesn't want to pick at all. I'll gladly pick for her. I still have to fight her to put on clothes; it doesn't matter if she picks them or not. Telling her that it's cute as we put it on her sometimes helps; then, she'll look at herself in the mirror, nod once in satisfaction and say, "Cute", and turn away.
-She doesn't love dresses or skirts, but she does love shoes. She loves to pick out my shoes, she loves wearing different pairs of shoes per day, and she'll gladly put on shoes when she fights me about putting on anything else. Sometimes, she'll wear a suede boot on one foot and a rainboot on the other, or a red flat and a plaid flat. I just laugh.
-Lottie is currently not fond of doing hair. We have three headbands and hair ribbons and hair ties for pigtails and hair bows on clips, but she's not interested. She lays on her face in the middle of the hallway every morning to have her hair brushed.
-But she loves picking flowers. On a walk through the neighborhood to the bus stop, she'll make a well-rounded bouquet of dandelions. She'll hand me extras; on any walk around the block, our hands are all filled with flowers. And we juggle holding hands and holding flowers and holding toys like garbage trucks and wooden balls.
On any given day, you can follow our path by the flowers strewn along it. I favor flowers with long stems, but she hasn't figured that out yet. When she hands me flowers that have no stem, I toss them beside me or behind me. Flowers are always in my hair, and the wilted ones end up on varied surfaces in our house and on shelves in stores.
Life Stories During Jury Duty
In March, I got called for jury duty. Just'In was sure I wouldn't get called in because I was juror #150 out of 150, but I was, and I went. I've never been called for jury duty before, and the process was fascinating. But what I'd like to write about is one of my fellow jurors and a conversation we had.
While I was standing in the first of many lines, I had just come in from outside. I was wearing my trenchcoat and a scarf and a hat over regular clothes– I think I was wearing green cord leggings and a polka-dotted shirt with a teal pullover sweater. My trenchcoat was buttoned because it was cold outside, and an old man was sitting in the row of chairs closest to the line I was in.
He seemed to be staring ahead until he caught sight of me. Then he brightened and gave me a thumbs-up. I was thrown off-guard because I was in such a new environment.
"What? Did I do something?"
"No," he replied, grinning. "I just like the way you're dressed."
"Oh," I said. I unbuttoned my trenchcoat and took my hat off, then grinned back as I put my hands on my hips. "Is that better?"
He laughed at me.
He was dressed normally enough, but his hair was amazing. It was very white and long so that it looked like he had a bird permanently top of his head. He was clean-shaven, his skin was tanned, and he was skinny. Because he was tanned, I couldn't tell what race he was and I thought that fascinating. He had no accent, and I went on through this new jury duty process, invigorated by a positive and funny interaction.
After much winnowing, we were narrowed down to a group of 80. Or 50. It's been two months; I don't remember. After a fascinating set of questions from lawyers and judge, we were let out of the courtroom to be deliberated about. We stood in the hallway, we went to the bathroom, we were glued to our cell phones, and we milled and conversed.
This interesting old man was telling me about his past while leaning against a wall. He said:
He used to pick almonds, and each worker carried a long-handled rubber mallet and a canvas tarp with standing-up edges. They'd drag the canvas tarp along one side of the the row of trees and hit the trunks of the almond trees on the other side with the mallet.
He and his fellow field hands got so they could hear the difference between the sound of the almonds landing on the tarp and the sound of wasp mests hitting the tarp. Once he heard that more hollow sound, he had three seconds to shout, "Wasps!" to his fellow field hands while running for the nearest ditch.
The wasps took awhile to get their bearings and fly after the men, but they'd only fly straight in all directions and they wouldn't fly into water. This was convenient anyway because they were hot days of work, anyway. He said this happened two or three times a day.
I questioned that statement that the wasps could sense humans and be able to follow them to attack. Surely, the men would be too big for the wasps to even be able to comprehend. This old man in the hallway was sure of it. To illustrate his surety, he told me another story:
He also worked as a beekeeper. He wore one of the mesh-hood-helmet/facemask things, like many beekepers, but sometimes, a bee would fly inside. She would be so preoccupied with finding a way out of the mesh, she would crawl all around the inside of the mesh instead of stinging him. When he as done with the job, he would step away from the beehive and take off his hood to let the bee out. As soon as she was out in the open, she would sting his face.
He discovered that if he went among or under trees with the bee in his hood, the bee would have less chance of stinging him. The trees confused the bee, and she couldn't find him.
This makes sense to me because, to bees, humans are huge and so are trees. He also thought it was because trees have such different shapes and shadows than he.
We went inside the courtroom very soon after that, and most of us were dismissed. I was not chosen to be a juror, although I was quite willing to be. I certainly had the time and the supportive partner. I had the health, but I also had the outspoken opinions.
Have you ever had an experience with a tiny bug who seemed to regard you as another living being?
Spontaneity through Walk Days, Chinese Fire Drills, and Skipping
Lottie occupies the most of my time, but I still have to find time for me. She's learned a trick that always works: when she needs help; she finds me in whatever room I have squirrelled away in and whispers, "Come 'ere. Come 'ere." Then she grabs one of my fingers and pulls. And doesn't let go as she walks off.
Lottie loves holding my finger while we walk down the street, and she also loves spontaneity. We often go for "Walk Days" and "Stroller Days" and "Bus Days" at her request; her request usually works— there's usually an errand to run that involves the stroller or the bus, some errand that's not urgent but that has been sitting around, twiddling its fingers, winking at me every once in awhile.
Walk Days, however, are not errands. They're when Lottie and I walk out the front door together, holding hands, and I stop just long enough to lock the front door. Then Lottie gets to choose where we go. Last week, she scooped up a container of bubbles as I was locking the front door, and, like most moms, I ended up carrying it.
She led us to a care home that is run out of a house (as opposed to a big assisted living facility that's more like apartments). The weather decided to be hot that day, and the shade on the sidewalk was most welcome. Lottie began walking on the railroad ties lining the yard. They run right alongside a chain-link fence: perfect for an adventurous toddler who is working on balance. I sat on said railroad ties and blew bubbles that floated into the road and into the giant pines on the opposite side of the road. It was the most magical part of my day.
Two of my literary heroes are Clarisse from Fahrehheit 451 and Stargirl. I love them because they find small bits of magic in every day and they're each spontaneous. But not in a "let's spend all our money on candy" or a "let's go bridge-jumping tomorrow" kind of way. Because of them, I rub dandelions on the underside of my chin, and I send "Just Because I Love You" packages. Because of them, I teach my daughter how to twirl, and I skip with my son through the parking lot. I wave at bus drivers from the sidewalk, and I write messages in chalk to the kids getting off the school bus.
My hero used to be my dad, and he was the same way. He would shout across a lawn to one of the boy scouts he mentored, "Hey, Gary— catch!" Then Dad would run across the lawn and jump right in front of Gary, fully expecting the teenager to stick out his arms.
We were on a roadtrip one summer, and Dad saw a stream running along the road. We stopped the car and waded and splashed in it for an hour or so as a welcome break from sitting. We would often do Chinese Fire Drills at red lights, usually when the van was full of people. We were in San Antonio, and while waiting to go into a restaurant, he took his shoes off and stuck his feet in the river just outside the door.
He doesn't do this stuff as often anymore. Part of it might have to do with age. Another part may be that I don't live with him anymore, but at the end of last year, while waiting to be let into yet another restaurant, I went outside of the lobby to deliver a message from Mom, who was inside. And to my utter joy, I found a dance party on the porch with my siblings and cousins. They were getting their jitters out and their exercise in, and my dad was part of it.
Yes, of course I joined in. It was so much fun. And moments of fun can be made as well as discovered. They can be made without a whole lot of money. They may be a little embarrassing, but the laughter is worth the initial blush.
Introducing Lottie The Toddler
Before I continue, you must meet someone you may have never met before:
This is Lottie. She is two. She had the audacity to be born on my birthday, but I'm slowly, slowly forgiving her for it. She will forever be compared to her brother, Toby, but she has enough spunk to overcome that and be her own girl. She is more fearless than he, shriller than he, and more spontaneous than he.
She loves going for walks around the neighborhood, just she and I. She loves puddles and doesn't understand that there are some shoes for splashing, and some shoes for just walking in. Thus, we have gotten many pairs of shoes soaked this spring.
Lottie loves shoes. She's not one for poofy skirts or dresses, and she only sometimes likes her hair done, but she consistently loves shoes. I call her my R. R. Pottle the Fourth; if you've read A Three Hat Day, this will seem natural.
She loves books, too. And currently, she loves Monkey George, dogs, and Chapter Three. Much of her speech is code: Monkey George mean watching Curious George on the PBS App on the tablet (she has only just discovered that we have Monkey George books), and Chapter Three means having her Dad read aloud at bedtime from a book with no pictures. Currently, we're reading The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex, but we have read the first two Narnia books.
Lottie is very much a normal kid, more prone to tantrums in public places and not quite so freakishly well-behaved as Toby. She has the same color hair as I do; it's straight, but it curls delightfully on the ends. I love this girl.
Ah, The Trees: How Do You Care?
Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot
Nothing is going to get better– it's not.
(Dr. Seuss/Theodor Geisel)
I love trees. This is no secret. I decorate with trees, I doodle trees, I collage images of trees.
We own the appropriate Dr. Seuss Book and all the film variations, and it's got me thinking again: I care. I've planted native Northwest trees in the otherwise empty lot that is my front yard, I've named all the trees on my property and in various other places in the the town I grew up in (Penelope was first), and I collected two huge stumps when my neighbors cut down their huge maples earlier this year.
I miss those trees immensely. They have memories associated with the man who cared for them and who is no longer here, and they provided a huge amount of shade for everyone who used the sidewalk, the bike lane, and the road. When that man died, Toby and I used to hug those trees in what used to be his front yard every time we walked by them to remember him.
The family who owns that property now are his grandkids and great grandkids, and it's shocking how much they don't value those trees. I've met and talked with other people here in Oregon who cut down all the trees on their property; they didn't want to pick up the leaves or trim them or work around them. There are so many trees here in Oregon, and they grow so easily, that people here consider them common.
I named trees as a kid because they were rare. I read the Anne books by L.M. Montgomery when I was a teenager, and they were amazing to me because of the reverence the author has toward trees. I lived in the desert city of New Mexico called Albuquerque. It's the biggest city in New Mexico; trees grow rarely in the desert, and they grow rarely in cities– people who want to grow trees in Albuquerque have to put a lot of effort into nurturing them. Intentionally watering them, laboriously digging trenches for sprinkler systems… it's quite a contrast from green, green Oregon, where you have to put in a large effort to stop things from growing, but you can see why I'm shocked at the attitude that trees are common.
So, yes— from my childhood, I have cared an awful lot. But can I do more to help? More besides planting on my own property and reading books to my kids about them? More than creating and loving images of trees?
All the extra I can think of is to write about them.
Bookmarks Evoke Caretaking
That sigh as one finishes a novel and closes it, then fingers the bookmark that once was held in the book.
That bookmark brings me to a topic that's been on the brain recently: stewardship. Being appointed a caretaker for things– things like land and a home. Being a good steward would mean having a beautiful home, but also not accumulating debt to make it beautiful. It also reminds me of something Just'In and I often told our realtor as we considered homes to buy:
"That just takes lots of work; we're not afraid of work."
I've dreamed for awhile now of posting photos of my home on my favorite blog; after all, we as caretakers also control the content of our homes on the inside as well as the sturdiness of the walls and roof. But I keep thinking, "Oh, my home isn't blog-worthy until I finish this project. Until I paint this wall and take the paint swatch off that has been there for years, it's not pretty enough to be on a design blog."
But it's pretty enough to live in. That paint swatch stays because it represents a desire for slightly better stewardship: the desire for that white wall to be a different color, yes. Also, maybe I'll get outside earlier this spring and weed my garden beds, earlier than I did last year. Maybe I can plant something on that side of the driveway to make it look more appealing.
I'm angry and sad to say that much of it stems from money: "when we have enough money, we'll get that rock path paved with bricks." It's not just the work that is lacking; in some instances, we know we don't have resources, knowledge and skill to level and brick our own property. Even if we applied work to learn it, there's still the money.
Ugh. What an adult limitation. So I try to squelch thoughts like that and continue running my bookmark through my fingers. This bookmark is a beautiful ribbon from Toby's stash of Valentines this year. Some mom used glue with it, and I don't remember who gave it to us or what form the ribbon took. She was wonderfully resourceful, and when her Valentine is pulled apart, I got a beautiful bookmark. I didn't have to change the ribbon at all. She had already cut it so it wouldn't fray, and I love everything about it.
Maybe if I just keep the hope alive and continue to look for things that can be altered simply, my hopes will be fulfilled. If I put in the work, the solutions to slightly better stewardship will appear on a thrift store shelf.
Oh, the messy intertwining of work, money, and beauty. Right now, it eludes me.
Dripping Yet?
I'm thrilled to have head space for regular writing again. Yes, I'm aware that it's been three years. I needed those three years to add another child to our family. I also needed it for other things that I'm still processing. No, I didn't lose a limb or the hair on my head or any of the sanity I have left. Maybe I'll never figure it out. Right now, I have more to share, more to voice, more to write. Finally.
I've been very aware of my own thoughts this past month, and I didn't even realize it until Monday of this week when the sun came out. It lit up all the dustmites floating around in there, and I worked really hard at Momhood. I'd forgotten that Oregon warms up; everything around me thinks it's spring but Just'In. The songbirds are back, the weeds are sprouting, Lottie refuses to wear socks, but Just'In thinks this is a false spring. Oh, come on— even the trees are waking up, and they don't begin that process because of weather. They begin budding because of a certain length of days and nights.
Oregon still rains in spring, though, and that includes today. Lottie and I were walking back from a new-to-me consignment boutique with new pants for me when it started raining. Rain here has many more different forms than I've ever encountered elsewhere, and this was persistent, warm drops.
While trekking up the sidewalk, I encountered a man installing a new green-rectangle-sticking-up-out-of-the-ground. He looked up at me while I was walking past him, and I asked, "Dripping yet?" He had tools and a board and was clearly busy at his task, but he still laughed at me. You know the rain is serious when your nose is dripping and your eyebrows are dripping and you have rain dripping down your cheeks.
Lottie still managed to fall asleep in the stroller, even while soaked. She didn't need me to disturb her to put on her coat because the rain was warm, but she protested in alarm when I took her out of the stroller at home. That's just what she does when being moved from one place she has fallen asleep, so I had her pacifier and her blankie ready. She was settled down on her bed, and I had the privilege of wiping off the rain from my sleeping toddler's face and hair.
That must be it— the rain in my life hasn't stopped, but it's become warm and I've remembered how to laugh about it.
Once Glamorous, Now Forlorn
Today, walking from the Credit Union toward home, I was inspired by cigarettes. If I ever thought they made people look glamorous, I've got some vignettes that remind me how forlorn they force people to look:
A man, hunched and squashed among many empty, silent cars.
An otherwise elegant lady at the intersection to walk to her car. She notices my toddler in a stroller just as I notice her barely-lit addiction stick, and we both take several steps away from each other. She was first to move; we wait to cross in something other than silent camaraderie.
A uniform on break near a closed, uncovered, unmarked door. Huddled in the rain, next to a dumpster that he can't smell.
Help Offered to Strangers During The Mundane: A Spark
Last month, I was standing in a Generic Office Supply Store, waiting for my planner to be made. Every year, I find myself a planner, and for the last two or three years, I've simply bought a planner from a retail store, then worked with the in-store print services counter to alter it.
I've found a lady who does a really good job at this. When she was fired from one Office Supply Store because of nothing that she did, and then hired on at another Office Thing just down the road because a previous manager was also working there, I was thrilled to find her again. She's wonderfully friendly, she's good at her job, and she creates a quality product. Her name is Ginger.
I originally arrived at Office Thing on a Saturday and was told that the work order flow wouldn't allow room for me until Thursday. This isn't at all like the other Office Thing that Ginger worked for in the past, but I put in a work order to work with Ginger on her shift on Thursday.
That day, we took the bus, Toby and I, and we were happy to see her familiar face. She began work right away: cutting tabs off and picking a paper to match, figuring out how many pages to add, then inserting the cut-to-size pages throughout the planner and punching holes, then rebinding it.
Well, somewhere in the middle of the insertion of extra pages, the trickle of people beside me grew. I stood off to a less central section of counter space and let them by: people who also wanted something from the people behind the print desk. Once I finished figuring out where I wanted new pages to go, I stepped away and let Ginger work her magic behind the desk. I noticed her craft: she merged with a team of three other people to handle the flow of people. People there to pick up orders completed, people there to pay for copies.
I also noticed that no one was being turned away like I had been that previous Saturday. Ginger approached everyone as if they had immediate importance. She found a way to squeeze everyone in. At one point, during my watching and listening and waiting, I heard from her: "Hey, Joe– do you know where the FedEx Office is?" I heard her ask two other employees before her question registered with me.
"I know where it is," said I. All behind the desk turned to me in surprise, then Ginger turned to a gentleman holding a FedEx tag that are found on doors. So did I, and I began giving directions. The gentleman looked at me and mouthed, "I can't hear you."
So I swiftly but haltingly switched to sign language. Ginger was more surprised surprised but then switched to pleased and went on to other matters, handing the service over to me. I drew the gentleman a map and gave him directions as well. He looked quizzical, but went out to follow my directions.
I turned to Toby, sitting at a table near the print desk. When I had him well under way with a meal out of the diaper bag, I turned around to check on Ginger when I found the gentleman standing next to me again.
"The gate was shut and I couldn't get into the parking lot," he told me. He's inching closer to panic; I know that feeling: I just want my package. He showed me his door tag. It had two or three dates written on it; the FedEx guy had tried to deliver on those dates, but this guy still didn't have his package. He was clearly irritated and at a loss, and as we reviewed his other options, I could tell he didn't like using the computer.
So I offered to call the 1-800 number for him. I offered to sit on hold for him, pretend like it's my package I'm trying to schedule a delivery for, to struggle with an apathetic and heavy accent, and to be on hold once again.
While I'm on hold the second or third time, sitting in Office Thing, I notice Ginger's flow of people has dissipated. The only person standing in front of the desk has an impatient and bored posture. Out of impulse, I take a few steps and tap her on the shoulder.
"I'm on hold; wanna dance?"
I can feel my eyes sparkle and my mouth tweak mischievously. I switch my phone to speakerphone and begin bouncing and bopping. This person is a thin, healthy-looking grey-haired stranger whose face lights up. She and I share a second or two of dancing in the middle of Office Thing to hold music; the area in front of the print desk has become a dance floor and she and I are boogying down on the party scene, carefree and exercising, two strangers united in the unity of motion.
Then she laughs and stops and the magic is over; the mundane sets in again. I conclude the call with FedEx, tell this gruff guy named Gary when FedEx will try another delivery to his house, and pay for my new planner. I bundle up Toby and all his empty food wrappers, and we go home.
But nearly two months later, I can still remember two looks of relief on two strangers' faces.
Tumbling Ideas & Tumbling Males
The Problem with Males and Art
By Shelle Luaces
Hiding in the bathroom, quietly behind the door…
flipping through my journal of unfinished sketches and
half-captured insights
agonizing over incomplete pieces, abandoned visions
i identify two problems.
One: my artistic life blossoms when i am unattached to a male.
Two: i have spent fourteen weeks of my adult life unattached to a male.
Slipping into a vision of life as an artist
living a quiet existence of incredible success, filled with beautiful
finished pieces adorning my walls, their walls, gallery walls…
pushing and pounding on the bathroom door…my boys…
"mommy, mommy…where you are…
mommy, mommy, where you—
there you are!"
Falling into my lap, my one year old knocks my journal to the floor–
squealing to find me hiding as if waiting for peek-a-boo
throwing his arms around my neck, my two-year old whispers "uh-oh"
as my pen rolls behind the toilet
taking with it another almost-captured idea
and i identify two overwhelming truths.
One: i will never be unattached to a male again.
Two: i have created and completed two works of art in the last
thirty-plus years.
And they are both male.
This poem was published in a volume of poetry titled Voces; it comprises the polished work of members of the 2002 National Hispanic Cultural Center High School Writing Workshop. This poem is at the end, by the director of the workshop.
Its message is the epitome of my life. I have a three-year-old who shouts, "Where you are!" And I have two males in my life; the other is thirty. I have a growing file of unfinished ideas. I figure that when my life is a little more susceptible to long projects like this, I'll have a ;large pool of inspired, original ideas from which to pick from and my product will be quality stuff because I can pick out the best.
Meanwhile, I grab inspiration and motivation when I can, in whatever medium is most handy. It got redirected during the holidays, beginning with Toby's birthday. Last week, it returned in the form of the creation of two Artist Trading Cards. Now, it's this. I expect my boys to come tumbling in at any second.
Reinvent Board Games to Manipulate the Miniscule
When a toddler pulls a board game off the shelf and wants to play it, a parent might groan inside. "That game is too complicated for his intelligence," you think. "Now I have the task of redirecting, distracting, and juggling other, more interesting things so he won't be interested in that board game."
I've found a trick that has a a living room frequently littered with board game pieces when there's only a preschooler to make the mess: create a simplified game using that board and its pieces. After all, it's the pieces that fascinate your kid: what do these colored pieces do? What does a set of dice do? What do you do with this board once you unfold it?
We received a game of Clue for a Christmas present one year. We've played this particular set by the regular game rules, but it's not very fun with just two people. So it sits on an open shelf in our dining room with all the other games in the household; we offer to play a game when we have dinner guests over, and everything is within scrutiny's glance.
Just last month, Toby expressed an interest in Clue. It's one of our most complex games, with more essential playing cards that could be bent, papers that could be lost and torn from the pad, lots of tiny game pieces that are all important to the game, and pens that I've stashed in the game itself because pens are so important to this particular game.
So far, I've managed to convince him of things like, "No, that one's for grown-ups," or, "How about we play this other board game instead?" But this time, he pulled it out and had it open before I could distract.
"Wow, what's this for?" I heard over and over. Time to invent a preschooler's version, I thought as I sat down next to him.
We pulled out the board and I explained the rooms to him. Then we pulled out just the room cards from the well-mixed deck of character and weapon cards. I showed him how each of the room cards matched the rooms. Then we looked at each of the game pieces. My version of Clue is really cool because each of the game pieces is shaped and colored like the character, down to their shoes and the details in their hair. It's all wonderfully detailed, and it's perfect for someone just getting to know the characters.
We placed each character where they belong on the board, and I had him pick one. After that, I changed the game from it's original rules; I tucked everything but what we needed for the game back in the box and closed the lid. Then I put just the room cards on the hall room in the center, faces down. (This particular game board has a room in the center that isn't on any of the cards.) Then, I had Toby roll the dice.
I read the number that the dice showed, and told him to pick a card in the center. Then I told him that he had to go to that room with his character.
At this point, I discovered that he's not interested in counting the tiny little squares between rooms. I nitpicked about it for awhile ("No, here: one, two, three. Your piece goes here, not way over there.") but then realized that he's more interested in the process of the game, not the concept of following rules and competing to win. So I counted tiny squares on my turns and took two or three turns to get from room to room and he rolled, but then bounced from room to room.
The object was to get your character to the room on the card you were holding. Then you put the card face-up on the room that it matches. Then it's the next person's turn. For someone who can't read, he enjoyed studying the pictures on the cards and matching them to the rooms on the board. It's novel to him that all the game pieces match up so perfectly like that. It's also novel to watch the pieces move around the board, to manipulate your environment in such a miniscule way.
And I find I do this with any board game. It doesn't work with everything; he pulled out one of those BIG boxed puzzles one day. It was of a I Spy scene, with lots of tiny toys. Being the Yes Mom that I like to be, I said, "Okay, sure, we'll do what you want to do," and dumped out all the pieces on the dining table. After the awe of so many puzzle pieces, I asked him again if he wanted to do this. He was interested, but after a few minutes of turning all of them over with me image-side up, he wandered off.
Toby watched with interest as I put all the straight sides together and made the frame. I handed him four or five pieces that were obvious they went together and let him fiddle with those while I worked on the big one. After I was about halfway done and feeling in the groove, he started begging me to do something else. I could hear the whine of boredom in his voice, but my stubborn streak set in.
"You said you wanted me to do this, so I'm going to do it," I told my preschooler. And I did, while he played nicely. I even let him put in the very last piece. We're not doing another big puzzle together for a few more years.
Besides, we've got plenty of board games to amuse him. We make our own designs with Battleship boards and don't ever battle. We separate the jewels in Mancala into color groups even though the colors don't matter at all in the actual game. We roll the wheeled game pieces in Trivial Pursuit across the game board and make patterned designs out of the wedges.
We even have an old game called Extinction; I don't even know what the real rules are to the game or how to really play it. I just know the preschooler version. Considering we never had all the pieces to play the real game, our made-up game is fine with me.


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Prasitchai is earning his PhD in civil engineering
Good education responds to the needs of the modern labor market. Prasitchai Chaiamarit is taking a PhD in civil engineering at one of Thailand's best universities. "I want to develop experience around earthquakes and big structures," he says. There have been more and more earthquakes in Thailand and other neighboring countries in recent years. Thammasat University. Thailand. Photo: Gerhard Jörén / World Bank
Photo ID: Thammasat University-009
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8 lists
Frank Burns
Frank Burns is ranked on...
#296 out of 1,665The Greatest TV Characters of All Time
#95 out of 125The Greatest TV Doctors
List of the best television doctors, ranked by fans of the doctor characters and their medical shows. Plenty of memorable TV doctors have graced our small screens over the last 50 years, but some television doctors stand out from the rest. From medical dramas and comedies to soap operas and sci-fi thrillers, every great TV show needs a compassionate, compete...
#4 out of 60The Most Horrible TV Character Personalities Ever
#192 out of 791The Funniest TV Characters of All Time
These are the funniest television characters ever created, as determined by the votes and selections of Ranker users. Lots of things make up truly iconic, timelessly funny characters... the actor, the writing, the supporting cast... but in the end, it's just the character that makes you laugh yourself weak.What are the funniest characters on TV? These are th...
#32 out of 94The Most Beloved Grumps in TV History


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Scientists look at dynamics of melting at Southeast Alaska glacier
KFSK - Scientists have discovered huge underwater ice caves in glaciers that flow into the ocean, depositing plumes of fresh rain and melt water into glacial fjords. A multi-year study of one glacier near Petersburg is focusing on that interaction between the ice, fresh water and ocean water and what that may reveal about melting glaciers around the globe. Roman Motyka is a research professor emeritus with the University of Alaska's Geophysical Institute. He is based in Juneau and is also affiliated with University of Alaska Southeast. ...More
Language program receives funding
Alaska Dispatch News - The Sealaska Heritage Institute has received a grant of $927,000 from the federal Administration for Native Americans to help pay for mentor-apprentice teams to study Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian languages over the next three years. The program will connect two students with one mentor to immerse themselves in the languages, transcribe tapes of speakers in the possession of the Institute and participate in orthography and linguistics programs at the University of Alaska Southeast. ...More
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1AMNL00066-1996-00 Honda Civic Haynes Customizing Manual
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1996-2000 Honda Civic Haynes Customizing Manual1AMNL00066-220006
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- 1996-2000 Honda Civic Haynes Customizing Manual
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