Milk Tongue

a post from N.D. Wilson, children’s author:

“I have children, I love children, and imaginations need food. The world is big. The world is wonderful. But it is also terrifying. It is an ocean full of paper boats. For many children, the only nobility, the only joy, the only strength and sacrifice that they see firsthand comes in fiction. Even when children have plenty of joy in their lives, good stories reinforce it. As long as I’m dealing in honesty, I may as well admit that I have been more influenced (as a person) by my childhood readings of Tolkien and Lewis and and than I have been by any philosophers I read in college and grad school. The events and characters in Narnia and Middle Earth shaped my ideals, my dreams, my goals. Kant just annoyed me.”

I always enjoyed Kant but I get what he’s saying. Well told stories are always more powerful than dry scholarship.

My friend Nancy sent me a link this morning to Detour Magazine. I see the cover story and begin a round of kicking-my-own-ass. See, last year at about this time, I had an idea for a story. Indie Parenting. I had just read Neal Pollack’s “Alternadad”. I was thinking about kiddie indie rock bands like Smoosh and Tiny Masters of Today. I decided my piece would start with a profile of the folks at Sweet Juniper. They’re super authentically indie. Too cool for school. (Deny it, Jim. I dare you.) I’d follow it with a general take on the “phenomena” of indie parenting. Does “indie” mean anything? If it does, does it inform parenting in any way? Why does “indie parenting” seem to work in a way “gothic parenting” just doesn’t?

I pitched the story to an editor and got the go ahead. I talked to Jim. I did some research. Aaaand then the mental bullshit started. Long story short, I basically thought myself out of writing the story. I was paralyzed. Did I have any business writing a piece on a parenting “style” I am definitely not a part of? Did I have enough material? How should it start? I came up with every stupid objection and concern my trembling subconscious could manufacture and I utterly flaked.

Detour Mag’s short piece on indie parents and music has got me thinking again. About the topic, sure - but also about self-sabotage. Going forward, how do I make sure that I take my opportunities when they arise and avoid shooting myself in the foot? What do you think?

The first picture is how the kitchen looked when we moved in almost four years ago. The second picture is how it looks today. My Christmas present from my parents was All The Time It Takes For Grandpa to Fix the Kitchen Wall. This is how far he’s gotten with 2 full days of work. My dad rules.

This set shows our progress. We took down the cabinets (ewww, it was nasty back there), knocked down the wall and then my dad came and did all the hard stuff like moving electrical and plumbing. During his second visit, he finished the electrical, put up new drywall and mudded. He also made the wood topper for the half wall. A few more coats of drywall mud, some sanding and we’ll be ready for paint. We need to save a few grand so we can get new countertops, backsplash and cabinet doors. I think I’m going to go for cabinet doors like this (they cover the entire cabinet) and we’ll have all the cabinets refinished to some uniform color.

Friends and relatives of mine go to see Watchmen on opening night. In an audience composed of adults and young adults, the lone 6 year old sticks out like a sore thumb. He is attending with his mother.

So who watches the Watchmen? Apparently, kindergardeners.

Despite my best efforts, I still curse in front of my kids. We watch too much t.v. Toot is obsessed with ‘Once More With Feeling’ and The Boy is often encouraged to beat on his father for entertainment. Do I have any business judging the mother who brings her kid to an R-rated movie? I freely admit that I think I do. Make of that thought (and the grammar of that last sentence) what you will.

Hayon Studio Green Chicken Rocker

I picked these up at the Lloyd A. Stage Nature Center gift shop during a student art show that Kit was participating in. Who wants a letter? I’m dying to use these.
Gwen Frostic note cards 6.95

I would have bought this book for the cover alone so it seems a bit redundant to gush about the contents but seriously; read me some of these poems, you’ll be wearing my panties as a hat. Ahem.

Namdaemun is a historic gate located in the heart of Seoul, the capital of South Korea. The landmark is officially called Sungnyemun, literally “Gate of Exalted Ceremonies,” as written in hanja on a plaque on the wooden structure. As the southern gate of the original walls surrounding Seoul during the Joseon Dynasty, it is widely known as Namdaemun, literally “Great Southern Gate.” It is the first among the National Treasures of South Korea. The wooden portion atop the gate was severely damaged by arson in the 2008 Namdaemun fire.

These are pictures of a snow sculpture of the Namdaemun made during the 2009 Sapporo Snow Festival.

via Pink Tentacle

Shin Tanaka Spiky Baby Deluxe Series
via Design for Mankind