26 June 2009
24 June 2009
Because I meant to be out of bed at 8:30 but was at 7:30
If you look up you'll find the top looks different than it did before.
- - -
Conversation overheard while shelving, between a mom and two boys:
Older boy: "Can I read this?"
Mom: "What is it?"
Boy: "A normal kid book." [both these boys were wearing button-up shirts and the one might have had a tie, incidentally.]
Mom: "I don't let you guys read those. They have witches and witchcraft in them."
They went on. First she didn't want them to read a book about sports because they always read about sports, and from what I could glean she was trying to nudge them toward getting books about babies (thought I didn't think she looked pregnant) until the littler one finally went, "Look! A book about pink dolphins!"
Older boy: "Yeah, I've heard of those."
Much excitement, they exit (pursued by a bear. Except not. It's just that every time I shelve in the Shakespeare section there's a book that's called Exit, Pursued by a Bear) and I am left to that brand of introspection known as Shelving Contemplation.
First off, I've never agreed that kids shouldn't be allowed to read books like Harry Potter because of the witchcraft content. I think kids are a lot better at distinguishing fact from fiction than they are sometimes given credit for. I read the first one when I was nine or ten, and look, I'm a perfectly well-adjusted almost-adult with harmless nerdy tendencies. There are exceptions, and in the case where a parent knows a kid will come out of a Harry Potter book actually believing that witchcraft is possible (oh boy, how harmful, thinking 'lumos' makes a stick light up and discovering it doesn't) they'll be a little more careful. Altogether, though, I don't consider Harry Potter harmful fiction and I feel sorry for the kids who would like to read 'normal kid books' and can't.
On the other hand (Fiddler on the Roof, anyone?), these kids were genuinely excited about learning. That is the most enthused I've ever seen anyone about a pink dolphin, let alone an eight-year-old boy. They probably knew a lot and they probably thought it was fun to learn what they knew, and I do support that. I also admired how they didn't argue when their mom vetoed Harry Potter (I'm extrapolating that that's what it was, by the way) but accepted the verdict and moved on to the next thing.
When I am a parent (and I plan to be a parent. None of this wishy-washy 'maybe when I have a job and a home and I get bored and have nothing better to do with myself.' Your best childbearing years are 18 to 24, I hear. This 17-year-old would prefer not to waste them) I will find a happy medium. I don't want my kids to be reading everything that everyone else is reading because there is twaddle out there, but at the same time, I got a whole lot of pleasure from discussing Harry Potter with my friends. It's rare to meet a kid that is excited about learning (and I blame that on public school) but everyone loves stories.
On that note, reading Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb while I wait for A Clash of Kings from the library.
- - -
Conversation overheard while shelving, between a mom and two boys:
Older boy: "Can I read this?"
Mom: "What is it?"
Boy: "A normal kid book." [both these boys were wearing button-up shirts and the one might have had a tie, incidentally.]
Mom: "I don't let you guys read those. They have witches and witchcraft in them."
They went on. First she didn't want them to read a book about sports because they always read about sports, and from what I could glean she was trying to nudge them toward getting books about babies (thought I didn't think she looked pregnant) until the littler one finally went, "Look! A book about pink dolphins!"
Older boy: "Yeah, I've heard of those."
Much excitement, they exit (pursued by a bear. Except not. It's just that every time I shelve in the Shakespeare section there's a book that's called Exit, Pursued by a Bear) and I am left to that brand of introspection known as Shelving Contemplation.
First off, I've never agreed that kids shouldn't be allowed to read books like Harry Potter because of the witchcraft content. I think kids are a lot better at distinguishing fact from fiction than they are sometimes given credit for. I read the first one when I was nine or ten, and look, I'm a perfectly well-adjusted almost-adult with harmless nerdy tendencies. There are exceptions, and in the case where a parent knows a kid will come out of a Harry Potter book actually believing that witchcraft is possible (oh boy, how harmful, thinking 'lumos' makes a stick light up and discovering it doesn't) they'll be a little more careful. Altogether, though, I don't consider Harry Potter harmful fiction and I feel sorry for the kids who would like to read 'normal kid books' and can't.
On the other hand (Fiddler on the Roof, anyone?), these kids were genuinely excited about learning. That is the most enthused I've ever seen anyone about a pink dolphin, let alone an eight-year-old boy. They probably knew a lot and they probably thought it was fun to learn what they knew, and I do support that. I also admired how they didn't argue when their mom vetoed Harry Potter (I'm extrapolating that that's what it was, by the way) but accepted the verdict and moved on to the next thing.
When I am a parent (and I plan to be a parent. None of this wishy-washy 'maybe when I have a job and a home and I get bored and have nothing better to do with myself.' Your best childbearing years are 18 to 24, I hear. This 17-year-old would prefer not to waste them) I will find a happy medium. I don't want my kids to be reading everything that everyone else is reading because there is twaddle out there, but at the same time, I got a whole lot of pleasure from discussing Harry Potter with my friends. It's rare to meet a kid that is excited about learning (and I blame that on public school) but everyone loves stories.
On that note, reading Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb while I wait for A Clash of Kings from the library.
17 June 2009
Practicing contentment
I had a list. It was in my wallet, and it detailed what I think are the holes in my wardrobe and what to get to fix them. It included things like black earrings, a cardigan to wear over summer shirts in winter (postponed until then), brown flats, nail polish, and hairbands.
I threw it out the other day, because it wasn't serving much of a purpose beyond making me remember what I don't have and should get. I think it's a lot more valuable to think about what you do have and don't need to wish you did, or even become less focused on 'having' at all. I mean, I like stuff, and clothes and books and shoes and etc, but I'm pretty sure that the time I spend thinking about stuff is time wasted a lot more wastefully than, say, taking that quiz on Facebook to figure out what kind of librarian I am. ('Archivist.' Wrong, as it happens.)
Cause guess what? In the end, you can't take it with you.
I threw it out the other day, because it wasn't serving much of a purpose beyond making me remember what I don't have and should get. I think it's a lot more valuable to think about what you do have and don't need to wish you did, or even become less focused on 'having' at all. I mean, I like stuff, and clothes and books and shoes and etc, but I'm pretty sure that the time I spend thinking about stuff is time wasted a lot more wastefully than, say, taking that quiz on Facebook to figure out what kind of librarian I am. ('Archivist.' Wrong, as it happens.)
Cause guess what? In the end, you can't take it with you.
15 June 2009
Shopping
I've begun to be mildly alarmed at the amount of money I'm capable of spending on clothes in a very short time. The Gollum/Smeagol war is constantly going on, like this:
Gollum: But I've already spent X number of dollars...
Smeagol: It's just money, precious! And you have a job!
Gollum: Yeah, but what about in university when I'm going to need to save money? I should get into the habit now!
Smeagol: Look, you needed that stuff. You didn't have jean capris.
Gollum: Yeah? WELL KIDS IN THIRD-WORLD COUNTRIES GET ALONG WITHOUT THEM JUST FINE.
Isn't it annoying how there are two sides to every darn coin? I argue with myself about pretty much everything. If I had to pick a thesis for my life, it would be 'find a happy medium'. In almost every respect, it's bad to be extreme. Faith is the only exception to this rule that comes to mind. Wouldn't it be so much easier if there were a rule for everything and my head would pick either Gollum or Smeagol and I could happily know that if I'm spending less than X dollars a month I'm okay?
Sadly, there is none. So I'll continue saving receipts and waiting until things go on sale and simultaneously learning to live a little and realizing that money isn't everything.
Yeesh. This life thing is rough.
Gollum: But I've already spent X number of dollars...
Smeagol: It's just money, precious! And you have a job!
Gollum: Yeah, but what about in university when I'm going to need to save money? I should get into the habit now!
Smeagol: Look, you needed that stuff. You didn't have jean capris.
Gollum: Yeah? WELL KIDS IN THIRD-WORLD COUNTRIES GET ALONG WITHOUT THEM JUST FINE.
Isn't it annoying how there are two sides to every darn coin? I argue with myself about pretty much everything. If I had to pick a thesis for my life, it would be 'find a happy medium'. In almost every respect, it's bad to be extreme. Faith is the only exception to this rule that comes to mind. Wouldn't it be so much easier if there were a rule for everything and my head would pick either Gollum or Smeagol and I could happily know that if I'm spending less than X dollars a month I'm okay?
Sadly, there is none. So I'll continue saving receipts and waiting until things go on sale and simultaneously learning to live a little and realizing that money isn't everything.
Yeesh. This life thing is rough.
08 June 2009
Suck it up
That's what I told myself just before I made a trip to fill up my bike tires with air this afternoon.
It's gotten to the point where I'm fully capable of walking or biking to work, because the weather does not prohibit me and it stays light late enough that I can still get myself home after, at least from a shift that ends at 8. Not sure about 9. I also need the exercise. The reason I'm skinny is sure as heck not because I try to be.
The reasons I weren't look like this:
- I needed to fill up my bike tires. (That's taken care of.)
- I couldn't lock my bike up. (I've since learned that I can take it inside work until I leave; I've also rediscovered the combination on my lock.)
[This is where I started with the more pathetic reasons)
- It's hard to carry my purse and ride a bike. (That's what POCKETS are for.)
- The helmet would mess up my hair. (Ponytail. Braids. Objection slain.)
- I won't be able to bring home books as often because I won't be able to carry them. (Because the two-foot-tall STACK in my room won't last me.)
So I'm biking to and from work tonight, and the egregious hardships of exercise, no purse, and helmet hair will not prevail against me. At seventeen I'm really old enough to not have to bum a ride off my parents to get everywhere.
I can suck it up.
It's gotten to the point where I'm fully capable of walking or biking to work, because the weather does not prohibit me and it stays light late enough that I can still get myself home after, at least from a shift that ends at 8. Not sure about 9. I also need the exercise. The reason I'm skinny is sure as heck not because I try to be.
The reasons I weren't look like this:
- I needed to fill up my bike tires. (That's taken care of.)
- I couldn't lock my bike up. (I've since learned that I can take it inside work until I leave; I've also rediscovered the combination on my lock.)
[This is where I started with the more pathetic reasons)
- It's hard to carry my purse and ride a bike. (That's what POCKETS are for.)
- The helmet would mess up my hair. (Ponytail. Braids. Objection slain.)
- I won't be able to bring home books as often because I won't be able to carry them. (Because the two-foot-tall STACK in my room won't last me.)
So I'm biking to and from work tonight, and the egregious hardships of exercise, no purse, and helmet hair will not prevail against me. At seventeen I'm really old enough to not have to bum a ride off my parents to get everywhere.
I can suck it up.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)