Embarrassing-->awesome

(I posted this on Facebook but I feel it's my duty to share here, too.) There's a dad who, when he realized the high school bus went right past their home this year, ran outside with a tongue-in-cheek, embarrass-my-son wave. That evolved into dressing up in a different costume every day and waving at the bus. That's right, a different costume every day.

^Dress-up dad as Princess Leia

Here's his blog chronicling every day's costume choice (wardrobe assisted by his neighbors). What's your favorite?

Here's the news article describing how the idea came to be. Because he wanted to surprise his son, he has 4 minutes every day from the time his son leaves for the bus stop until the bus passes to don his costume and assume his waving station. 

As you might guess, what started out embarrassing for his son has evolved into something pretty cool.

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My parents arrive today for the beginning of the graduation festivities. Hooray! Maybe I'l break out a costumeto wave hello.

photo via Wave at the Bus

Liner Notes 6-10

 

6. Be on time. You knew I was going to say that, didn't you?

7. Fix it and forget it. Sure, take time to look nice. Do your hair, fix your makeup. Feel confident about how you look. And then here's the key:  forget about it. Focus on other things than how you look from there on out.

8. Wear a robe as needed (via your honorary aunt Christie's hard-earned wisdom).

9. The left lane of the freeway is for passing. Or at least for going fairly lickety split, not moseying or going the same speed as the car next to you.

10. Always go to the funeral.  Here's why.

. . .

With the first of my children leaving home in the next few months, I'm writing occasional Liner Notes, bits of advice to my kids concerning my take on how to be a gracious, awesome grown-up-type person (both trivial bits and major advice). Why "liner notes"? Because, back in the day, I pored over the liner notes of my cds, curious to find the story behind the music. That's what I hope this will be: the story behind the music of growing up and setting off on your own. (Or at least a ready-made catalog of how you can avoid making my mistakes.)

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photo via sapling press

Five Fives

Five songs I most recently downloaded:

1. Jerusalem, Choir of Westminster Abbey (because I watched the wedding + remembered how much I love that hymn)
2. You Were Never There, Diego Garcia (not sure where I heard it)
3. If You Don't Wanna Love Me, James Morrison (because it was on So You Think You Can Dance and I shazamed it)
4. Gravity, Sara Bareilles (because Maddy loves it)
5. Our Eyes, Teddy Geiger (because Lauren loves it; just ignore the cheesy video)

Five things we're having for dinner this week (can you tell that my meal motto is "easy peasy"?): 

1. homemade pizzas, cooked on the grill, cantaloupe
2. grilled chicken, spinach salad, orzo & shrimp salad
3. sandwich bar & potato salad, fresh fruit
4. pasta (red sauce and alfredo), fresh bread, green salad
5. rotisserie chicken tacos, watermelon 

Five things on my To Do list today:

1. laundry
2. plan meals
3. buy wedding gifts
4. grocery store
5. make reservations for L's family graduation dinner

Five things not on my To Do list that I've done anyway: 

1. spend browsy time online 
2. watch Larkrise to Candleford season 1 dvd while I fold laundry (and then some)
3. have a good, deep heart-to-heart with one of my kids (best thing all day)
4. worry a little for one of my kids who is sad
5. update my ipod and look for new apps (please tell me your favorites) 

Five things I'm looking forward to: 

1. Dinner with this lovely person tonight
2. My parents' arrival this week
3. Lauren's graduation in a week and a bit
4. Seeing this with my sister in June
5. Summer plans (although the kids don't get out until June 27th. I know, right?!)

How about you? Do share...

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Image via Number of the Day

There she goes again

 

Off to a neighboring school's senior prom with her great friend Ian. Dress is a lucky find, a 50s formal from a vintage store and the little topper is from Macy's. Hair inspired by this look. 

p.s. It's a hot (92 degree!) muggy day, really quite sweltering in our un-airconditioned house. Whew. Crazy weather. This might call for the first ice cream dinner of the season.

Update on Sunday, May 29, 2011 by Anne

Edited to add some photos taken by Ian's dad (thanks, Jeff) since I wasn't at the photo meet-up. Sounds like a it was a fun night!

Back in the pages

 

It's strange, a few months ago it was like I fell out of love with books. I've been a lifelong bookworm but I just couldn't garner the excitement about reading that I have for the past 9/10ths of my life. Book depression maybe? The 37-year-itch? Student overload? Adult onset ADD? Whatever the cause, it made the rest of my life seem a little blah, too. I'd pick up a book, flip a few pages, put it down. Repeat.  I think I get some kind of vitamins from reading so I've probably been suffering from mental scurvy without the nourishment from books and stories.

Well, I'm back! (<-- read with Jack Nicholson voice if you so desire).  I think it has a lot to do with the last few books I've read so I thought I'd pass them along. If they can bring me out of book gloom, maybe you'll like them, too.

. . .

I uploaded The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet to my kindle last summer but only made it a few pages in before turning to other, more beachy reads (hey, it was summer).  A week or two ago, I had nothing else to do (ha!) or read so I gave it another try. So my advice: give it a few chapters to draw you in.  While a pirate-like setting in a distant trading post in the late 18th century might not sound like your cup of tea, give it a chance.

In 1799, the Dutch East Indies Company is in Nagasaki Harbor, where Jacob de Zoet, a devout and principled clerk is trying to earn enough money to go home and marry his fiancee in Holland. As the years turn, he falls in love with a disfigured midwife and his principles are tested as he encounters devious and selfish men on both side of the cultural divide as well as challenges to his faith, principles and affections. My one complaint is that the ending part, the rest-of-his-life summary is too brief and felt tacked on.  

Mitchell is a fantasic storyteller. As one of the other reviewers noted, he won't baby you with constant action (and sometimes it's hard to keep track of all the characters, well-developed though they are) but his descriptions and characters and words dazzle.  I've started reading all of his others, hoping to maintain the book-thirst he gave me with this one. 

. . .

From my Good Reads review: Caleb's Crossing is a vivid historical novel based on Caleb Cheeshahteaumuck, a Wampanoag who was the first Native American to graduate from Harvard (1665), as told through the narrative of fictional character (and strong female voice) Bethia Mayfield. The two meet on Martha's Vineyard when they are both about 12; what follows as Bethia and then others educate Caleb is Brooks's lyrical story addressing faith, friendship, culture, love, education, and freedom. Lofty principles, yes, but approachable and real in the telling.

. . .

Honorable mentions: Lest you think I'm all high-minded in my reading, I also devoured Rob Lowe's autobiography Stories I Only Tell My Friends and really liked it. Not your typical celebrity bio, I found it a compelling and interesting read. (Guys, Rob Lowe can write!) But then again, I am a child of the 80s and fondly remember The Outsiders and St. Elmo's Fire and, later, loved The West Wing so I was interested in the inside stories. True to the title, it did feel like a good dose of all his best stories from over the years, complete with salty language now and then (profanity alert).

Also: In Every Last One, Anna Quindlen (whom I really love) creates a true-feeling, detailed picture of a modern day suburban family and then takes them through a harrowing, painful HUGE tragedy. This isn't going to be for everyone, but I admired Quindlen's deftness and insights. Also, in the author interview at the end, she talked about her favorite book lately, The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, which made me pick it up and try again. So, thanks, Anna.

. . .

What makes a book a winner for you? Here are my criteria for a recommended, 4- or 5- star book: 

1) it makes me crave writing something

2) I would read it again. And, possibly, again and again and again.

3) I want to underline passages (and usually do)

4) it's difficult to put down

5) it transports me to the world of the story

6) it inspires me in some way

What about you? Any great reads lately?

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Top image via Say Yes to Hoboken