wednesday the 13th

If I were a character from a book or a famous actor, I would name my daughter Wednesday and call her Wendy.

Nick and I went hunting for a fabric store on this particularly BEAUTIFUL California summer day. At first, we found everything BUT fabric stores. We found used bookstores and bagel shops and insurance companies... and it was only after Nick's mouth was full of a fish bagel and my arms were full of books that we came to Joann's. I got fabric for two aprons. If I'm going to cook in the Lodges (I am), I ought to wear an apron (I will).

As I was addressing letters and cooking and feeding the dogs (my daddy brought me coffeeee), a package came! My mother bought me a couple "teacher necessities" (cute clothes) because gifts are her love language and she loves me.

The rest of the activities of the day are as follows:

• Read "The Little Prince" in its entirety whilst drinking tea (Translation: Pretend to be intellectual and sophisticated).
• Read Jeremiah and True Vine; pray (Translation: Give God my day and my life instead of pretending to be religious).
• Take in the sides of the Sherlock Holmes jacket (Translation: Pretend I know how to be a seamstress).
• Watch Fantasia with Ben for kicks and giggles.
• Visit Nick, since he accidentally hijacked my apron fabric. Watch The Brother's Bloom. The first 15 minutes of that movie are genius.
• Read East of Eden.
• Probably read The Cat in the Hat, The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, Horton Hears a Who, and Buzz, Buzz Go the Busy Bees.

hair and gator

This is great hair. This is an excited crocodile.

They aren't related.

I tailored a men's jacket to fit my shoulders. (Thanks, Zack!) I'll take in the sides tomorrow. Then, I'll look like Sherlock Holmes. I'll teach students and they'll say, "She looks like Sherlock Holmes."

Ruth

My (California) church is doing a "redemption" series on Ruth. It's been four weeks, and we still aren't in chapter 2. Over and over again, the same points are being reiterated (in different ways, from different angles): suffering is inevitable, grieve well, and count on God as faithful. Again and again.

Jehovah Rapha: God is the God who restores. He heals. He makes our bitter (Marah) water sweet again (Naomi).

Sometimes I have to allow this truth to stand for itself, instead of looking at it with an overwhelming feeling of comfort or even hope. I just sit in the truth until it scrubs away the layers of callousness.

stories (aka realities)

1. "for you"

"Fairy tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten." -G. K. Chesterton

I have a friend who is adamant about the importance of fairy tales. And though their advocacy is not my life as it is his, my career will run in a similar direction.

Tomorrow, I start writing.

2. "about me"

You know what the best (ahemeducationalahem) computer games were? JUMPSTART. And Cluefinders! Those games taught me how to type -- that's probably why I'm a loud typer: it began as a competition. I think that's where I picked up my fascination with history, too. So... the nerdiest things about me are probably rooted in educational computer games.

Jumpstart is now having kids take a quiz to see what their dominant multiple intelligence is... two thumbs wayyy up.

3. "more for you"

The Hush Sound's album, Like Vines, is the THING. "We Intertwined" is hoppin', "Sweet Tangerine" is bluesy alternative, and "Where We Went Wrong" is acoustically delicious. Their newer album, though, has some goodies. Here's a smooth, chill number called "That's Okay."

4. "something that will always be a fairy tale"

If I'm very good, maybe Anne will let me have a pet finger monkey if/when we live off campus.

be vewy vewy quiet, i'm hunting poems

I'm on a hunt. A hunt for poetry. I'm a poetry juggernaut. I'm racing through names and crashing through walls of work with quick yes-no judgements. I'll find my gems and stuff them into my pockets and run on.

An excerpt from Billy Collins (I like the way he thinks), "Forgetfulness"

The name of the author is the first to go
followed obediently by the title, the plot,
the heartbreaking conclusion, the entire novel
which suddenly becomes one you have never read,
never even heard of,
as if, one by one, the memories you used to harbor
decided to retire to the southern hemisphere of the brain,
to a little fishing village where there are no phones.

I laughed when I saw this puzzle,

so I decided it was going to become a family project. Get ready, family. Get ready, jazzy old ladies.

if i could have a pet dragon

it would be small and adorable and it would sit on my shoulder and be lightning fast and it would deliver my mail. look how CUUUTE:

oh and i'd LOVE this. i want it. it's the perfect teacher skirt. ahhh. i should just make it.