Hurry Up, Summer!

Tagging along behind his big sister.

A flower for mommy - held by two of the most beautiful, dirty hands ever!




Stripped down...his favorite way to be!



Looking at all the work needed to be done to our yard.



We are wanting to landscape around this little grove of trees. John-Heath has another good idea for its use.

Driving Miss Ren

I now know what it must have felt like for Morgan Freeman's character in Driving Miss Daisy when he would drop her off at some place where she had business and sit and wait until that business was finished. And, by the way, was that not a great movie? One of my absolute favorites.

Tonight, Ren attended the Lift-a-Thon held by our high school football team. We had sponsored one of her classmates and she wanted to go "keep an eye on her investment". He did quite well from what she said when we got home.

The event began at 5:30. I had actually planned on going home but thought I would just park and wait. I was sure it wouldn't take that long and it would be a waste to go home only to turn right around and return to pick her up. 2 hours later the lifters and their supporters began to exit.

What does one do for two hours in a parked car? Going in and watching the lift-a-thon was not an option due to my coif. So, I did what Hoke Colburn would have done had he been able to...I read. Sadly, the only thing available was this week's edition of our local newspaper. I usually just scan the articles and pictures that interest me. This evening, I read it cover to cover - all 8 pages. I even did the puzzles. I don't know that I have ever done that before.

I learned a valuable lesson tonight. It would be wise, at least when chauffeuring children, to keep a stash of Southern Living in the car.

Piss Pots and Airs

I have always been curious as to the origination of the phrases we southerners use. I may be regionally profiling here but I can't really picture a New Yorker saying something like "He's as tight as bark on a tree" or "You can't get rid of 'em. He's like a booger you can't thump off."

One phrase I have heard my whole life is "pot to piss in". These words usually follow "So and So doesn't have a ...".

If you are like me and love a good etymology story here you go...

"They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken & sold to the tannery........if you had to do this to survive you were "Piss Poor".

But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn't even afford to buy a pot.......they "didn't have a pot to piss in" & were the lowest of the low. "

Of course, today there are those who don't have the proverbial pot but, nonetheless, like to "put on airs" (another frequently used euphemism). If only they could be called on the carpet for it (and yet another one)

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A Star is Born

Last night we watched Ren's silver screen debut in Billy: The Early Years on DVD. The pause button and large screen certainly came in handy, but we were nonetheless excited to spot her. It had a short, limited release in October 2008 and I was able to see it at the Hendersonville theater but Ren was not with me that day, so this was her first time to see it.

In the spring of 2008 I was working in my office at school one Sunday after church when I happened to see a call for extras, or "background artists" as director Robby Benson calls them, when scanning the local news sites on the internet. Knowing Ren has always had a dream to be in the movies I hurried home and asked her if she would want to do it. Of course.

The article mentioned that those wanting to be considered as extras should come dressed in 1930's period attire. So I pulled out a tan skirt and off-white button-up sleeveless top that I thought would work and topped it off with a white button-up sweater. We also donned John-Heath in white t-shirt and overalls just in case.

The scene being shot was a tent revival on location in a large field in Lebanon, Tennessee (not too far from the Wilson County Fairgrounds). We arrived around 4:30 p.m. John and John-Heath bailed out around 9:00 that night (my niece Megan happened to be in Lebanon and came to their rescue). It seems that filming, even what amounts to no more than about 1 minute on screen, takes quite a while.

Ren had a blast getting to see some of the behind-the-scenes stuff. She was able to go through wardrobe and hair and make-up. The clothing she had worn passed the test and they only needed to accessorize her by adding a hat (to cover her highlighted hair - which would have been out of place in the 30s) and a church fan (you know the kind...the fan-on-a-stick usually provided by a local funeral home or other business). Her hair was just put in simple, low pigtails.

Once all hair and make-up was finished the extras were put into groups outside the tent and were instructed as to how they would enter the tent. By the time this began it was after 9 p.m. and the evening turned out to be unseasonably cool. Of course, they were filming a tent revival that was being held in the summer. In her little sleeveless top, lightweight sweater, and thin skirt Ren had already become cold. Some nice lady who had been smart enough to bring a large wrap loaned it to her. She was wearing this wrapped around her during the scene in which they enter the tent. I can spot her on the DVD walking toward the tent, pausing for a moment to let a horse-drawn wagon pass.

I had thought we would be able to make it through to the end (at 5 a.m.) but we, too, bailed after the supper break - which came a little after midnight. I think we were home by around 1:30 that morning. It just became too cold. I was okay, lucky to be in another tent with several large space heaters, but, by this point, Ren in her summer garments was so cold she was shaking. Though she was having a ball and wanted to stay she gave no argument when I said I thought we should probably head home. I waited until we were almost home to tell her that had she stayed until the end she would have been paid.

So, if you get a chance run out and rent Billy: The Early Years. And if you watch carefully you might just see her walking toward the tent. She also makes an appearance in the special features. You see her (to the left of the screen) turned talking to the man seated beside her during a break in filming. This is at the spot when the director is commenting on working with the background artists.

Of course, if you buy your own copy she'll be happy to autograph it for you - so you can say you "knew her when."

Always the Best Intentions

To celebrate St. Patrick's Day this past Wednesday (How cool is a guy who banishes snakes from his country!) I thought it would be nice to whip up some cupcakes for an after-supper treat. Of course, as I am not very efficient in the kitchen department, whipping up anything usually means whipping up a mess.

Anyway, I bought a bottle of green food coloring to add to some yummy cream cheese icing and raced home to get started. I lined my cupcake pan with those little wrappers and was ready to get started when I remembered that I was late - really late - for a dinner date with a friend.

Luckily, I was able to track down my friend (bless her heart she had waited and waited before heading home) and we enjoyed a fun evening reminicing, venting, dishing and gossiping at the La Quesadilla Mexican restaurant in town.

This gal was one of my best friends throughout school (even though we could both get quite peeved at each other from time to time), a bridesmaid in my wedding and one of the few close friends with whom I have kept in semi-contact. My daughter thinks it is somewhat disturbing when I tell of how she and I, sitting on opposite ends of the couch, would scratch each other's feet while watching horror movies.

I didn't make it home until 9:45.

And there, sitting on the counter, was the muffin pan just waiting to be filled with cupcake batter.

It sits there still.

A little St. Patty's Day Trivia... Did you know that dying the Chicago River green each March 17 came about somewhat accidentily? In the 1960's the manager for the Chicago Plumbers' Local Union was looking for an additional way to celebrate the day. At this point entering into his office was a plumber who had been trying to locate and disconnect a waste line that was emptying into the river. The plumber would pour green dye into various opening of the waste system and then check the river to see at which point the green appeared. Upon entering Steve Bailey's office his once white coveralls were mostly a perfect shade of green. Thus was the start of a new tradition.

What's in a Name?

There are times when I wish I had had another child. But, after more thought, I realize it is only so that I could have named one more child (although I do very much envy these women who have several children and are able to seemingly handle the job with all smiles and patience).

And just what would that name have been? Scout. I have been a fan of it for years - even before Demi and Bruce gave it to one of their offspring. In fact, had John-Heath not been born a boy he would have been Scout. I already had it picked out. My mother did not care for it too much, as she didn't think it was really a name-name. Her reply when I told her was "Scout? Like the Indian?". No, not like the Indian. Like the tom-boy in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Ren would probably have been a Scout, too, but we agreed that John would name our firstborn if it were a girl and I would name a boy (at the time my two favorite choices were Charles Court or Charles Bartholomew ).

Ren's given name is Katelyn Ren. John found the "Ren" at a book signing in which he and two other gentlemen were signing copies of a book they had written. When John asked to whom he should address one particular book a lady said her name was Ren. We both chose the Katelyn because we thought it would sound nice as the first name. I think we may have gotten that off the back of a movie box.

A funny story about her name...when Ren was in the 5th grade she decided that she no longer wanted to be called Ren. That was a borrring name. Instead, she would be called Katelyn - like there aren't a hundred of those in every school in about as many variations. Anyway, she told her librarian this (I wasn't the librarian there yet). He, in turn, proceeded to ask John - as he taught across the hall from the library - if this was okay to do. John's reply was "Katelyn? She can't even spell Katelyn." Which was probably true at the time.

John-Heath's patronymic came about in a more traditional way. Even though I was still very fond of the idea of a Court or a Bartholomew, I gave in to sentimentalism and named him after his two grandfathers. John-Heath is a fifth generation John, following John Franklin, John Silas, John Silas, Jr., and John Franklin (again). The Heath is one of my family names - and a most distinguished name, too. It is of Middle English origin and means "untended land where certain flowering shrubs grow"...sounds kinda like a description of John-Heath's playroom and what could be growing in there.


...a name thought to be pretty by a dear family friend, Ms. Effie, who suggested it to my mom.

A Great Firecamp Party and Oscar Night All Rolled Into One Fantastic Evening

My sweet-as-a-gherkin-baby-boy has a giant sweet tooth (a genetic trait inherited, no doubt, from his grandfather) and ever since stuffing his face with as many marhsmallows as he could cram into his mouth with just his own two hands a few evenings ago at Ma-Ma and Pa Gene's, he has been asking for us to buy him some of his own. And he wanted us to build a "firecamp" over which we could roast them. Ren, while less than thrilled at picking up sticks to add to the pyre, managed to do so with a little help from a rusty red wagon and John-Heath.

The anticipated affair happened tonight. The exclusive, invitation-only, guest list included Ma Ma and Pa Gene, Grandma, Sissy, T, and Megan, Jon, Jessie, Weston, and Dylan. Party-crashing Catherine ( a friend of Megan's) showed up a little late, having become lost on Pleasant Grove Rd. (which is really no where close to where we live). She is a city-girl graduate of Goodpasture so we are hesitant to hold her at fault for this.

After an excellent meal it was off to the woods for the main event of the evening- the roasting of the marshmallows. The evening entertainment consisted of Wii Dance contests between Megan, Dylan, and Weston, with surprise dance performances by Jonathan and Aunt Sissy, and a short demonstration to Who Let the Dogs Out by Pa Gene. Video footage was taken - but strict instructions that it NOT be placed on the internet were given. We will, begrudgingly, respect their wishes. However, nothing was said of still photographs.

Finally, after all the guests had headed home, it was time for one of Ren's favorite televised shows - the Academy Awards. She watched and learned. And one day this yearly training will come in handy for her - I have no doubt.

Another mini moment...

Tonight (well, technically I guess you would have to say last night, as it is now 12:52 in the morning) we decided to eat at Zaxby's. Upon hearing this John-Heath said, "Oh! I love Zaxby's." Then he burst into song..."Zaccheus was a wee, little man and a wee, little man was he...."

Zaccheus was a wee, little man

And a wee, little man was he.

He climbed up in a sycamore tree

For the Lord he wanted to see.

And as the Savior passed that way

He looked up in the tree

And he said,

"Zaccheus, you come down"

For I'm going to your house today

For I'm going to your house today

Mini Moments #1

Mini moments. I think that is what I will call the posts in which I have few things of which to write. Then why write? I guess it is because I have an infinitesimal short-term memory and if I don't jot these little mini moments down they will one day be no more. I'm not after a Pulitzer, just leavin' thoughts for my kiddos.

Found out today via a friend and her husband that my son has taken to name-calling senior citizens. For the first half-hour or so after arriving at the New Hope Child Learning Center students play in the gym. The gym includes a second story walking track available for community use.

My son has found it financially advantageous to yell up to the kindly walkers and ask for money to be thrown down. As I understand it there may be a gang of these pre-schoolers doing such now.

A day or so ago when my friend's husband (aka "Halloween Man" because John-Heath remembers how we trick-or-treat at his house) was walking with his uncle Junior (who happens to be a member of my church association) and another man, the moochers from below were at it again. The plea went something like this...

Gang: "Hey! Throw us some pennies."

Mr. Junior: "I don't think I have any today."

My son: "Throw me down some pennies, Pencil Neck!"

I'm blaming hours of Spongebob indoctrination.

Ren attended volleyball practice for the first time today since having nasal surgery two months ago. The team is practicing with the 8th graders who are trying out for next year. In this setting Ren and her friends are not the bottom feeders they were when they first started practicing with the upperclassmen last year. Therefore, they had to play it cool when they personally did something much better than they had done during the season. They dared not let on that these awesome hits, digs, sets, and spikes were newly (as in TODAY) acquired.

A Many-Colored Day

Today, the birthday of Dr. Seuss was celebrated throughout the country. Okay, in all probability this was only observed in large, daily-housing facilities for people under the ages of 10. In school houses across America children were chowing down to a breakfast of green eggs and ham to commemorate the 106th birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel. Don't think about that too literally or you may become nauseous.

John-Heath and I got a head start on this yesterday evening when he proclaimed, "We learned about Dr. Seuss today." So we drug out a copy of Green Eggs and Ham on which to feast. His favorite part, of course, was the mention of the train. A train! A train! A train! A train! Could you, would you, on a train?

Today, at his pre-school they had the obligatory GE & H meal. Tonight at home we had meatloaf (that doesn't really have anything to do with the story). This was followed by the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas, a bath and 4 Dr. Seuss stories (3 read by me and 1 by John).

Here's a little librarian's trivia for you...the idea for Green Eggs and Ham came about when Dr. Seuss was challenged by his friend and editor, Bennett Cerf, to write a book with fewer than 50 words.

I didn't ask Ren how her school observed this special day. Hmmm. I'll have to do that tomorrow. I'm sure she'll have loads of stories to share.

Say!

I like Green eggs and ham!

I do! I like them, Sam-I-am!

And I would eat them in a boat.

And I would eat them with a goat...

Welcome March

Things I love about March...

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The C O L O R most associated with it (it's always been my favorite)

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Ireland

I have heard that, thanks to St. Patrick, they have no snakes. If this is true I think I would like to live in Ireland.

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Spring Break is just around the corner.

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We are closer to the end of another year of school.

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An Old Irish Blessing
May love and laughter light your days, and warm your heart and home. May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam. May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures. May all life's passing seasons bring the best to you and yours!