End of Summer

Tomorrow is the last day of summer, as the little dollbabies will be heading back to school on Friday. Yes, on FRIDAY! Isn't there is something inherently wrong with starting on the last day of the week? Alas, we will be going out in style. There will be lots of friends, fun, swimming, ice cream, and slushies. Au revoir, summer '09.

I've been busy, busy setting up my new company -- VictoryWorks, LLC.

While Quentin has been busy, busy editing his book that will be out in late September. If By Whiskey is sure to peak your interest. Anna Neimus is a Yankee come South. She is a liberal, a feminist, a Tri Delta at Ole Miss. And her roommates are oh so Southern! As an aspiring journalist, Anna writes for the Daily Mississippian, but her articles are not always well received. And her piece on the McCain-Obama debate is no exception. It gets her in a world of trouble and costs her big-time! She must decide -- stick with journalism or enter into the world of politics? She has met through journalistic interviews a character named Clay Cole. With Cole's reflections of the 90's and her keen insight into today's South, Anna brings to terms Ole Miss and New Miss. She unites the campus with her love of its history at the same time she delivers her message of tolerance. If By Whiskey will be available to you this fall. Stay tuned for more updates.

OK, I've decided to come back. To the blogging world, that is. The summer has really thrown me off my A-game, as it usually does. But after watching one of my favorite movies tonight (Love and Other Disasters), I realized that I've missed lots of things that I really love this summer! Great movies, blogs, sitting with Q in our cozy keeping room, sipping vino, and forgetting about the cares of 9-5!

To Script or Not to Script

I heard some disturbing news last night: Some schools in Florida are no longer teaching cursive handwriting. I have been distraught over this news. I think the argument is that kids will mostly be using computers, so they need to learn typing over cursive. If that's the case, what's next to be thrown out the window? Spelling? Should they not be taught spelling because they will have spellcheck to fall back on? Or should we not teach addition, because we have calculators to add for us? Ohh, my blood pressure is rising. . .

As I see it, there are numerous reasons to remain focused on teaching the next generation cursive handwriting. My first reaction is, "I love a beautifully handwritten letter." There is nothing more personal and meaningful than receiving a handwritten note. I think the one below is very eye-catching.

And I don't say this because I have beautiful handwriting. But I do believe there is an aesthetics in cursive. Be it beautiful or just personal. Script is an art just as music and literature are arts. Are we going to give those up too?

I am well aware that there is much to learn for today's youth. However, young people today will obviously teach themselves computer, typing, and texting skills. I know this firsthand, because my 9 year old is just as proficient as I am in these areas. Scary thing is, I will text or type without much thought. If I am writing something, however, I invariably weigh my words much more carefully, as it seems to reflect on me more personally than something in type. Think about what you see in text messages. This was one I received yesterday : "u get n touch wth them?" I fear our language will deteriorate if we halt the teaching of cursive.

Oh, and I haven't even gotten to the aspects of cursive being faster to write than print or the fine motor skills that are enhanced as students learn cursive. I'm just glad that Davis came home today with a cursive handwriting sheet as part of her homework. :)

I'm still laughing at the email received from a family member yesterday. I SO wish I could share. And this person does not even know just how much entertainment he provided. Suffice it to say it went into the "Save" file. I'm going to have a plethera of material to write a book one day. Thanks y'all!

Your shoe of choice?

Ok, as I was getting dressed this morning - jeans, pink and white striped button down shirt from J. Crew, pink scarf - I was trying to decide which pair of ballet flats to put on. Not which shoes to put -- which FLATS to put on. I have plenty of other shoes, but I most often choose from my assortment ballet flats. Of course, I love some sexy heels, too, when the time is right. For an everyday look, flats are my go-to shoe. Looking much more polished than flip flops in summer or Uggs in winter, these skids are classy, comfy, simple. I can wear them to work and look serious, to the grocery and look casual, to the park with the kids and look relaxed yet refined.

My obsession with the ballet flats began about two years ago. No, I'm not a trend setter. Many were already wearing these little kicks. But, I have lots of friends who do not wear them and have never worn them. I even have a particular friend who is tall, thin and would look great in flats, but her husband detests the look. So, I got to thinking, this is one fashion that you are definitely into or not. I don't see much fence straddling as far as flats are concerned and I want t0 know why, as they are definitely not an over-ther-top trend. So, girls, (all two of you who read this blog!) y'all tell me. . .are you a girl in flats or not? What's your shoe of choice and why? Or, as the case may be, why not?

P.S. Guys' comments are welcome, too. Q, I know you will have something to say!

Just trying to help

I'm currently daydreaming about the many ways I could help out the economy. A trip to Southern Cali, maybe?