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?

Happy Easter

Ooh, so much to report on this Easter weekend. We transformed the backyard on a whim. Not that we hadn't been thinking about it, but I just decided Thursday night that I might do a little planting. After getting a few beauties in the ground I was completely energized. At that point, there was no stopping until Total Garden Makeover was complete. Pictures to come!

We also managed to pack in visits with both families, a 5K run for Q and me, a worship service complete with moving Resurrection hymns, a delicious meal with the extendeds, and for Davis, finishing the third Harry Potter book. :)

Insomnia

What is up with the insomnia? Last night, I didn't sleep well, but this is just over the top. I've caught up on my favorite blogs and seen a few fabulous things online. I found just what I would want in my Easter basket (if I were getting one).
Isn't this bracelet wonderful? Leah Sakellarides is a jewelry designer from one of my favorite places on earth -- Southern California. To check out her other designs, or if Q is reading and decides I need an Easter basket after all, go to her website at http://www.leahsak.com/index.html.

Grace Notes

One of my favorite little books is Grace Notes by Alexandra Stoddard. In this book of daily meditations, Mrs. Stoddard gives us a quotation each day and two of her own grace notes, her inspirations for living a beautiful life. Yesterday's quotation was from Epicurus: "It is impossible to live pleasurably without living wisely, well, and justly, and impossible to live wisely, well, and justly without living pleasurably." If life is about the process as I mentioned in my first post, then that means that whatever today brings, we should make the most of it and find joy in it. Have to admit, some days that's hard for me to do. Like today! 4 hours of preparing the tax return is not my idea of joy. But the two big windows in my office offered a pleasant view of the sunshine and white azaleas blooming in my yard.

By the way, the book is still in print, although not in the same precious little version that I have with the beautiful cover. Get it on Amazon like this -- I think it was a gift version.

Ok, so if anyone reads this that knows me, you probably think this is out-of-the-norm for me. Blogging, that is. True story. Generally, I don't really want people knowing my business. With a few close exceptions, of course. However, I've been thinking lately that I need to live more intentionally, and this is my attempt at that. I like to write, but I've never been one to journal, mainly because I don't like my handwriting and can't stand to have mistakes or "mark-ups" on my paper. And yes, I'm anal about writing correctly and I revise early and often! So, duh, I'm just now realizing that I can sort of journal here, and it will be neat (as in orderly, not necessarily as in clever)! I guess I'm type A? Maybe?

Back to living intentionally. With two active and very social kiddos, a busy lobbyist husband, a dog, an obsession to exercise, a commitment to volunteer, and a job (or two), I feel like my life is quite the hubbub of activity. I jingle and jangle, flitter and flutter throughout the day. I do all the things I should (well, most of the time), but often think back over my days and wish that I had savored more, lived in the moment more. What better way to do that than to document your life, and your kids' lives, and your husband's life! And Q will love it! This will only add to his graniloquent style. That brings a thought -- I can't believe HE doesn't have a blog. He would be a great blah, blah, blahger. Ok, so the grand plan is to one day rename this blog to Long Lost Hubbub. That is a grand plan indeed. May be impossible. But life is supposed to be about the process, right?