When Lola, Lavinia and I went ice-skating on Sunday, we were happy to see our new friends Monica and Joe at the rink. They came to the USA from Poland, and we met them the night of my birthday party last month.
Monica said they have spent the last three weeks moving into a new home, and now finally have some free time since they are, for the most part, unpacked. Lola stuck to both of them like glue while we were at the rink and at one point challenged Joe to a race. I watched as they sped off to the other end, and thinking that was the end of the race, I turned my attention back to improving my backward skating. The next time I met up with Lola she was gloating over having beaten Joe at the race. She was also complaining of her arm hurting. We noticed it was swollen quite a bit, and I asked if she fell. Lavinia explained in detail how Lola was literally flying down the rink and couldn’t stop fast enough, and fell forward on her tummy, then flipped over a couple times....again I had the visual of the penguin documentaries on National Geographic where they slide down snow-covered hills on their tummies...
My child most definitely has a need for speed.
Lola was laughing the whole time Lavinia described how she fell, and they both agreed that if we had it on videotape it would have been worthy of sending in to “World’s Funniest Videos”.
The arm hurting was a given, as there was the beginning of a nice little bruise on the inside of her elbow. I pretty much told her if she was going to be Evel Knievel on skates she will have to survive the wipe-outs.
She has been sporting the bruise like a trophy.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
CRCT Week
During this week and next Lola will be immersed in the CRCT battery (seems more like 'assault and battery', in this case) of tests. This year she is required to take them all - - Reading, Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies.
We shall see how it evolves...at least this year the fate of her moving on to the next grade is not contingent upon her resulting scores...and I do appreciate the testing as a tool to see how she has been progressing over the past year...although I still find it totally pointless that her scores are counted, because she's still an English-Language Learner...
She seems ok so far with the tests, although I'm sure she has a little fear of the unknown with the language-based tests. I just told her to do her best and she may come out of it surprising herself at how much she may know!
Last summer we concentrated on Math. This summer I think she is ready to tackle more spelling, grammar and reading. There is no doubt in my mind that her reading skills in English are far above what her reading skills in Russian were when she lived in Russia! She knows she can progress even more. We touched on the subject of holding one-hour sessions this summer at a specific time each day to hone her English-language skills so as to get her up to grade level. She understands this is necessary. I told her we are in this together, no matter what. We're a TEAM!
We shall see how it evolves...at least this year the fate of her moving on to the next grade is not contingent upon her resulting scores...and I do appreciate the testing as a tool to see how she has been progressing over the past year...although I still find it totally pointless that her scores are counted, because she's still an English-Language Learner...
She seems ok so far with the tests, although I'm sure she has a little fear of the unknown with the language-based tests. I just told her to do her best and she may come out of it surprising herself at how much she may know!
Last summer we concentrated on Math. This summer I think she is ready to tackle more spelling, grammar and reading. There is no doubt in my mind that her reading skills in English are far above what her reading skills in Russian were when she lived in Russia! She knows she can progress even more. We touched on the subject of holding one-hour sessions this summer at a specific time each day to hone her English-language skills so as to get her up to grade level. She understands this is necessary. I told her we are in this together, no matter what. We're a TEAM!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The Shoes
Ever since the day of orientation for Lola’s middle school last August we have found it impossible not to notice a pair of leather high-top tennis shoes dangling by their tied-together laces from a power line as we drive over the hill to the school. We do not know how long they have been hanging there, but we do know they seem intent to remain there, steadfastly swaying in the wind, seeming almost like a beacon of welcome each morning for passers-by. These shoes have often been the topic of conversation for Lola and me as we verbally imagine how they got there, under what circumstances, how long ago, and the condition they are now in after being weathered by every possible manner after all these months.
The other day I was continuing my ‘divinely inspired’ project of cleaning the garage and I happened upon a box which had been sorely missed for many years. The box contained my high school diploma and commencement invitation, my college diploma, my battered teaching degree for the state of Iowa (which expired in 1990), notes and completed assignments from my French classes taken sometime during the early 1990’s, and a huge binder with pockets containing most of the poetry and short stories I have written since the 6th grade. After reading some of my short stories and remembering from my Creative Writing class in 11th grade how many of them were conceived simply by looking at a photograph in a book and letting the imagination take over, I couldn’t help but think ‘the Shoes’ Lola and I see every day on the way to her school would make a favorable subject for just this type of story.
The other day I was continuing my ‘divinely inspired’ project of cleaning the garage and I happened upon a box which had been sorely missed for many years. The box contained my high school diploma and commencement invitation, my college diploma, my battered teaching degree for the state of Iowa (which expired in 1990), notes and completed assignments from my French classes taken sometime during the early 1990’s, and a huge binder with pockets containing most of the poetry and short stories I have written since the 6th grade. After reading some of my short stories and remembering from my Creative Writing class in 11th grade how many of them were conceived simply by looking at a photograph in a book and letting the imagination take over, I couldn’t help but think ‘the Shoes’ Lola and I see every day on the way to her school would make a favorable subject for just this type of story.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Spring Break 2009
A week or so ago while putting the new grill through a ‘test drive’, Lola insisted on being the chef - - we had Italian sausage and hot dogs, and they tend to roll all over the wire rack. As Lola was turning one of the hot dogs over it rolled off the grill and onto the courtyard floor. She picked it up with a fork and as she was going to wash it off in the sink and I heard her say to it, “It’s ok, don’t worry, we’re just having a little fire drill.”
We have cooked on the grill about three times in the last week or so in between rainstorms. We have had far more rainy days than sunny days this spring. Not fun on the weekends. Friday night we went to see the movie “Monsters vs. Aliens”. It was sprinkling rain when we arrived, but about halfway through the movie we heard thunder, lightning and torrential rain pounding on the roof of the building. Strangely enough, the power of the storm was enough to reverse the locks on my car to ‘unlock’, so that left everything in the car up for grabs if any thief wanted to risk drowning to secure a couple empty water bottles and drink cups from the car.
Easter weekend was quite nice. The weather was warm and sunny and perfect for grilling chicken tenders!! As we grilled, the kitties were sunning themselves in the courtyard and enjoying the aroma.
On Saturday Lola had another ice skating lesson and she has again been moved up another level to Basic 3. I’m amazed at the rapidity she learns skating. In comparison with other sports that she professes to love, skating is by far the most suited to her need for speed and artistry! I allow her to be proud of herself in learning quickly, but at the same time stress to her about being equally humble about her accomplishments. She is trying to follow this principle, but every now and then I see the little showoff come out, immediately followed by the ‘diva mode’. It’s really a fine line between self-confidence and self-centeredness, but with some guidance along the way perhaps she will come to understand the importance of humility. If she decides to compete in the future, humility will be to her advantage in many ways. After having been a musician for many years I have learned no matter how skilled you are, there is always room to learn and grow from others who are even more skilled.
We called her skating lesson friend Jane during last week and Jane’s father said she is recovering quite well from her fall last Saturday at lessons. He said he was going to keep her out of lessons for another week but she still wants to skate and will be back next Saturday. We invited her and her family to meet us at the rink on future Sunday afternoons for open skating so she and Lola can become better acquainted.
Easter Day afternoon we had the urge to skate and after checking the rink’s website we didn’t see any cancellations of public skating so we went to pick up Lola’s friend Lavinia and went to the rink to see if it was open. Luckily, it was, and we were all very glad we went. There were only 10 people on the ice, and later at about 3:30, there were only 30 people on the ice. It was fabulous to skate without the obstacle course we usually encounter. We hated to leave!
As all good things must come to an end, so has the wonderful Spring Break vacation. We were pretty much forced to stay home for the week instead of making our usual trek to visit my mom, due to the possibility of an impending strike at my company with the result of being called in to work at any time if the possibility becomes a reality. So far we have not heard any news of a strike being called, but we are to be on the alert at all times.
Lola told me this morning that she hopes there is no strike and I am right there with her on that one. We are hopeful…
We have cooked on the grill about three times in the last week or so in between rainstorms. We have had far more rainy days than sunny days this spring. Not fun on the weekends. Friday night we went to see the movie “Monsters vs. Aliens”. It was sprinkling rain when we arrived, but about halfway through the movie we heard thunder, lightning and torrential rain pounding on the roof of the building. Strangely enough, the power of the storm was enough to reverse the locks on my car to ‘unlock’, so that left everything in the car up for grabs if any thief wanted to risk drowning to secure a couple empty water bottles and drink cups from the car.
Easter weekend was quite nice. The weather was warm and sunny and perfect for grilling chicken tenders!! As we grilled, the kitties were sunning themselves in the courtyard and enjoying the aroma.
On Saturday Lola had another ice skating lesson and she has again been moved up another level to Basic 3. I’m amazed at the rapidity she learns skating. In comparison with other sports that she professes to love, skating is by far the most suited to her need for speed and artistry! I allow her to be proud of herself in learning quickly, but at the same time stress to her about being equally humble about her accomplishments. She is trying to follow this principle, but every now and then I see the little showoff come out, immediately followed by the ‘diva mode’. It’s really a fine line between self-confidence and self-centeredness, but with some guidance along the way perhaps she will come to understand the importance of humility. If she decides to compete in the future, humility will be to her advantage in many ways. After having been a musician for many years I have learned no matter how skilled you are, there is always room to learn and grow from others who are even more skilled.
We called her skating lesson friend Jane during last week and Jane’s father said she is recovering quite well from her fall last Saturday at lessons. He said he was going to keep her out of lessons for another week but she still wants to skate and will be back next Saturday. We invited her and her family to meet us at the rink on future Sunday afternoons for open skating so she and Lola can become better acquainted.
Easter Day afternoon we had the urge to skate and after checking the rink’s website we didn’t see any cancellations of public skating so we went to pick up Lola’s friend Lavinia and went to the rink to see if it was open. Luckily, it was, and we were all very glad we went. There were only 10 people on the ice, and later at about 3:30, there were only 30 people on the ice. It was fabulous to skate without the obstacle course we usually encounter. We hated to leave!
As all good things must come to an end, so has the wonderful Spring Break vacation. We were pretty much forced to stay home for the week instead of making our usual trek to visit my mom, due to the possibility of an impending strike at my company with the result of being called in to work at any time if the possibility becomes a reality. So far we have not heard any news of a strike being called, but we are to be on the alert at all times.
Lola told me this morning that she hopes there is no strike and I am right there with her on that one. We are hopeful…
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Deviant Cats
After having lived with Scooter and Boo Boo for so long as well as a myriad of other cats over the years, I regard them as all pretty normal felines. Quite entertaining, but normal. After having lived only a few months with Petie and Sebastian I have come to realize that they are really quite unique. These two are like partners in crime - - where one is doing something he shouldn’t, the other one is not far away.
Early in the mornings they engage in a game I call “Throw your Brother Against the Wall”, because that is how it sounds. There are the unmistakable sounds of one cat chasing the other up and down the stairs, then the sound of two cats wrestling, then a few minutes later the sound of one cat hitting the wall. This is repeated as necessary or until both of them are exhausted.
Lola and I have come to discover that Petie has a fondness for fuzzy blankets that goes above and beyond the platonic level. He treats blankets as a ‘girlfriend’ cat and does the ‘hop hop’ on it, as Lola would say. Yes, this cat is neutered. We inquired about this odd behavior with our vet during an immunization booster appointment, and were told Petie was definitely neutered and the behavior is not attributed to any physical malady. The vet speculated it was a dominance issue. At first we tried to deter him from doing this, but it seemed the more we drew attention to it the more he would insist on not leaving his chosen object of affection. After realizing other methods of behavior modification, including hiding the blankets, proved unsuccessful I have just chosen to ignore it.
The latest ‘fetish’ with one of them is to drag a plush stuffed animal down the stairs from Lola’s bedroom to the landing. It is then left there. It never gets dragged all the way downstairs. Over this past week we have found a large stuffed black panther (on Monday) and a floppy-eared dog (yesterday). I am puzzled about this new activity. Totally stumped.
Maybe I can teach ‘the boys’ how to move furniture…
Early in the mornings they engage in a game I call “Throw your Brother Against the Wall”, because that is how it sounds. There are the unmistakable sounds of one cat chasing the other up and down the stairs, then the sound of two cats wrestling, then a few minutes later the sound of one cat hitting the wall. This is repeated as necessary or until both of them are exhausted.
Lola and I have come to discover that Petie has a fondness for fuzzy blankets that goes above and beyond the platonic level. He treats blankets as a ‘girlfriend’ cat and does the ‘hop hop’ on it, as Lola would say. Yes, this cat is neutered. We inquired about this odd behavior with our vet during an immunization booster appointment, and were told Petie was definitely neutered and the behavior is not attributed to any physical malady. The vet speculated it was a dominance issue. At first we tried to deter him from doing this, but it seemed the more we drew attention to it the more he would insist on not leaving his chosen object of affection. After realizing other methods of behavior modification, including hiding the blankets, proved unsuccessful I have just chosen to ignore it.
The latest ‘fetish’ with one of them is to drag a plush stuffed animal down the stairs from Lola’s bedroom to the landing. It is then left there. It never gets dragged all the way downstairs. Over this past week we have found a large stuffed black panther (on Monday) and a floppy-eared dog (yesterday). I am puzzled about this new activity. Totally stumped.
Maybe I can teach ‘the boys’ how to move furniture…
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
It's Science - Part ll
Last night Lola was up doing some activity in the kitchen sink with soap bubbles while she was washing up a few of her dishes from dinner (yes, she has decided she loves to do dishes!!) and she looked up excitedly and said "Look, Mom! It's Science!"
...ah, yes, the plan is working....
...ah, yes, the plan is working....
Friday, April 3, 2009
Seaweed Salad
Lunch today - - - seaweed salad! I cannot even begin to describe how totally delicious and intoxicating this delectible little dish is! I'm like one of Pavlov's dogs when the words 'seaweed salad' are uttered. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!! Here is a recipe.
Ingredients
o 3/8 oz dried wakame seaweed (stems or rib)
o 3 tablespoons light soy sauce
o 3 tablespoons rice vinegar (without seasoning)
o 1 teaspoon sugar
o 2 tablespoons sesame oil
o 2 scallions, thinly sliced
o 1 teaspoon finely grated ginger
o 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Preparation
Soak dried wakame in warm water for about 5-8 minutes
Drain and place in a bowl of water. Quickly remove and plunge into cold water
Mix vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, and ginger in a bowl until sugar is dissolved.
Mix wakame and dressing.
Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and scallions
Chill in fridge prior to serving
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