Autumn at the St Louis Zoo

Late fall and winter are my favorite seasons to visit most of the outdoor attractions here in St. Louis. No crowds! I especially love going to the St. Louis Zoo, which is where we ended up today. My dad, who has lived in Austin, TX for the last 25 years, was a good sport about braving the cold to go with us.

I also love finding winter berries. What's the attraction? Quite simply, I think it's the spots of bright color juxtaposed against such enormous grayness. They just pop, pop, pop (to quote my principal) when you stumble upon them.

Weird Neighborhood Sign #2

This weird neighborhood sign was spotted on my street, about two houses south of me. It's been affixed to a No Parking/Street Cleaning Schedule sign.

Happy Harvest Festival

It's the official beginning of the holiday season. Up first? Thanksgiving. Yep, time for family, friends, and feast. After you've eaten too much, watched too much of the football game, had one too many cocktails, you know, generally overindulged yourself, why don't you head on over to Heifer International and share the wealth. You'll feel good that you did!

Lovely Day for a Walk

Today was our first day of Thanksgiving Break. What a gorgeous day! So, after lunch at The Royale, we took my Dad, who is visiting from Texas, to the Botanical Garden. Normally, we're at the garden a couple of times a month but for whatever reason we just haven't gone much since the spring. I'm so glad that we decided to go today; we practically had the place to ourselves. No crowds, no human noise -- just the sound of nature. Ain't it grand?

Another Cool Sunset , November 16, 2008

I'm a camera nerd. I have lots of different models for different kinds of jobs. But, for an everyday camera I carry a compact, very light-weight camera, a Sony Cybershot, with me where ever I go. It takes okay-to-decent indoor photos where the natural light is sufficient enough to require little to no flash. And, it takes decent-to-good outdoor photos (again natural lighting works best). I also like that the battery stays charged for an super long time. But, that said, it's not really a great camera (i.e. don't buy it if you're a picky photographer like me). Which brings me to my photos below. Bill and I were driving to a dinner party and saw one of the most beautiful sunsets. I decided to try and photograph it under these conditions: bumpy roads, moving vehicle, shooting through a windshield, a so-so camera, and a 3-year old in the back yelling about something that I've tried to tune out. So, I guess that you'll have to trust me when I tell you that this was an awesome sunset!

Date: November 16, 2008
Time: 4:50 pm
Location: In Bill's car, driving west on Hwy 40 near Kingshighway Boulevard.

Jib Jab Time

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

The Situation: Recently, A.I. and I were having dinner at Pho Grand and we started grumbling about our illnesses and pains. Then, A.I asked if I had ever used a netipot. Talk about a surreal moment.

The Netipot Skinny: Two years ago my ENT doc recommended using a netipot sinus cleansing system to help relieve some of the sinus/allergies congestion that I get regularly. By coincidence, I had just watched a video of someone demonstrating the neti online. It looked absolutely torturous! My answer? No. Not now, not ever. Yet, the hope of long-lasting sinus relief kept me intrigued. So, I agreed to take home the doc's version of the netipot, the NeilMed sinus cleansing system. Unfortunately, I couldn't bring myself to use it, even after doc after doc after doc said I should (yeah, I've been to a lot of docs in the last two years). But, for some reason, when A.I. mentioned it, I finally decided that I would dust off the NeilMed, read the directions, and maybe even give it a try.

The Conclusion: When I got home, I did follow through. In fact, I even used the NeilMed. To my relief, it wasn't too bad. The solution was noticeably salty and, at first, a little easy to choke on as you squeezed the solution to your nostril (but easy to stop the choking too). The weirdest part was the very strange feeling of the mucus and sinus slime draining out of your nostril while, at the same time, also creating a blockage of that same said nostril. I didn't feel any immediate relief but did feel a little clearer and less congested the next morning.

Insomnia, Nick's Pub, and Prop 8

What to do when it's 1:30 am and you can't sleep? Blog! My problem? Adventurous content. Blogging has taken a back seat to the variety of illnesses that seem to have declared my body cavity good real estate. That means no new adventures, no new experiences, and no new photos. Phooey. But, it doesn't mean that I don't still have a lot to say. Phooey squared.

My friend and co-worker Dando has great Spidey-sense and knew intuitively that a pre-holiday, pre-progress reports happy hour was needed by all. So she sent out the invite, picked the spot, Nick's Pub in the city, and hoped that a few friends would show. My district is not very big but we owned Nick's that night (well, at least for the 3 hours that we were there). We had almost a full MS showing and the HS turn out was pretty good too. Shout out to the MS & HS Math peeps! You get the "Most Drunks in the Department" award by having 100% turn out.

Okay. Big election news. Sorry, Barack. This rant is not about you. In a bold, dramatic gesture, we elected our first black president thereby showing the world, at least superficially, that as a nation we are trying to put our racist reputation behind us. But, hey, world! Don't get too excited. Prop 8 passed. It amended the CA Constitution to legally discriminate against gay rights(i.e. human rights). According to this source and this source and this source and this source, it is purported that many of the same groups that showed up in large numbers, theoretically to support Prez Elect Barack Obama, also voted in favor of Prop 8 in CA. True? False? What about the Mormons? Unless they publish the election results by demographic, we'll never really know which groups overwhelming voted for or against Prop 8.

But that said, why would anyone vote for Prop 8? Okay, okay we get that Jerry Falwell didn't much care for the homosexuals. And you other religious folk--trust me, we hear you too and we know that you are no friends of the gays either. And while I absolutely without a doubt believe that ALL people deserve equal rights, I can understand that you believe in a God (albeit one that hates 10% of the population that, according to the bible, he made) that tells you homosexuality is wrong. And, this belief, however oppressive in my world, is one that ultimately though I cannot argue against. Belief in God trumps everything, whether or not it makes sense (think 9/11). The other group that I could see supporting Prop 8 is white men. No offense white guys--but you have demonstrated for centuries your predilection for oppression and bias. Your point was made with slavery, Jim Crow, and keeping us all barefoot and pregnant. So, the fact that some of you white guys in certain demographics remain loyal to the oppressive mentality of the 1920's is disappointing but not terribly shocking.

But, that some members of the other groups would cast a vote in favor of Prop 8 leaves me speechless, confused, and pissed off. Women and minorities, what's our prob? We should be better than that for all the hate, violence, and degradation that we had to endure while we fought for our human rights, our civil rights, the rights that had long been guaranteed to white men. It just makes no sense to me why victims of discrimination voluntarily opt to discriminate. God, under no circumstances, shouldn't trump that argument. Where was your God when the man was in charge? Someone, explanation please!

Let's talk about this for a minute. Are we physiologically or psychologically engineered to always victimize certain group(s)? History would suggest so. But, history also tells us that when scientific explanation and understanding is lacking, people often construct their own strange, often draconian, explanations to make meaning of a new experience (i.e. Salem Witches). So which, if either, explanation holds true here: do people always, even when they've been victims themselves, need a group to hate and oppress or is this a case of misunderstanding (i.e. people don't know that science explains gayness).

The Colbert Report, always topical, always hilarious, did his own little funny something, something:

The bright ending for this controversy, is that thousands of Americans gathered from city to city, state to state to show support for the repeal of Prop 8. Hundreds of St. Louisians braved the cold today to stand on the steps of the Old Courthouse in protest.

Maybe It's the Percocet? Sick Day Diary

Dear Diary,
Something moosey is brewing here. Since B.O. became P.E. I thought that we'd stop hearing from Scary Sarah P. from AK. But, that's not the case. If you don't believe me, read the news. Bottom line: It scares me to think that Superficial Sarah believes that she has a political future. I guess that she didn't hear herself speak. Unintersting, uninspired, unpolished. And, guess what else Stupid Sarah P. from AK says? She states, "I'm like, OK, God, if there is an open door for me somewhere, this is what I always pray, I'm like, don't let me miss the open door." And you know what scares me even more? That Slow-witted, simpleton Sarah still has the support of her stooges.

Dear Diary,
So there was another pit bull attack on some poor, unsupervised kid and it got me thinking about how cliche that is. And do you know what else? Pit bulls are cliche. Want to hear some more? Sagging pants are cliche. Giving the peace sign while being photographed, regardless of your real or imagined celebrity, is cliche. Tattoos are cliche. Piercings are cliche. Smoking weed is cliche. Irresponsibility, of any kind, is cliche. Even cliches are cliches.

Dear Diary,
This is my fifth sick day this school year. WOW! And if you add in days out for curriculum writing you get an even bigger WOW! I haven't been out this much since I birthed the kid. What does this say about me? My impenetrable power to ward off illness is diminishing? I have too much job stress? I have Munchausen syndrome? I don't care anymore? Sadly, it's all true. Well, except the Munchausen. But it would be cool to have a friend with the Munchausen. You could be like.....yeah, this is Christine, you know, my Munchausen friend. She's just back from surgery. What was it this time?

Veteran's Day, or I Hate War, or I Can Still Be Grateful

Military service is, thankfully, not a tradition in my family. So, the only real memories of Veteran's Day that I have come solely from my childhood and having the day off school. And what American kid doesn't love having a day off of school? Woo Hoo! But seriously, I hate the military because I hate war. Hate it, hate it, hate it. No good reason for it either -- although I'd agree that going to war when the US is invaded might be justified as a temporary solution. Otherwise, I see very little evidence that problems can't be resolved without violence, i.e. peacefully, with sincere words and ethical actions. But, until everyone thinks the same way as me, I guess I have to live in a world where stopping violence or abuse or oppression with violence or abuse or oppression is the acceptable, even preferred, norm. Despite my personal feelings about war, and even military recruitment practices (that's another blog entry) I am still grateful for those Americans that have enlisted in the military, especially with the knowledge that they might be called to serve (and die). And I am grateful that we have a day reserved to honor people that have served and sacrificed. Both of my grandfathers served, Grandpa Dean in the US Army Air Corps and Grandpa Johnny in the US Navy. And while they have passed on, I am proud this Veteran's Day to put aside my personal beliefs about the war to remember and honor them for their service and sacrifice.

Day of the Dead

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.....my friend Colette throws a super mean party! Here are some photos from that we took from the Day of the Dead party she threw last weekend. Willa and the other kids had lots of fun making Day of the Dead art--skull masks, sugar skulls, papel picado, and altars. She probably liked decorating the sugar skull the best but I most enjoyed helping her make her altar (dedicated to her Great Great Grandma Ruth, her Great Grandpa Dean, Great Grandpa Johnny, and her Great Grandma Violet).

It's Showtime!

Hopefully everyone got out there today, as I did, to cast a vote for our nation's next president. Wow! It felt good to vote. It felt good to throw my support behind a candidate that I hope will lead us away from debt, bullying, problem-ignoring, and embarrassment and toward domestic and foreign policies that not only help Americans immediately but that also work to eliminate the underlying socio-economic issues that cause the problems in the first place. I'll sign off for now. Got an election to watch. And, you betcha, I wouldn't miss that for the world.

Sarah Vowell

Despite still being one hacking cough and gasp away from the netherworld, I decided to go to the Mad Art Gallery to listen to Sarah Vowell read from her new book, The Wordy Shipmates with my friend, Colette. Much to my surprise, my loud, unproductive coughing did not lead to me being thrown out by security. And I'm glad for that because Vowell was very smart, very interesting, and very amusing. In fact, I think that I'm going to require that my incoming 09/10 AP kids read this book over the summer.

Halloween 2008

Halloween is not a favorite holiday of mine. Sure, I enjoyed it as a youngster but not at all since I entered young adulthood. The costumes, the haunted houses, the parties, and the pranks are just not my cup o' tea. Now, because Willa has figured out Halloween, I have to pretend to like it, even if it's just for one night. So, last night we put on our smiles and took Willa out trick or treating with her friend Evan (more kids in their neighborhood than ours). She had a great time and, despite my initial apprehension, I genuinely enjoyed myself. My beef (and you know that I have one)? The rude behavior of the questionably costumed, suspiciously tall, totally aggressive, I'm stocking up for the cold season kids and their parents. I get that, for some kids, it's cool to try to "fool" candy-givers into thinking that you're 8 when you're really 15. Ha ha. Good one. Didn't see that coming. So, okay, I'll play the game--I'll pretend to not notice the gianormous hobo with the smooth beginnings of a 'stache when he approaches for a treat. But, in return, is it too much to ask that the kids with pubes not push my kid (or any one elses kid), cut in line, or demonstrate any other aggressive behavior toward the kids that have a right to be out there in the first place? And that their parents, yes, some of them actually did bring along their parents, be adults and agree. I think not.

Maybe Obama Will Win?

Eric Zorn is the columnist from the Chicago Tribune who made me a little nervous with his list of reasons that Obama would lose the election of Tuesday (see last post). Now, Zorn has submitted his thoughts on why Obama will win the election. I don't share all of Zorn's opinions, but did find myself very interested and, sometimes, in agreement.

Election 2008

Let's get two things straight upfront. First, I have never supported McCain. Second, I do support and am voting for the Obama/Biden ticket. But, and I know that I'm risking my "I'm a liberal" bumper sticker status here, I've never really felt comfortable sharing the same political space with the rosy-cheeked, bright-eyed, tail a wagging members of the cult of Obama either. Call me jaded, hell call me conservative if you'd like, but I just don't see a lot of REAL change a happening while Congress remains the same (old, white, stagnant), while skinheads plot the death of Obama and a large group of black students, while we waste time talking about the legal definition of marriage, while we lag behind the world in education, while we put individual and corporate profits ahead of working for the betterment of our community, etc. But, I will say that I believe Obama is capable of laying the foundation that is needed in order to see the kind of REAL change that many of us so desperately want to see.

Cult of Obama or not, what I do not want to see is McCain win. Maybe it's all the medication co-mingling in my system but I'm feeling a whole lot anxious and shaky about the upcoming election on Tuesday. To acknowledge the obvious = yes, I know that Obama leads in the most recent polls. However, as an informed citizen and teacher of history I know enough not to trust that this lead is nearly as strong as it needs to be to ensure a victory. I've also been obsessed with this map - watching it, studying it, waiting to see if colors will change as we head toward Tuesday. I know it's a numbers game, but look at all that red! Then, I read this article this morning, which expresses some of the same opinions and concerns that I have held about Obama since his acceptance of the Democratic nomination. Weird co-winky-dink? Probably. But it has me worried. And, very, very interested.

Give Me Steriods. Lots of Them. Now.

Can't fight it. Can't change it. It is what it is. Twice a year--October and April--I get horribly, horribly sick, and probably will for the rest of my life. It begins as a sniffle or a tickle or even a shiver. Then, like Hurricane Ike, it gains momentum until it quickly, but finally, reaches shore. And by that time, you can't stop it, you can only brace yourself for the ride. And, yes, if you haven't figured it out yet, I am sick. Truly sick. Deathly sick. I have only a squeak of a voice left, beat up bones and internal organs from a cough so violent and so relentless that it has registered on the Richter Scale, throbbing temples and a headache that won't quit, asthmatic episodes, and dry heaving. Insult to injury? Everytime I cough, I wet my pants a little. Sexy.

Ye Olde Renaissance Faire

The Event:

The Renaissance Faire was last Saturday at the school where Bill and I teach. I played Queen Isabella of Spain. Brilliant choice, if I do say so myself. Bill played Sir Walter Raleigh. Um...I'm still undecided about that casting decision. To be fair though, Raleigh was a better role than his original, Head Bridge Troll by Food Court.

The Review:

Let's start with the good news first -- beautiful, beautiful weather, decent, well-behaved crowd, ye olde good times with friends and colleagues, a chance to laugh at yourself in an ill-fitting rental costume, good exercise, and a SUPER, SUPER play (Midsummer Night's Dream - way to go Dando and Company!!!). And now the bad news -- it was a long, long day, I was sun burned, sore, and exhausted by day's end, I had to pay for my own food and drinks (I spent at least 20 bucks) and --best of all--I didn't get paid a cent from the district for being there for 9 hours. Yes, you read correctly. At the very least, they could pay to have my carpet cleaned (dogs, like most other species, cannot hold it for 9 hours~poor Grover!)

The Kid & Hubby:

Emma, A New Musical

It's a Wednesday Rep night for Bill and I so we're off to see Emma, A New Musical. Most of the time, I think it's a bad idea to mess with a really rich, really exquisite, and nearly flawless work of fiction (or a classic literary character like Emma) by turning it into a movie, musical, etc. But, in this case, I'm thinking that Emma and music seem like a good match. UPDATE: It was a terrific match....as Emma might say, "Well, it was just simply delightful." Very witty, very entertaining. This production is a perfect starting point for the Jane-curious. And, for the more Jane-expert, the musical is a perfect compliment to her written work. Emma runs through November 2, 2008 so go see it!

Center for Human Origins and Cultural Diversity

Welker, one of the other MRH history teachers, and I took our Freshman Humanities kids to the Center for Human Origins and Cultural Diversity at UMSL. This little known anthropology lab has four-45 minute interactive stations for the kids to explore human evolution. Teachers that teach topics that involve human origins and evolution should definitely find a way to bring their kids here. The kids had so much fun that they forgot that they were learning!

Mama Got A Brand Bag

I love bags - clutches, purses, totes, messengers, etc. - and have found that one can never have too many. But the one kind of bag that I have never bought is a work bag. They're always too heavy or too leathery or too ugly and, usually, too professional. On the other hand, casual work bags have never really felt right either - that is until now. This summer I bought the perfect work bag and I gotta tell ya about it because I'm so lovin' it. It's light-weight, attractive, and casual/professional. And, it's the perfect amount of utilitarian. But the best thing about the whole bag is that it's made almost exclusively from recycled and reclaimed materials. Give me a woo hoo!

Book Review: I Love You, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle

After 4-years of pining for head cheerleader Beth Cooper, nerdy, nobody Valedictorian Denis Cooverman decides to use his 3-minutes of fame graduation speech to publicly declare his love for her. To his surprise, Beth isn't repulsed; in fact, she even considers dropping by his party. Thus, begins a 24-hour whirlwind, coming of age adventure complete with fun, booze, pranks, confessions, and witty, witty dialogue. Entertainment Weekly said, "Hilarious...Reminiscent of the best of John Hughes's 80's comedy classics...." Couldn't have said it better.

A List for October 5th

Things I Absolutely Hate and Always Will (in no particular order):

1. patchouli (i mean seriously, it's passe and it stinks)
2. autos that get less than 25 mpg (also avoiding discussing why i hate all suv's and most domestic models)
3. rabbits and, especially, small rodents (those ol' nasty teeth)
4. materialism (no explanation needed)
5. when you can but you won't think for yourself (you have a brain, why not use it?)
6. a warped sense of entitlement (i.e. i'm an american, i have a right to control the universe, not in my back yard!, drill, baby, drill! where are my cheap........, etc)
7. along the same line, self-importance (again, get over yourself--i already have)
8. deceitful behavior (c'mon, can't we all just be honest?)
9. littering (american indian crying, you know you all remember that one)
10. excuses (some are legit, but most aren't)
11. the movie Freedom Writers (what? you think i'm a chump?)
12. hate speech, ism's, and homophobia (it's just not cool, smart, or purposeful)
13. socks with sandals, especially adidas shower sandals (unless you're homeless)
14. giving the peace sign while being photographed (kids, celebs, etc -- it's totally played!)

Thinking About the Weekend.....Already

Three very good things to choose from for the upcoming weekend and all in my neck of the woods. First, the Best of Missouri Market at MOBot. I love going to this but, in recent years, have skipped it cause of the enormous crowds. We're members of the garden, so maybe I'll try the "members only" hours. Second, is the historic Shaw Neighborhood's Shaw Art Fair. This I will attend definitely. Lastly, is the, also historic, Soulard Neighborhood's Soulard Oktoberfest. Not as sure about this one, but will look at the band line-up and activities list more closely on their web site to make my decision. Anything of interest that I missed? Comment me.

Where You At?

Because I've spoken before of my love of all things artsy and crafty, it will come as no surprise that my weekend plans involve things artsy and crafty. Strange Folk Festival is this weekend. Yeah! It's big, and looks to have gotten larger this year. If you love original, interesting artsy and crafty things, you should totally check this show out. I know that I am.

Lenin, Stalin, Khrushchev, Brezhnev, Andropov, Chernenko, Gorbachev, and Palin.

The Palin-Russian connection? Does it extend beyond geography? My connection to Palin? Well, she's a blogger too!

Nerd Alert! Lord of the Rings Symphony

If you hit the streets of St Lou tonight or tomorrow night, you will probably notice the absence of J.R.R. Tolkien-lovin', Rings-theme-a-hummin' nerds. Why? They've all congregated at Powell Symphony Hall to listen to Howard Shore's Lord of the Rings symphony as performed by the St Louis Symphony Orchestra. So, what's my story you ask? Well, I do like Tolkien and I did like Peter Jackson's screen version of his books, but I'm no professional sci-fi geek. Neither is Bill. But we do support SLSO (we've been season ticket holders for years now). And since they're trying some new programming ideas to attract a more diverse crowd, we wanted to support their efforts. Plus, I knew the music would be great as would the people watching opportunities (and, boy, were they ever!). And, *nerdy-nerd alert*, both shows are already sold out! Good for SLSO! And, good for me that I thought to buy my tickets ahead of time.

How I Spent My Sunday

Henske Three went to the Duck Room this morning to see Ralph's World. Great, great show! I'm amazed at how good some kid's music has gotten. For example, They Might Be Giants has put out several kid's albums, all of which sound great and are genuinely fun to sing along with. I also recommend, if you need a starting place, the kid music of the Wee Hairy Beasties, Elizabeth Mitchell & Lisa Loeb, The Terrible Twos, Barenaked Ladies, Little Mo'McCoury, and Jack Johnson. As for Ralph's World -- they have a Squeeze/Crowded House vibe that you can't help but to sing and bounce along with. For more solid recommendations in the latest in kid's music, go to Zooglobble.

(Above) Willa onstage with Ralph's World)

(Above) Just like Mom in her old days....drink in hand, on the floor, center stage (Willa is 2nd blonde from the right).

Frost/Nixon at The Rep

The 2008/09 season at the Rep starts tonight for us. I'm excited because tonight's performance is Frost/Nixon. Looks awesome so I'm sure that I'll post a later review. Update: Frost/Nixon was riveting! Here's the gist -- Frost and Nixon: both from humble beginnings, both compelled to prove their worth, both fallen stars. The unlikely pair meet after television host Frost successfully arranges a series of sought after interviews with the newly resigned former president. Nixon agrees to the interviews, hoping that they will re-establish his political reputation and power. For Frost, the interviews represent an opportunity to reignite his credibility and celebrity in the US. Yet, they soon realize that in order for one to succeed, they other has to fail.

STL Art Fair 2008

Art falls into 3 categories for me: #1, LOVE IT! Gotta buy it!, #2, Interesting...I'll make a mental note, or #3, You gotta be kidding me--this is awful!. Yesterday, at the STL Art Fair in Clayton, I saw approximately 4 - LOVE It! Gotta buy it! artists, about 10 - Interesting artists, and a whole big o'bunch of you gotta be kidding me's. Here are my 1, 2, 3, and 4 favorites that I wanted to purchase a piece from but didn't. I did buy another Marvin and Wendy Hill -- a mermaid woodcut called Le Mer -- for Willa (yes, mer is feminine for you francophiles out there yet this print was named as though the word were masculine). I didn't make it to Art Oustide this year so I hope that I did miss a lot. At least I have these events to look forward to -- Strange Folk and Rock and Roll Craft Show.

Art O'Liscious

We have traditionally reserved the weekend after Labor Day for the St Louis Falcons annual Polish Festival. The super awesome sausage, sauerkraut, pirogi, and pastries are very tasty and very popular. Then we took note of two other now-favorite events, the St Louis Art Fair and Schlafly's Art Outside, both of which seemed to pop up on or around the same weekend. The challenge? How to fit all three events into our schedule. This year, we'll definitely be at the St Louis Art Fair tomorrow morning (This is who I bought a piece from last year). And, I'd love to go to Art Outside tonight. But between the kid's ballet and soccer, I'm not sure that the Polish Festival is going to make the cut.

Soccer Mom

I've always taken the back seat driver approach to other people's motherhood -- butting in with little jewels like, "what do you mean you're not using cloth diapers? shame on you for ruining the environment like that!" "not breastfeeding, what? you want a sickly slow kid?" "nice clothes? crazy! my kid's going organic cotton caveman style until kindergarten." You name it, I could find something to say about it. But, now that I find myself actually walking down that road, I try to watch what I say a little more carefully because I know that it's likely that I'll have to retract some earlier proclamation. So, where is this post going you ask? Well, tonight I attended my 3, almost 4, year old kid's 2nd soccer practice--thereby sucking in the parenting gems about over scheduling kids and spending my hard earned money on plastic team sports (I shudder when I say that!) equipment. I mean, really, who even knew that kids could even play soccer at this age! And, that they'd find 21 girls for a single school team! (Bill says, you can't go to Catholic school in STL and not play soccer. I guess he's right.). So what does this mean for me? Well, I guess it means that, at least until November, I'm a mom with a kid playing soccer. Just please don't call me a soccer mom ..... ugh!

Movie: Saved!

From Amazon.com: "Classic teen comedy mixes with cunning satire in Saved!. Fervent Christian Mary believes God wants her to save her gay boyfriend by sleeping with him. But he gets sent to an anti-gay indoctrination camp while she ends up pregnant--which starts to drive a wedge between Mary and her snotty best friend Hilary Faye. Meanwhile, they're both interested in the son of their Christian school principal. Saved! respects faith but gleefully mocks the excesses and absurdities of contemporary organized religion, particularly its suburban, let's-speak-the-language-of-the-kids manifestations." I recommend!

Something Unexpected in My Inbox

For your viewing pleasure --- A photo of Willa from COCA's "Under the Sea" Summer Camp finale unexpectedly found in COCA's latest email newsletter. Her role, you ask? Hard Coral.

Willa (left) and friends at COCA August 2009

Book Review: The Mistress's Daughter by A.M. Homes

A.M. Homes, at age 31, is contacted by her biological mother's attorney with a simple message - I'm your mother, I want to meet you, contact me. Homes does eventually contact her biological mother as well as her biological father. Unsure of her parents' intentions and her own expectations, Homes asks for nothing more than the information she has grown up without - her history, her culture, her people. But, without warning, Homes finds that her parents', each still very dysfunctional, demand more from her than she can give. Her mother: very needy. Her father: very selfish. It is from this place that Homes must begin her journey of self discovery. My advice: Read only the first part of the memoir (1st Half Rating = A-). If you decide to read it all, don't say you weren't warned (Second Half Rating = D).