They set her hip with a pin and she is doing all right. Not great, but all right. Still heavily sedated. Thanks for the good thoughts and e-mails, I appreciate them and she does, too.

xxox

wm

it’s been two years since we lost our dear, crazy dog. i still am yearning to get another pup. we will not get a pup. we would love to be dog people but we are just not dog people, i am sorry to say.

we’re not really cat people, either. or fish people. or guinea pig people. we are people-people.

“People/
People who need people/
are the luckiest people/
in the world…”

— B. Streisand

i need people, people. i need my internet people, my librarian people, my family people, my friend people and my Nekkid Neighbor people.

i need my grandma, people. I need my friend S, people. Cuz when she’s goofy from pain pills (she messed up her arm) well. She’s always funny, but she’s extra-funny on the “happy pills.”

today started out ok, even though my husband refused to watch this YouTube video with me:

that’s right. sometimes you need to start off the weekend with a little Tony Manero.

“Hey, you guys do layaway? Put me down for five dollars for that blue shirt in the window. Hold it for me.”

— T. Manero

we went to the eye doctor’s, where I was informed i need bifocals. excuse me — “progressives” — and that they may make me want to throw up while i’m getting used to wearing them. middle-age is so cool, i am loving it. i am gobbling it up.

out to pizza schmizza for lunch, then home, where I received a call from my aunt, chipper and over-animated, “Hi kid, how are ya?” me, hesitantly, “Good…” (thinking, “someone died…”) “…and you?”

“Good! Say, Grandma broke her hip.”

i love my grandma. she is under sedation and in the hospital.

this sucks.

as do happy-perky phone calls that carry loaded news right smack-dab in the middle.

say prayers and light candles for my granny, would you? She turns 89 in July. She shouldn’t have been walking in the store, by herself, that is no good. You know what she says when I call her? “Yeah, I’m a little tired. I was out late at the clubs again. You know.” She fractures me. There should be no fractured or broken hips in this post, just my grandma cracking me up because she is funny girl, my granny.

Candles and prayers or good thoughts or whatever you do would be nice. Thank you.

Here are some posts about her. She’s a pistol.

wm

OK, you know how last Valentine’s Day differs from this Valentine’s Day?

Last year my son wasn’t counting his candy.

Damn.

My awesome sister picked up the kids from aftercare, then our awesome babysitter (note to self: find new word for “awesome”) swooped in and this meant… I got to run errands… (“Got to.” Only a busy mom would say “got to” run errands with a “whew” thrown in there… yes! errands! woo-hoo!) to the pharmacy and the library and then?

Dinner out with my husband.

Hmm. I think we just got to celebrate Valentine’s, a little late. (We couldn’t celebrate last weekend, 3 out of 4 of us were sick.)

xxox

wm

tell me and I will try to deliver.

Friday Advice Column?

The kids?

Thursday 13?

More tears?

More orgasms?

What?

Tell me now, bitte. Por favor. Pretty please.

Planning to Change the World: A Plan Book for Social Justice Teachers, was edited by Tara Mack and Bree Picower, and is a NYCoRe and Education for Liberation Network Publication.

Look for lists of resources; tips and suggestions; ideas for elementary, middle and high school students; notable dates; quotes and much more. Great book, great resource.

I am late on this review and my apologies, but it has been a busy fall and winter for this first year (non) teacher. (I am classified at this point, not certified to teach.) I received this 2008/2009 edition of this date book last fall, but I see on their website that they are planning on releasing a 2009-2010 edition, so send ’em some business, those of you in the field. (Also would make a great gift for Teacher Appreciation Week, hint hint.)

Here are a few of the websites they shared in the book, if you’re looking for more info:
* The New York Collective of Radical Educators
* The Education for Liberation Network
* Education for Liberation Network’s Online Database
* Teachers 4 Social Justice (click on “study groups”)
* IndyKids (“A Free Paper for Free Kids”)

You can do one thing. And then another thing, and then another thing…

The Rules:

Answer these questions, USING ONLY ONE WORD! Copy and change the answers to suit you and pass it on. It’s really hard to only use one word answers. Be sure to link to the person you received it from! (That would be Nan.)

1. Where is your cell phone? Purse
2. Your significant other? Here
3. Your hair? Curlyhead
4. Your mother? Cute
5. Your father? 6’4″
6. Your favorite song? Bach
7. Your dream last night? Landscaping
8. Your favorite drink? Mojito
9. Your dream/goal? Libraries
10. What room you are in? Office
11. Your hobby? Bloggin’
12. Your fear? Flu
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Bliss
14. Where were you last night? Bliss
15. Something that you aren’t? Insincere
16. Muffins? Chocolate
17. Wish list item? Trip
18. Where you grew up? Portland
19. Last thing you did? Read
20. What are you wearing? Flannel
21. Your TV? On
22. Your pets? Furry
23. Friends? Smart
24. Your life? Good
25. Your mood? Smiley
26. Missing someone? Always
27. Car? Dented
28. Something you’re not wearing? Socks
29. Your favorite store? Target
30. Your favorite color? Green
33. When is the last time you laughed? Now
34. Last time you cried? Huh?
35. Who will resend this? Dunno
36. Favorite vacation? Lisbon
37. One person who emails me regularly? Sis
38. My favorite place to eat? Home

Done! Do it, it’s fun.

wm

HAPPY VD! Clap, everybody, clap!

xoxo

wm

Book review on the fly:

I’m thinking, I remember nursing. It’s been a few years, but not so long that it’s slipped from my memory entirely. When exactly would you have time to update your “Essential Breastfeeding Log” (Sarah Bowen Shea & Suzanne Schlosberg, Ballentine, $15, 217 pages)?

Then I remembered more details. They swam into view, from a murky fog left over from those early maternal days. I had to keep a notebook, post-partum (with feedings, diapers, doc appointments, PAIN KILLER LOG following both c-sections, etc.). This is a handy little book, ladies. Thank you.

I know that sounds like a backhanded compliment but it so is not.

And… Shea and Schlosberg are from my neck of the woods! Shea is a Portland, Ore. writer and Schlosberg lives in Bend, Oregon. Hiii! (That’s me waving from North Portland.) (Not North Bend. That’s a different place entirely.)

“Mommy Calls Me Monkeypants” is a sweet little board book written by J.D. Lester, with illustrations by Hiroe Nakata (Random House, $8, unpaged). Well, it’s better than being called a monkey’s uncle, I suppose.

Monkey, peacock, horsey and ladybug babies play and cavort with their mommies. Your littles will love it.

Vicky Ceelen’s photos in “Baby Nose to Baby Toes” (Random House, $7, unpaged) are just arresting. Vivid, good movement, and you’re right — the top of that baby’s head really does look like the top of the fuzzy duckling’s head! Cute. How can you go wrong with puppies and babies, you just cannot.

But these pictures are a step above your typical board book pics of beach pails and smiley babies. Nice work — I’d love to see more of her stuff. Wait, here it is now!

Reviewed today:

“I believe I have no prejudices whatsoever. All I need to know is that a man is a member of the human race. That’s bad enough for me.” — Mark Twain, author and humorist (1835-1910)