The Film Club by David Gilmour
Synopsis: The true story of a father who lets his son drop out of high school--if he agreed to watch three movies a week with his father.
I enjoyed Gilmour's engaging writing style, and especially his humor throughout the book. It very much felt like I was sitting with him, listening to him tell his story. As a parent taking a non-traditional approach to educating my kids, I related to many of his feelings, worries about what would come of his decision to let his son leave high school. On the other hand, I don't feel like Gilmour was advocating his approach to be tried by others, or trying to tear down public education, or taking a political stand. He is just relating his experience with his son. It is amazing to see the quality of their relationship all because this father decided to take a real interest into his son and what he felt his son needed. This is especially true when contrasted with the father-teenage son relationships usually portayed by the media-- anger, frustration, rebelling, clashing against each other, etc. It was a quick read--I finished it in a day. Overall, I say thumbs up. As a warning there is profanity, and references to alcohol and sex, throughout this book.
Our {Wild & Crazy} Days ~ Making our days a part of your days!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Jolie's New Talent
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Jolie fit her entire fist into her mouth. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a picture--she's incredibly fast, but here are some different "almosts."
Nyah's Birthday
Nyah had a great birthday! She chose to go to McDonalds and had a great time (and ate some of her food). She came home with her Transformers toy and very happy. She picked a chocolate cake, with chocolate frosting and chocolate sprinkles. YUM!! She loved her presents and says
THANK YOU to everyone.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Saturday's Warrior
Because my husband didn't grow up in a LDS family he had never seen "Saturday's Warrior" and so I HAD to request it from Netflix and we watched it last night. Sort of. I'd forgotten about the sheer number of songs they sing so many of those we listened to in fast forward and I fell asleep for about 20-30 minutes in the middle and we had a few distractions (Olivia getting up from bed, taking care of Jolie, phone calls, Austin and Nyah, and so on).
He said, "It was corny at times, but overall had a good message."
At times???
Anyways, two questions he asked about it that I couldn't answer. Why is it called Saturday's Warrior? I have a feeling this may have been explained during the movie while I was sleeping or Kurt was on the phone or the other distractions I previously mentioned.
And the second question is about the Netflix description, which said that when it was first performed as a musical in the 70's the audiences found it "controversial" and Kurt wonders why. I don't know. I could guess-- a stay at home mom with 9 kids, one of the big issues focused on in the show, and it was the 70's after all. Or the audience was more a mix of non-LDS viewers so doctrinal things like pre-mortal life were controversial. Any other ideas?? (Besides hair do's and clothing, which were fashionable in the 80's when the movie was made.)
He said, "It was corny at times, but overall had a good message."
At times???
Anyways, two questions he asked about it that I couldn't answer. Why is it called Saturday's Warrior? I have a feeling this may have been explained during the movie while I was sleeping or Kurt was on the phone or the other distractions I previously mentioned.
And the second question is about the Netflix description, which said that when it was first performed as a musical in the 70's the audiences found it "controversial" and Kurt wonders why. I don't know. I could guess-- a stay at home mom with 9 kids, one of the big issues focused on in the show, and it was the 70's after all. Or the audience was more a mix of non-LDS viewers so doctrinal things like pre-mortal life were controversial. Any other ideas?? (Besides hair do's and clothing, which were fashionable in the 80's when the movie was made.)
Nightmares
Earlier this week I woke in the middle of the night after a bad dream. The dream involved Austin being lost while we were out shopping. The kids and I went to the bathroom and when we came out he wasn't with us. Then I stopped at the post office to buy stamps (???) before we tried to find him, so of course we couldn't find him. Then I woke up. To make matters worse, my husband was out of town so I didn't have anyone to snuggle with or comfort me. So I made the rounds to check all the doors and all my kids beds to tuck their blankets around them, give them a kiss, and of course make sure they were still there. I hate the feelings of helplessness and stress and worry nightmares like this stir up inside.
So last night when Nyah came in our bedroom in the middle of the night after a bad dream I felt far more sympathetic about it than I have in the past. Usually I escort her (or whoever) back to their beds. She didn't want to tell me about it, so the theory of "talking about it" to help her feel better went out the window. Kurt told her to go back to her bed, instead I grabbed a sleeping bag and she climbed in. She went to sleep without another thought about her nightmare. Sometimes its nice to know that being her Mom, and being within reach, is all it takes.
So last night when Nyah came in our bedroom in the middle of the night after a bad dream I felt far more sympathetic about it than I have in the past. Usually I escort her (or whoever) back to their beds. She didn't want to tell me about it, so the theory of "talking about it" to help her feel better went out the window. Kurt told her to go back to her bed, instead I grabbed a sleeping bag and she climbed in. She went to sleep without another thought about her nightmare. Sometimes its nice to know that being her Mom, and being within reach, is all it takes.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Bucket List
Having just watched "The Bucket List" and following the lead of my sister, Jesse, I decided to create my own Kick the Bucket List. It will be a work in progress as I've never really thought about this before.
Sooo.....
1. Raise my kids into good adults--- a very broad idea I know, but mostly I want them to be happy and not end up in trouble, like drugs or jail.
2. Climb to the Base Camp of Mt. Everest--- No, I don't want to climb to the top. From what I read its colder than I ever want to be, more dangerous than I ever want to risk, and I'd have to be more physically fit than I'd ever want to spend time becoming.
3. Participate in a marathon--- Just so I can say I did.
4. Participate in a triathlon--- Not just so I can say I did. These actually appeal to me so I'd like to do more than one. Nothing as long or strenuous as an Ironman, but something on a local level.
5. Write a book--- What kind? Children's lit, novel, non-fiction- something someday.
Well, that's a start.
Sooo.....
1. Raise my kids into good adults--- a very broad idea I know, but mostly I want them to be happy and not end up in trouble, like drugs or jail.
2. Climb to the Base Camp of Mt. Everest--- No, I don't want to climb to the top. From what I read its colder than I ever want to be, more dangerous than I ever want to risk, and I'd have to be more physically fit than I'd ever want to spend time becoming.
3. Participate in a marathon--- Just so I can say I did.
4. Participate in a triathlon--- Not just so I can say I did. These actually appeal to me so I'd like to do more than one. Nothing as long or strenuous as an Ironman, but something on a local level.
5. Write a book--- What kind? Children's lit, novel, non-fiction- something someday.
Well, that's a start.
A Treasury of Foolishly Forgotten Americans
A Treasury of Foolishly Forgotten Americans: Pirates, Skinflints, Patriots, and Other Colorful characters Stuck in the Footnotes of History
by Michael Farquhar
I learned about this book on and NPR (National Public Radio) interview with the author. This book covers 30 men and women who made a mark on American history, but are forgotten--thus the title. Some of them I have heard of, such as Anne Bonny, female pirate of the Carribean. I enjoyed her chapter the best, even though I'm familiar with her due to my kid's interest in pirates. Though this book certainly adds details to her life not found in the children's books we've read together, and for good reason. Though born to a wealthy plantation owner , she'd much rather be a pirate than attend balls or other such proper social activity of her time. She's wild. "If you'd fought like a man, you wouldn't be hanged like a dog" is her fairwell to her pirate lover before his hanging. I love it.
Others in the book were interesting and appalling at the same time, such as Gaston B. Means, who is horribly MEAN. Fittingly called a scoundrel, he murders a woman by shooting her in the back of the head and claiming she shot herseld, and then fakes a second will to try to get her fortune, and that's just the beginning. What eventually lands him in jail (FINALLY!!), is the swindle he invented to make money from the Charles Lindbergh baby kidnapping by leading people to believe he is in contact with the kidnappers and he can have the baby safely delivered for $100,000, and then $35,ooo more, and then . . . . Yuck.
Others were more than just a little boring, like Alexander "Boss" Shepherd who made Washington DC beautiful. Not surprising he's forgotten. Good work I'm sure, but not my cup of tea.
Others a little crazy, like John Ledyard who attempted to walk around the world. Why? Yeah I don't know. He liked to be starving, cold, lost, and unsuccessful? Hmm. A glorified version of adventure? You would think he'd get the picture, but he kept going.
Overall, the book gets a thumbs up. I enjoyed most of it and I'm intersted in reading some of Farquhar's other books such as "A Treasury of Royal Scandals" and "A Treasury of Great American Scandals."
by Michael Farquhar
I learned about this book on and NPR (National Public Radio) interview with the author. This book covers 30 men and women who made a mark on American history, but are forgotten--thus the title. Some of them I have heard of, such as Anne Bonny, female pirate of the Carribean. I enjoyed her chapter the best, even though I'm familiar with her due to my kid's interest in pirates. Though this book certainly adds details to her life not found in the children's books we've read together, and for good reason. Though born to a wealthy plantation owner , she'd much rather be a pirate than attend balls or other such proper social activity of her time. She's wild. "If you'd fought like a man, you wouldn't be hanged like a dog" is her fairwell to her pirate lover before his hanging. I love it.
Others in the book were interesting and appalling at the same time, such as Gaston B. Means, who is horribly MEAN. Fittingly called a scoundrel, he murders a woman by shooting her in the back of the head and claiming she shot herseld, and then fakes a second will to try to get her fortune, and that's just the beginning. What eventually lands him in jail (FINALLY!!), is the swindle he invented to make money from the Charles Lindbergh baby kidnapping by leading people to believe he is in contact with the kidnappers and he can have the baby safely delivered for $100,000, and then $35,ooo more, and then . . . . Yuck.
Others were more than just a little boring, like Alexander "Boss" Shepherd who made Washington DC beautiful. Not surprising he's forgotten. Good work I'm sure, but not my cup of tea.
Others a little crazy, like John Ledyard who attempted to walk around the world. Why? Yeah I don't know. He liked to be starving, cold, lost, and unsuccessful? Hmm. A glorified version of adventure? You would think he'd get the picture, but he kept going.
Overall, the book gets a thumbs up. I enjoyed most of it and I'm intersted in reading some of Farquhar's other books such as "A Treasury of Royal Scandals" and "A Treasury of Great American Scandals."
Richards Family July
True to our family's nature, Kurt is in Montreal, Canada, for a few days while the kids and I are hanging out at home. At this moment, Austin is playing Super Mario Karts on Wii while Nyah watches in her swimsuit from slipping and sliding outside. She's still wet. Olivia is wandering around our family room alternating between playing with toys and giving "loves" to Jolie, who is sitting with me. I use the term "loves" loosely as others may think more along the lines of "attacks" but I know Olivia means "loves." Intestingly enough, and probably not for all you readers out there, Jolie's diaper just leaked all over my lap. Its a sad homage to this phase of my life, and likely my fault, as I'm waiting to buy the bigger diaper size when I can use a coupon at Costco that doesn't start until the 17th. All you diaper using people out there know what I'm talking about. Besides, on the upside Jolie is also snuggling and falling asleep on my lap and sweet, coooing, sleeping babies totally beat a leaky diaper. Well, maybe not. Probably not. Better take care of that.
Here are some pictures of our month so far:
Here are some pictures of our month so far:
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