Table for Eight

Dawn, circa 1970. PS: Does anyone crochet anymore? Man, I like that sweater/dress. Last week I was thinking a lot. About my life. That's common thing with me. I think (ha ha ha) it's something I do part out of habit (reviewing life is like chasing a tennis ball for my brain--just something to do) and part because I want to improve my life (and ultimately be a better version of myself). Anyway, for some reason, this particular string of thinking had me down. I think I'd started out making "The Inventory of My Assets" that Christopher Reeves discussed, but somewhere in the middle, that list turned into "The Inventory of All The Stupid and Ridiculous Things I've Done Over The Years." You know, things that someone my age shouldn't do. (Get a spray-on-tan.) Things that someone with my experience/education/support/training shouldn't do. (Forget to balance their bank account.) Those kind of things. Now, this is something I

"Let's see: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 . . . ." Last month I was reading a book about Christopher Reeves ( Superman) and the accident that left him a quadriplegic. And something he/Reeves says in the book just hit me "like a ton of bricks." I've been thinking about it so much lately. In the book, the author asks Reeves (and I'm paraphrasing), "How do you stay positive in the face of this tragic accident?" And Reeves' reply is so profound. He said (and I'm paraphrasing): " I take inventory of my assets . If I look at what I have lost, or don't have, then I am definitely depressed. But when I realize all that I do have, I am hopeful and grateful." (In his inventory of assets, Reeves said he was thankful for a fully-functioning brain. He said many people with injuries of his extent also have damage to their mental faculties.) Is that The Lesson of a Lifetime or what? I don't know about you, but when I am lazy--and n

I love hearing about ways to do better, live better, give better. Because I think there's something SO fulfilling and exciting about growing and changing. I like the movement. The change in perspective. It's exciting to me. And one of the things I love most about the internet is having this amazing opportunity to learn from other people--because the internet makes it so easy to share ideas. So today I thought I would share two ideas I learned about this week. I think they are pretty awesome. And they both have to do with journals and writing. LOVE THAT IDEA: #1 1. A Kiddo Journal (idea by Janae and her mom, Louise). When Janae was a kiddo, her mom encouraged her to keep a journal. When I told Janae that I didn't remember keeping a journal--or wanting to--until I was a parent, she said, "Oh, my mom made it easy." And then Janae actually showed me one of her kid-Janae journals! So here's the idea: Louise (Janae's mom) gave kid-Janae a spir

Even though part of learning 24/7 is free from actual "subject" headings (for us), I do try to schedule time for specific activities like science experiments and outside activities (aka "field trips"). And I have to tell you, I never liked science when I was in school. (I think it had something to do with the awkward health units in 5th and 7th grades. But that's another story.) BUT . . . science ROCKS! Here's our hands-on-activity for yesterday's science lesson on EXOTHERMIC REACTIONS (Sometimes called "Elephant's Toothpaste.") It was so awesome, we did it again when Dave came home! Jr wears safety goggles (okay, Speedo swimming goggles) to add some of the materials. We usually take turns reading the experiment/running the experiment--and I supervise. (Like when we are pouring peroxide in the "lab.") Isn't that the way it goes: everyone else has their goggles in place, but you get the goggles that a