Finn normally has music on as he goes to sleep but tonight I gave him a choice of music or his newly created CD of Thomas stories. I figured that even if he didn’t go to sleep it only went for forty minutes and then we could swap back to music.
What I didn’t account for was him sitting on the floor listening and then starting the CD again at the end. I was not all that popular when I removed this disc and put music on.
Still, you live and learn. It’s just that I learn slowly.
Lesson for the day - it seems Thomas is not about relaxing.
This absolute gem is tucked away as a B-side on the single for an album called Happy New Year (which was never included on an album itself). It’s a slow and gentle walk through the pleasure and beauty of a day. The music is both languid and lush. I don’t even know how you’d go about getting this song but if you ever get the chance you should.
When we were at Borders today I saw a Thomas talking book which I am sure Finn would have loved. Rather than buy it for him I figured I could make him a CD of my reading him some Thomas stories which might be good for him to listen to in his room for some quiet time.
So this evening I recorded nine of the little books. Together they do for about forty minutes which is a good start for this little project. I’d really like it to go for more like seventy so that Nicky might be able to have a sleep while Finn overdoses on Thomas stories.
But for tonight those nine stories will have to do. I was getting both tongue-tied and utterly sick of tales of chatty and pompous engines.
Lesson for the day - there may never be enough Thomas for a little boy but this big boy has reached his limit for the night.
I do try to be a reasonable human being. Although I don’t have some dark past to atone for I just figure it’s not too much to ask of anyone. I especially want to be kind to Nicky, Leila and Finn because I think your family should be people who treat you with tenderness whenever possible.
So I don’t like it when I become grumpy and nasty Mark. It doesn’t result in biting the heads of parakeets or becoming a Tory but all the same I don’t like it when stuff gets to be to the point where I become bitter and blunt.
Of course I will be back to my marshmallow self tomorrow. I just wish I had been today.
Until last night’s Scrabble game I thought Acme was just a generic company name most often seen in Road Runner. However, much like the Coyote, I am quite slow.
What I learned was that acme means the best of something. Like zenith I guess. While I’m on the topic my Acme Thunderer whistle is very good indeed. While on yard duty the other day I used it to stop a hundred or so students who imagined they were all about to watch a fight. A couple of quick burst on the Acme Thunderer and some pointed questions slowed then dispersed the swarm.
Emmanuel Succhini Senior, the Human Cannonball
Died in Sarasota Monday, eight-four was all.
From Italy in thirty four John Ringling brought him here
A broken neck in fifty-one ended his career.
While I certainly consider myself to be a Loudon Wainwright III fan I suffer no delusion that every single of album of his is a masterpiece. Having said that his album Grown Man deserved this title.
Even on such a strong album Human Cannonball stands out. It is celebratory yet wistful. In the liner notes there is a copy of the newspaper article that Loudon based the song on. It’s a really short piece yet the old Loudo doesn’t waste a snippet of information and created this terrific tribute.
he died on Monday where he lived
It happens to us all
shot through the air expecting nets
flight and then a fall
On Wednesday night Nicky and I had a very minor misunderstanding and I woke up on entirely the wrong side of the bed come Thursday morning.
Normally I pretty good about getting out on the right side but when I don’t I don’t. And I am discovering that most of what you find in the classroom is what you bring with you.
Yesterday I brought little storm clouds with me so the day was grumpy and unsettled for me and my classes. Today however I was back on track and the day was a lot more fun. A couple of my classes really surprised me by doing some really good work which also helps my mood.
Lesson for the day - “start in the way that you want to go on” - Crowded House.
Recent Bananas