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3 years ago
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Sleep-over!
"A sleepover, also known as a pajama party or a slumber party (or less commonly, a snoozer), is a party where a guest or guests are invited to stay overnight" --from Wikipedia
About a year ago, my now-five-year-old great-niece, Carolina, asked if she could "spend the night" at my house. So our tradition began.
As a childless woman, I was rather clueless as to what I should do to entertain her. Not to worry. Carolina is a leader, and lead me she did! But first, there are two things she must do before beginning our activities together. One: she must find all of my three cats and play with each of them. (However, she is on to Mizu, the hider, the shy, scaredy-cat, whom she rarely sees.) Both Molly and Mattie will let her pet them and play with their toys.
An amusing question Carolina asked was this: "Why won't they run after the toy and get it?" Yeah, imagine a cat running and fetching?! That's why we have dogs!
I tried to explain this, but Carolina, not familiar with either dogs or cats (except through me and cats, and neighbors and dogs) didn't quite understand that cats simply do NOT chase after anything unless it is alive and they are on the "hunt"!!
Two nights ago she came for another overnight visit. I particularly wanted her away from the others. Her "daddy" had just kicked out her mother and two daughters from "his" trailer (a term with negative connotations). He called the police because my niece (Carolina's mother) would not leave. (Much later she found out that it was legally her domicile, too, because she had been living there for longer than a month--no, I won't go into the fairness principle at this point).
The truly maddening point was that the deputies almost made Tracy leave without the girls because Gary had convinced them that he was the sole contributer of support, that he had the girls the four months Tracy was in jail (another horrible story concerning this woman), that he bought every thing in his trailer, including their clothes and Christmas gifts. The truth is that he has spent less than $100 total (I'm being VERY generous with this figure) in their five-year and two-year lives. All the clothes and gifts for the girls came strictly from Tracy's family (the grandparents, great-grandmother, their other Aunt Judy, and me). He has never paid one penny of child support and has threatened Tracy if she ever files for it.
He kept the girls one week while Tracy was in jail then handed them over to the grandparents who had had them since their births. He could not cope with working and caring for two girls. HOWEVER! He didn't. He brought in his other girlfriend to take care of them. He even made them call her Mommy.
Another stinking fact about these people is that every year he gets full tax benefit for at least one of the girls (never a penny in child support and only occasion stays in his trailer because he and Tracy ALWAYS resort to screaming and cursing matches, resulting in the rejection of all three. While there, she buys the food with her Food Stamps. (No, of course not, she does not work!) YET the law was going to give the girls to him. What they did do was allow Tracy to take one outfit and one toy each from that trailer!!!!! No wonder people disobey laws!!
Here I am, paying Carolina's tuition to a private school and for her sister. I could have bought a new car for what I've put into their education. Gary gets money for nothing and Tracy doesn't work. Hmmmm.
He kept the girls one week while Tracy was in jail then handed them over to the grandparents who had had them since their births. He could not cope with working and caring for two girls. HOWEVER! He didn't. He brought in his other girlfriend to take care of them. He even made them call her Mommy.
Another stinking fact about these people is that every year he gets full tax benefit for at least one of the girls (never a penny in child support and only occasion stays in his trailer because he and Tracy ALWAYS resort to screaming and cursing matches, resulting in the rejection of all three. While there, she buys the food with her Food Stamps. (No, of course not, she does not work!) YET the law was going to give the girls to him. What they did do was allow Tracy to take one outfit and one toy each from that trailer!!!!! No wonder people disobey laws!!
Here I am, paying Carolina's tuition to a private school and for her sister. I could have bought a new car for what I've put into their education. Gary gets money for nothing and Tracy doesn't work. Hmmmm.
So much for back story. I really wanted to get that out of my system. My point is that, when Carolina came to spend the night, she didn't have pajamas. I had bought her a nightgown for just such an occasion. However, I thought her legs might get cold, so I found a pair of my pajamas, cut off the legs to fit her, then sewed down the sides for a make-shift fit. Lastly, I found her a pair of socks to keep her feet warm. Those in the picture we finally discarded and found a pair of those warm fuzzy ones. She wanted to show her Mammaw how she looked, thus the pictures.
The second thing Carolina does is play my piano. The amazing thing is that she doesn't pound on the keys--she actually makes pleasant sounds (mostly).
Because it was almost her bedtime at that point, we gathered up a few books, piled into bed, and I read ALL of them! I don't think her mother reads to her. First, we read "Nini, Here and There," the story of a cat who gets to go on vacation with the family. When he is released outside, the reader is basically standing on the porch with Nini and we see the same view he does. It is a gorgeous opening into a field. It is beautiful! Carolina exclaimed, "I wish I lived in a place like that!"
Next came "Rumpelstiltskin," that perennial classic and Caldecott Honor Book, retold by Paul O. Zelinsky. That was a winner! Carolina was so concerned that the queen would lose her baby.
I picked "The Shelf Elf," which we had read before. She loves picking out all the various things that come alive at night when there are no humans in the library, much like "Night at the Museum."
All this time, her eyes began blinking and getting heavier. I'm surprised she made it all the way through the four books after the emotional turmoil she had been through. The last one was "Action Jackson," a children's book about Jackson Pollock and his painting style. By this time Carolina was fully reclined in bed. Surprise! Toward the end there is one of Pollock's famous paintings, "Lavender Mist," one of my favorite paintings. Her comment: "That's beautiful!"
Then, konk! She was out!
More to come....
Because it was almost her bedtime at that point, we gathered up a few books, piled into bed, and I read ALL of them! I don't think her mother reads to her. First, we read "Nini, Here and There," the story of a cat who gets to go on vacation with the family. When he is released outside, the reader is basically standing on the porch with Nini and we see the same view he does. It is a gorgeous opening into a field. It is beautiful! Carolina exclaimed, "I wish I lived in a place like that!"
Next came "Rumpelstiltskin," that perennial classic and Caldecott Honor Book, retold by Paul O. Zelinsky. That was a winner! Carolina was so concerned that the queen would lose her baby.
I picked "The Shelf Elf," which we had read before. She loves picking out all the various things that come alive at night when there are no humans in the library, much like "Night at the Museum."
All this time, her eyes began blinking and getting heavier. I'm surprised she made it all the way through the four books after the emotional turmoil she had been through. The last one was "Action Jackson," a children's book about Jackson Pollock and his painting style. By this time Carolina was fully reclined in bed. Surprise! Toward the end there is one of Pollock's famous paintings, "Lavender Mist," one of my favorite paintings. Her comment: "That's beautiful!"
Then, konk! She was out!
More to come....
Friday, January 1, 2010
Linda
Linda is a special person who cares fiercely about her family and friends. She is one of those people who make friends for life.
I'm wishing her the best year of her life for the coming New Year and her next year of life. After eight years of separation, she and Doug are finally getting a divorce. He found another woman he wants to marry. I hope that woman knows what she's getting into, but, of course, she doesn't or she would not marry him!
Anyway, Happy Birthday, Linda!!
New Year's Eve
So, what did you do exciting this New Year's Eve? Dance? Drink? Watch movies with family? Pop popcorn? Play games? Sip wine by a cheery fire?
I? Why, none of those things. I took my great-niece and great-nephew to eat pizza. As children are wont to do, they skipped off to play games in the game room, while I finished eating. I expected it, but still didn't like sitting there alone, eating. It was OK because I people-watch any way. I am amazed at how international Shreveport is becoming. Spanish/Mexican is common, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Arabic, and tonight I heard French in the pizzaria. French is quite uncommon.
After dropping them off at the grandparents, I went home, opened a bottle of sparkling wine from California, cracked pecans and watched CSI and The Mentalist, both reruns. Decluttered. Ran around on the social networks on my computer. My, what an interesting life I lead! But I am not bored!
I'm going to bed on this first day of the new decade to read--I always read before sleep. Currently, it's an Amazon Vine book called "O Juliet," which I am enjoying.
Ah, such sweet sorrow, but I will see you in the morrow (or something like that). I wish you a properous New Year. May your special prayer be answered!
I? Why, none of those things. I took my great-niece and great-nephew to eat pizza. As children are wont to do, they skipped off to play games in the game room, while I finished eating. I expected it, but still didn't like sitting there alone, eating. It was OK because I people-watch any way. I am amazed at how international Shreveport is becoming. Spanish/Mexican is common, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Arabic, and tonight I heard French in the pizzaria. French is quite uncommon.
After dropping them off at the grandparents, I went home, opened a bottle of sparkling wine from California, cracked pecans and watched CSI and The Mentalist, both reruns. Decluttered. Ran around on the social networks on my computer. My, what an interesting life I lead! But I am not bored!
I'm going to bed on this first day of the new decade to read--I always read before sleep. Currently, it's an Amazon Vine book called "O Juliet," which I am enjoying.
Ah, such sweet sorrow, but I will see you in the morrow (or something like that). I wish you a properous New Year. May your special prayer be answered!
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