Claudia in the pool 

Jorja with flag 

We learned something about our little camera. Do not take low rez photos. They are REALLY low rez. 

Psychic Readings--Really Cheap

As I predicted earlier this week, Claudia moved up in the swim classes. Today she is swimming from side to side and even made a friend. Garrett got his hair wet (yeah!) and even swam underwater to retrieve a red Starburst fruit chew.

As my predictions are quite accurate, I am not offering my services as a psychic. For $30 I will tell you what I think for 30 minutes. Is that a deal or what?

Not a successful day of shooting, but you can see both kids and their friend Jason (center) in this photo. 

Yes, he got in the pool, but he still didn't get his hair wet. As I expected, Claudia will be moving to the next (and last) level tomorrow 

pensive kitty. Alice is an indoor kitty, which appears to go against her wild West Virginia ways. She frequently can be found at either sliding glass door psychically hunting the cardinals who monopolize the deck.  

glamour kitty. here Alice is posing for Garrett. It was a swiftly moving photo shoot. The photographer got a little ahead of himself--thus, the blurry photos. 

Construction site kitty by Garrett. Garrett was on assignment this morning in the basement. His job: to capture Alice (the kitty formerly known as Muffin) on film. Here we find Alice amid the construction. Art is framing (and framing and framing) the basement. He assures us that Alice doesn't mind the banging. We suspect otherwise. 

Timeless Dove

Have I mentioned lately how much I love this book? It has been almost 20 years, but it is still my favorite. I am thinking about rereading it this summer. Agent Orange and I have been watching the mini-series (thanks to Netflix). I've read all the Lonesome Dove books, but this one is still the best. Agent Orange (Andrew) just finished it this spring so it is especially nice to watch the mini-series with someone who knows the text. And the horses' names. 

Pool Daze

Claudia by Garrett--The kids had their first swimming lesson today at the pool. Garrett somehow managed to NOT get his hair wet. Claudia was immediately moved to level 3 because of her willingness to swim underwater and doggie paddle. There is one more level (before swim team) and that involves stroke development. I suspect she will be in that class by the end of the week. 

Wet Towel by Garrett 

Sideburn Run Pool by Garrett 

The photographer pre-shoot 

Photographer in the Making?

This photo was taken by Garrett with his brand new digital camera. It was quite inexpensive ($20), but I like the soft focus effect and the moodiness of the lighting. It doesn't have a flash and just deals with it in low light situations. For those of you who can't tell, this is Colleen at the sink in the kitchen.  

The Grass Is Always Greener

Garrett's photograph. Taken with his new digital camera.I have no idea what it is, but it was taken outside. Notice the reflection of the yard in the glass. Very complex subject matter. Perhaps a little too abstract for my tastes, but it is growing on me.  

Just When You Thought It Was Safe to Go Back in the Water

Garrett is having a pool party tomorrow to celebrate his birthday, which was June 6. Are we ready for 6 five-year-old boys? Hmmm, hard to say... we will keep you posted.

Yes, the digital camera can take photos. We are now online so let's take some good ones. 

Need a Ride to the Hospital?

Andrew is your man. He just completed his certification as an ambulance driver. Now he can drive fast...legally. 

Setting Free the Toads

Our little tadpoles are maturing at a fast rate. Two were set free yesterday. Claudia, Garrett, and I set free another two this a.m. Thomas, the other tadpole keeper, reported to us yesterday that all eight of his 'poles were now toads. They were still trying to figure out what to feed them. I say: Set them free. I've got enough people (and one cat) in the house to feed. The toads can catched their own dinner. They are the tiniest things you've ever seen. No bigger than a pinkie fingernail.

Got Frogs?

One of our tadpoles is now a real frog (well, they are actually toads). We are watching the others closely. The tadpoles that came with the container (Planet Frog) arrived over the weekend. There is no room for them so we bought them their own container.

Claudia Graduates!

After several tries, I am still not able to upload the picture of the birthday boy. I have no idea why. Claudia graduated on Friday and even wore a cap and gown. Her teacher said she is certain she will be the first woman president one day.

Guess Who Is 5

Here is Garrett performing in a school show. They sang Bingo and he did just great. He celebrated his birthday this week with pizza and an ice cream cake. He got a digital camera and a fishing rod. 

Somewhere Under the Rainbow

This is the full painting. Claudia is in the lower left hand corner. 

A Detail from The Bunnies Painting

This is the Claudia detail from the painting of The Bunnies. This painting was done by Claudia's kindergarten class for the school's silent auction.  

AKA Agent Orange

Andrew is home from Virginia Tech and is eating us out of house and home. I thought I went to the grocery store a lot before...this is a whole new experience. He will be an assistant manager at a pool in Centreville this summer (Saturday is D Day--the swimmers will descend whether the weather cooperates or not). He is also taking the EMT Basic class three days a week. None of this cuts into his meals, in case you were worried about that. All this has earned him a new nickname: Agent Orange. Once he arrives, the cupboards are bare.

Setting free the snake... We set free the snake on Sunday (this is not him--it just looks like him). He was a Northern Ringneck and wasn't very friendly. We took him to Burke Lake and wished him well. 

Tadpoles R Us

We have more tadpoles than we know what to do with. It all began with a leisurely walk past a puddle in the neighborhood. We discovered frog eggs (well, actually they were toad eggs as Claudia's teacher soon explained the difference to us--frog is a clutter, toads in a strand)in the puddle. The kids went back with Art and the wagon--and came home with two containers of toad eggs.

Claudia took some to school, which her class is enjoying raising. We kept the others at home. Tomorrow we take them in to share them with Garrett's class for the week. He took them for show-n-tell on Thursday, which caused some pain and heartache. One mom pulled me aside and said. My son begged me to call you last night and find out where you got the tadpoles. We will be giving that angst-ridden boy some 'poles this week. We've got so many they will soon outgrow their Frog Planet plastic container.

Tonight we run to Petco for a container for the snake. More on that later.

That's Much Better

I took the little book quiz again. It has different questions this time. I much prefer the results.

You're To Kill a Mockingbird!

by Harper Lee

Perceived as a revolutionary and groundbreaking person, you have
changed the minds of many people. While questioning the authority around you, you've
also taken a significant amount of flack. But you've had the admirable guts to
persevere. There's a weird guy in the neighborhood using dubious means to protect you,
but you're pretty sure it's worth it in the end. In the end, it remains unclear to you
whether finches and mockingbirds get along in real life.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

You're Waiting for Godot!

by Samuel Beckett

Many people think you're extremely dull, but you're just trying to
patient. Really patient. Patient to the point of absurdity, quite frankly. Whatever
you're waiting for isn't going to just come along, so you can stop waiting. I promise.
Move on with your life. Change of scenery might do you good. Heck, any scenery might
do you good. In the meantime, you do make for very interesting conversation.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

A Man with a Mission

I had to run out about 6 p.m. or so last night to get another hanging flower pot for the front porch. I had purchased three Sunday morning, but Art needed symmetry. Three just wasn't working for him. I'll bet he even measured the distances between the pots. He didn't get agitated about it, but was pretty "focused" on all afternoon. Thank God they were still open.

The Rich Kids making Easter eggs. Garrett's eggs are always green. No surprise there! 

Meet Muffin, the newest member of our family. Those are Claudia's legs. She really loves Claudia 

I Feel Like Roger Ebert

The sun is shining. The birds are singing. Finally, a decent day after something like six inches of rain.

This weekend one of my friends asked me to recommend some movies and books for her. I've started with the movies. Here is my list based on my mood today.

Ray
We just watched Ray, which is far too long but a good movie. I think I am going to get a CD of his music now. Very remarkable--and he did most of the really memorable stuff before we were born.

Lost in Translation
The film is a little quirky but Bill Murray is amazing. I really enjoyed it although it clarified for me that I have NO desire to visit Japan. If you get the DVD, there are some other things on it worth watching like the behind the scenes stuff. There is a scene where Murray is using a book of pick up lines in Japanese that is hysterical. I wished he worked here.

The Station Agent
Another quirky little film but great, particularly because of Patricia Clarkson.

Pieces of April
An Indie film that is one of my favorites. It is short too, which I love. Again--Patricia Clarkson. She plays the mom and was nominated for an Academy Award for it. She's amazing.

Road to Perdition
Nobody ever talks about this film, but it was nominated for a lot of awards. Beautifully shot. the violence is controlled (thanks goodness). And the story is partly from a boy's point of view. not your typical gangster movie.

American Beauty
By the director of Road to Perdition. Won Best Picture. Disturbing in places and hilarious in other places, especially when Spacey's character starts getting fed up with his uptight realtor wife.

Election
A dark comedy with Reese Witherspoon in a very different kind of role for her. It takes place during a high school election. Matthew Broderick plays this nerdy civics teacher whose life is falling apart.

About Schmidt
Jack Nicholson is hilarious in this one as this bewildered widower who is trying to reconnect with his daughter and make a life for himself. Some nudity--both Nicholson and Kathy Bates. Now that was a surprise.

Catch Me If You Can
Another movie that is too long, but since it is based on a true story, it is fascinating. Both Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio are great.

Napoleon Dynamite
This has gotten mixed reviews. One of my coworkers didn't really like it, the other says her family has been quoting the movie. I think it has something to do with having kids or really remembering high school. I almost feel off the sofa laughing. Napoleon reminds me so much of Garrett. Fortunately Garrett is four and still has time to pull it together before high school.

Wow. I feel like Roger Ebert!

Finding Poetry

We have been finding poetry here at George Mason University. The goal of the found poetry workshops we've been having in the Creative Services Office has been to find the poetry in the Mason Publications. We have been having great fun cutting up the View Book, the catalog, the Mason Spirit, and the others pubs.

There have been a few gems so far. Behold:

Quality of Work Life

Overall
life is good
A significant percentage agree
however, the entire sample
rate their Lack of parking
as not very high
and do imply that satisfaction
is a work from home

not knowing exactly what

Can you imagine the latest test results
it is hard to anticipate
the truth
But that's okay.
we are committed to
what the world will look like

One things we've found is that we use the same words over and over (and over) again in the publications.

Our lexicon is lacking.

A Rose by any other name

We finally have a kitty. After years (literally) of asking, Arthur relented and Claudia got her cat on Saturday night. We adopted her from Fancy Cats Rescue Team and she is about 9 months. She is pretty calm and very curious. She is still getting used to us (well, Garrett). No photos yet, but she is a light tabby. And as yet unnamed. Stay tuned.

On (or near) the Trail

Here we are at Windy Rock down near Blacksburg, Virginia. This is the closest I've ever been to the App. Trail. 

So Many Friends Publishing Books...So Little Time

I have discovered yet another person I know who has published a book. This time a book of poetry. It is a former creative writing professor of mine from VCU. She was very supportive and urged me to go on to get my MFA. Here it is on Amazon. I've ordered it, but it hasn't arrived yet.

An Artist's Book

Southern by Colleen Kearney Rich 

My Precious Little Book

This is an attempt to immortalize my little artist's book, Southern, which was lost a year ago after being exhibited in a show. It is a good reminder to document your work--take a photo of it, print it out and file it... do something so you will have something to remember. I am in the process of remaking this little gem. The text needs to be totally rewritten. The files are gone, but the photo remains.

New Year's Resolutions, Anyone?

I feel so badly that I haven't updated this poor blog. It is very sad. I promise to do better in 2005. Andrew leaves today to return to Blacksburg--or so we think. And already the birthday parties have begun. Garrett has one this weekend.

According to my book log, I read 50 books in 2004. Now remember I only count the books that I finished. The five on my night stand that are half-read are still awaiting their opportunity to be immortalized on the list.