Two Links

My essay about taking Andrew on college tours in online at http://www.literarymama.com/creativenonfiction/archives/001826.html

My story about the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad is also available online with some great photos at http://www.vtmagazine.vt.edu/fall07/feature3.html

Each year my reading list gets a little shorter. It never does truly reflect the amount of reading I do in a year. Each night, seven days a week, Garrett and I read from a chapter book. This year we have worked our way through most of the Judy Blume book (the Fudge books are our favorites) and Beverly Cleary (Ramona is great, but Socks is a special treat). We have finished all of the Magic Treehouse and Judy Moody books currently in print.

Of the following list, my top five for 2007 would be:
The Road
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (of course)
The Dead Fathers Club
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
The History of Love

Not to be missed are the short story collections:
Interpreter of Maladies and 20th Century Ghosts

Still to be read is Richard Russo's new book. I think I am 157 on the library waiting list.

2007 Reading List
January
Old School by Tobias Wolff
One More Day by Mitch Albom
Ice Storm by Rick Moody
Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst
February
Midwives by Chris Bohjalian
Uses of Enchantment by Heidi Julavits
Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
March
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
All Saints by Liam Callanan
Persuasion by Jane Austen
April
Dead Father’s Club by Matt Haig
Mockingbird
May
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff
Grayson by Lynn Cox
June
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
The Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum
Grass Angel by Julie Schumacher
Warm Springs by Susan Shreve
July
Kiss Me Tomorrow by Susan Shreve
Stealing Buddha’s Dinner
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
August
The Last Family in England by Matt Haig
Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis
September
Break No Bones by Kathy Reichs
Eat Love Pray
The History of Love
Julie/Julia by Julie Powell
The Keep by Jennifer Egan
October
The Intrepreter of Maladies
November
Scout’s Honor
Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Pleasing the Ghost by Sharon Creech
December
Moral Disorder by Margaret Atwood
20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill

All Stars

Registration: $30
Hooded All Star Sweatshirt She Had to Have: $30
All Star Soccer Ball She Had to Have: $20
Getting up for an 8:30 game in 30-degree weather: Don't ask
Watching your daughter play in her first all-star soccer tournament: Priceless

Woo Hoo

We are graduating from Virginia Tech in December. Well, not we exactly, but Andrew. And no, I am not a helicopter parent, but sometimes it really does feel like it takes a village and the GNP of said village to get a person graduated. Andrew got his cap and gown today. Getting ready to celebrate...oh, and drive to soccer practice.

Update from the Rich Ranch

Claudia has a new bigger, better bicycle, which she rides almost every day. Garrett still has on his training wheels, which he refuses to let anyone remove, and he is somehow not embarrassed to drive around the neighborhood with them.

Andrew is logging volunteer hours at the Roanoke Memorial Hospital. He spent almost all day there on Columbus Day and said it was "awesome."

Soccer is still in high gear and we have yet to remember to bring a ball to practice. Isn't that sad? It says so much about the mental health of the mother.

If You Give a Boy a Toolbox...

If you give a little boy his own tool box, he is going to want to use it.
When he starts to use it, he is going to need things to use the tools on, including the screwdrivers.
To use the screwdriver, he will need to unscrew screws.
When he unscrews screws, they will fall out.
When they fall out, they will get lost.
After they get lost, you will continue to find them, even on the kitchen table, and not know which injured appliance or toy they go to.
But you will find them
and find them
and find them.

Accio, Book 7

I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at 1:03 a.m. on Wednesday, July 25. I then got to have lunch that day with two friends (who had finished on Sunday morning) to compare notes. A few of the things that I still wonder about:

Does having a portrait done make a wizard immortal? Because they definitely get to continue to participate in activities through the portraits. Hell, Sirius's mother is probably still wailing behind a curtain somewhere.

And where were Ron and Hermione when Harry kept looking for them at Hogwarts and no one knew where they had disappeared to. I kept expecting them to show up with Moaning Myrtle or something and her to hold the key to the Ravenclaw Diadem.

My favorite passage:
"I shall expect you and the Slytherins in the Great Hall in twenty minutes, also," said Professor McGonagall. "If you wish to leave with your students, we shall not stop you. But if any of you attempt to sabotage our resistace or take up arms against us within the castle, then, Horace, we duel to kill."

"Minerva!" he said, aghast.

Since we've hit the halfway point yearwise, I thought I would publish my books read to date. This list doesn't include many of the children's books I've read with Garrett. The latest is Socks by Beverly Cleary. Oh, if only there was a sequel!

2007 Reading List
January
Old School by Tobias Wolff
One More Day by Mitch Albom
Ice Storm by Rick Moody
Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst
February
Midwives by Chris Bohjalian
Uses of Enchantment by Heidi Julavits
Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
March
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
All Saints by Liam Callanan
Persuasion by Jane Austen
April
Dead Father’s Club by Matt Haig
Mockingbird
May
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff
Grayson by Lynn Cox
June
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
The Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum
Grass Angel by Julie Schumacher
Warm Springs by Susan Shreve
July
Kiss Me Tomorrow by Susan Shreve
Stealing Buddha’s Dinner
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

When You Coming Back, Chip?

Yes, Chip has run away. We had been warned about our newly adopted box turtle's tendency to roam by our cousins in Alaska, but since days had gone by and he hadn't made a break for it, we thought he liked the little habitat that Art created for him based on Garrett's drawings and specifications. Now we see that that was all a ruse. He was just waiting for us to let our guard down...thinking he was happy with his little pool and butter lettuce. What fools!, he must've been thinking, hunkered down in the leaves plotting his escape.

Another Trophy for the Riches

Claudia now also has a trophy--a soccer trophy. Claudia ended her season last week and did not go on to post-season play (thank goodness). Now we are just enjoying the pool.

Stop Those *&^%%# Hyphens!

For those of you who don't know, an adverb does not need to be hyphenated. Even if it is used in a compound adjective. Refrain. The next one I see may push me over the edge

Wrong

recently-appointed
highly-rated
jointly-written

Correct

recently appointed
highly rated
jointly written


Don't let it happen again.

O2B N OBX

We are in the Outer Banks. Southern Shores to be exact. It is 61 degrees and raining. Everyone seems to be holding up ok. I have a nice reisling, Australian I believe. Getting ready to open up some crackers and salmon. Art says "hey."

Today We Are All Hokies

That's My Boy

They just keep showing Andrew over and over again on MSNBC and NBC.

Andrew said he was taking an exam when the first shootings occurred and showed up at the rescue squad after the exam and was put to work. He handled a number of gunshot wounds Monday (his first), but no one critical. For a while he was the only EMT working the treatment area and got to triage the patients and decide who got on the ambulances in what order based on their injuries. He did go inside the Norris Hall, but fortunately, there were others available to help with that so he was able to return to the treatment area. He said it was "bad" inside the building.

Now he says it is just very quiet at the squad, and everyone is just trying to deal with it in their own way. He sounded good and doesn't think he know any of the victims.

We appreciate all the calls and emails.

Best, Colleen

Garrett and His Brother

Egg Hunting Olympics

I believe Claudia trains all year for the Easter egg hunting Olympics.

His First Trophy

Garrett got his first trophy ever today. At a karate tournament. He did really well.

How about a Little Comtemplation?

All the wallpaper is gone. Except for the stuff in the dining room, which Arthur is warming up to. I have new colors everywhere. Contemplation, Nurture, Calming Retreat, Edwardian Lace, Devonshire, Dew Drop... I can't wait for the painters to leave so I can get my house back and admire the walls.

Bowling Cuties

When the West Coast Riches were in town, we headed over to Bowl America. The kids did really well. Jorja was victorious in the second game.

Please, God, Let There Be School Again

We are on our fifth day of sledding. That's all the kids do. Even in the dark. There are socks strewn all over. I can't wait until Tuesday.

The Force Is With Him? We Hope.

Garrett is way into Star Wars. He has been watching the first two on VHS. Unfortunately he is having trouble keeping it all together. He can't merge the new movies with the old ones: young Obi Wan, Anikin/Darth Vader, etc. It is going to take some time.

Ice Storm

We are all happily at home as the sleet clicks against the windows. Of course, we didn't get to sleep in. We met the bus at the usual time, but Fairfax County closed two hours early. Then the afterschool care closed three hours early. It has been an interesting day. We are wishing that we will get to sleep in tomorrow. Colleen has a new movie from Netflix and would like to watch it. Claudia just finished her homework, which is due tomorrow. Now all we have to do is cross our fingers and toes.

We Have a Winner!

Garrett and his shark car came in first in his pack at Saturday's Pinewood Derby. Garrett and his pit crew (Art) spent the evening following the race masterminding next year's car. They have plans to win the pack and move on to regionals.

Our New Pet

We are finding strep around the house so often that it might as well be a pet. Claudia has been diagnosed with strep again. That's two for Colleen; two for Claudia. So far none of the men have fallen to strep. We do also have some kind of virus going around at the house too. Yuck.

Pinewood Derby, Here We Come

Garrett is fashioning his pinewood derby car after a shark. The sanding and shaping has been done. The first coat of paint is on. He weighs in on Friday night and races on Saturday.