Life On The Planet

Music to a Mother's Ears

"Mama, is this book fiction or non-fiction?" Tiger asked me this morning at the library.

Only a mother could hear the magic that resides in those words.

A Book Tag

About two weeks ago I was tagged for a meme by Sunniemom, and being the ever eficient soul that I am, well, here it is.

The rules are:

1. Pick up the nearest book of at least 123 pages.

2. Open the book to page 123.

3. Find the 5th sentence.

4. Post the next 3 sentences.

5. Tag 5 people.

The book is English Romantic Poets edited by Stephens, Beck and Snow. (In case you're wondering Mom, I still have it. You'll get it back when Tiger graduates.)

Page 123, sentences six and seven...

from William Worsworth's To Edward Moxon: His Poetry Goes Begging (Aug. 1833)

"There does not appear to be much genuine relish for poetical publications in Cumberland, if I may judge from the fact of not a copy of my poems having been sold there by one of the leading booksellers, though Cumberland is my native county. Byron and Scott are, I am persuaded, the only popular writers in that line,--perhaps the word ought rather to be that they are fashionable writers."

and from To The Rev. Alexander Dyce: The Sonnet (1833)

"You propose to give specimens of the best sonnet-writers in our language."

That was fun. Now for the last rule, I have to tag five people. I don't wanna! Most everyone I know has been tagged. How's this? I'll tag one person and give five reasons this took two weeks to write. The nice thing about being the benevolent dictator here on the Planet is that I GET TO MAKE THE RULES!

Tag, Aussie Kim, you're it! On to the excuses...

Reason #1 Three words: Girl Scout Cookies

Reason #2 Blue and Gold Banquet

Reason #3 The desk. Oh my, the desk.

Reason #4 Post Traumatic Man Flu Disorder (that would be the disorder in the the house caused by the Man having the Flu.)

Reason #5 Procrastination

Are you buying it?

All righty then, let's break one more rule. If you want to play along and haven't yet been tagged, leave me a link in the comments 'cause you're it, too!

Brisingr

Book three of the Inheritance Cycle is coming out in September. Brisingr, which follows Eragon and Eldest, will be the third book by Christopher Paolini, a former homeschooler.

I enjoyed the first two books in the series (in the case of Eragon, I enjoyed the movie less than the book, but that's usual, isn't it?), so I'm moderately looking forward to reading it. Salamander, on the other hand, is salivating over the news of the release. He's already called for first dibs.

The Cure

Books make things better. It should be our family motto. Books are the ever present special guest in our house. Indeed, many of them are beloved members of the family. I can't count the times when I've turned to a book for comfort, entertainment or knowledge. It gives me great joy to see my children relate to books in the same way.

Butterfly and I have been reading Rilla of Ingleside at night. Tiger curls up on the foot of the bed and peppers us with questions. "Why did the Kaiser want a war?" "Why did Jims paint the chair?" "What are the Junior Reds?" He and Butterfly giggle over Rilla inadvertently wearing two different shoes to visit Irene and sniff together when they find out what "Dog Monday Knows." The story weaves around them and worms its way into their hearts.

Last night we came home a little too late from a Superbowl party, and Tiger was completely worn out. Everything in the world was terrible, the siblings were in league against him and life was hardly worth living. After his bath, he curled up in my lap. "Will you read me a book?" he sobbed. Books make everything better.

I am certainly hoping that holds true. After days of fighting the inevitable, I have a sore throat and fever. Tamiflu might be the medical necessity, however I am going to supplement my recovery with a cup of tea, a couple of Motrin and a good book. I am certain that I'll be better in no time.

Escape

Okay, I'll admit that sometimes I can get a little whiny, and maybe occasionally I complain a bit more than I should. However, after staying up far too late last night reading Escape by Carolyn Jessop, I'm thinking life here on my planet is looking pretty good. Escape is the story of her life in (and subsequent escape from) the polygamist FLDS sect in northern Arizona/ southern Utah. It is an eye opener, to say the least.

Book Giveaway!

People are giving away books! What a strange concept. Once we get them, they're ours forever. Anyway, if you're into that whole *free book* thing, hit the link.

Well, Shoot!

Now I've gotta visit Georgia. Or maybe I'll just read the book.

Did you read that one about the Georgia expression, "Slap your Granny?" In Louisiana, you don't say, "Slap your Granny." That would be disrespectful.

Instead, you say someone's food is so good you could "Slap ya Mama," 'cause if Mama gets mad, you can always go to Granny's!

(Just kidding, Mom.)

I'll show you some nature shots from the Girl Scout campout, which was great, after I bathe.

Trust me on this one. I really need to bathe.

(Does that go under the heading of Too Much Information? Sorry.)

Seafaring Goats of Australian History, Mate!

My grand scheme to get to sleep by 8 o'clock last night was foiled by a need to check my email.  Aunt the Major is having some computer issues over in Seoul, and I never know when she'll be able to get on.  She didn't email (she called this morning and all is well) but my Aussie friend, Kim, who is living in the wilds of the Mississippi Delta, sent me a note.  She has been trying to convince me that studying Australian history is of vital importance to a total homeschooling education and that I should do a unit study or something.  "The Impact of Australian Colonization by Europeans on the American Civil War," has a nice ring.

Kim sent me a link for some books she bought when last in Australia.  They are historical novels for children set in or about Australia, by Jackie French.  I got a look at them on our last visit and they looked pretty interesting.  So, last night, when I got her email I just absolutely had to click on the link and look at the books.  (I have book control issues.  Some people do drugs.  I do books.  I need a twelve step program.)

One of the titles caught my eye, The Goat who Sailed The World.  It's about the adventures of a goat who sailed with Captain James Cook, on the Endeavour, around the world for twenty years!  She received a pension from the British government and was made a member of the British Royal Society.  Quite the respected scientist, that goat. 

Naturally, that link led to another search on my part for information on the Endeavour.  Turns out, it is closer than you might think.

From there I kept going until I came across the National Library of Australia.  A library.  Can you feel the love?  It has oodles and oodles of neat information and groovy links. 

I called it quits at that point and hit the hay to dream about goats with Australian accents. Seriously. Many thanks to Aussie Kim for my enlightenment.  There may be something to this Australian History thing after all.