Dreary Tuesday, But I'm EXCELLENT, Thanks!

It's another grey rainy Tuesday in Philly and I've just bribed Tink to play hooky. Yes, I offered to give her a dollar if she would skip PreK today. How's that for stellar parenting? I just can't bear the thought of schlepping back and forth in the ick one more day. I'll have to pick up Puck later, but one time out is much more appealing than three. However, Tink hates to miss school so I am feeling a trifle guilty. Also, Tink is about to lose her first tooth (and will shortly lose it's partner) and I'm feeling a bit schmoopy about it. Funny, because when my oldest hits her milestones, I'm excited - subsequent daughters just make me wistful. I may actually cry when it happens to Sprite.

Other happenings in Chez HG: I have an interview to be added to another local college's adjunct pool. I'm happy about this and hoping that it is a foot in the door kind of situation since I'm looking ahead to fulltime employment around the Fall of 2009.


Lastly, Nutmeg awarded me an EXCELLENT blog award for which I am truly kind of thrilled about. It is my first blog-ly honor. And for it, I'd like to thank Nutmeg, the Academy, Godtopus, and my family. Except for my husband who has been very Republican-y lately. (Hi Honey! And :P).

I'd like to pass this along to a few of my favorite bloggers (WRH, you already got one so I'm spreading the love elsewhere, but LOVE you! And Nutmeg, it would go back to you without even saying!)

1. Domestic Goddess: I might have a tiny girl-crush on DG. I'm just saying.
2. Lemonade & Kidneys: Um, she made me cookies. Delicious, delicious cookies. I'm easily bought. And love her blog.
3. A Whale of a Time: I was very excited to find that my dear friend is blogging again. She is super funny and just had thee most delicious baby girl who loves her Auntie HG the best.
4. Evidently: Wende has long been one of my bestest blog reads. And she's a treasured friend too, even if she lives too far away. (Move to Philly!).
5. Republic of Dogs: AG is wicked smaht AND a pinko commie. Of course I'm nominating her! Also, she's let go of some baggage lately and a little good karma is coming back for her.
6. A Child is Born: I only wish I wrote with Kelly's thought and poignancy.

Easter Portrait

I kept meaning to share this, but I don't have a scanner. So I finally snapped a photo of the one we have hanging today.

Sociopath in training.

So, should I be worried that Sprite is cheerfully singing "Follow the leader!" and marching a line of her little mini-creatures right off of the back of the couch to crash on the floor below?

Sunday with Sondheim: Evening Primrose

(We're going to pretend I posted this yesterday, mmmkay?)

This Sondheim vehicle is particularly interesting because it isn't a stage production, but a TV program. There are a few recordings of songs from it, but no album; my favorite recording (and how I learned of it) is on Mandy Patinkin's album Dress Casual - a suite of four songs recorded with Bernadette Peters. I do so love this suite.

IMDB gives this synopsis of the book:

A young poet gets the brilliant idea to live in a department store, hiding by day, and courting his muse by night where it's quiet, and he can have all his needs met. But, to his surprise, he learns his brilliant idea's not exactly original; there are other residents who dodge the night watchmen, and who keep their existence secret at all costs. And one of them is a young woman who wants to leave, but is to frightened to go. And Charles finds that he wants to show her the larger world outside.

I've never seen this - I don't think a video exists and it's not performed on stage as far as I know - so when I youtubed it on a lark and found this clip from the original television broadcast I was thrilled. Anthony Perkins (best known from Psycho) and Charmian Carr (best known as Liesl from The Sound of Music) starred as poet Charles and Ella.

I giggle like I'm 12 through this whole thing.

I mean, what does it make you think of?

Filch It Friday: Another filch from WRH

A quick and lazy post - just what I need on this cold rainy day. Yes, it is Filch It Friday - where I can steal and meme with aplomb. Today's Filch comes from my beloved Well Read Hostess who filched the idea from Kathy Likes Pink.

What's In My Bag

My current bag is a stripey cloth one from Target, that I rigged. I cut off the ties and added velcro to close the top. I got it on clearance for less than seven dollars. Woot.



In the side pouch: contact rewetting drops, hand sanitizer, travel crayons, bandaids, Tide to-go pen, travel sunscreen, tampon, ibuprofen

In the main pouch: large orange envelope with coupons, large business envelope with vacation reservations and info in it, lotion, sunglasses, gum, lip pencil, Lip Smacker gloss (that I stole from my kids), wallet with usual stuff except money, multicolor pen (that I stole from my kids)

O.M.G.

At this very minute, I am in a live chat with Stephen Sondheim. OMFG.

Courtesy of The New York Post, a glimpse into the new production (since I missed Sunday with Sondheim this week):

A List, aka My Favorite Blogging Crutch

I'm trying to get back in the swing of things here; however, this is an easier resolution than it is to actually act upon. So I'm going to brain-dump and hope that tomorrow will solve the paralysis (I won't think about it until tomorrow, thinks Scarlett).

1. My mother is gone. Praise Jebus. I love her and we had a lovely visit, but she is very particular and the whole flow of the house changes when she is visiting (for.two.weeks). While my house is now a whole lot messier and there are far fewer backed goods around, I am much more relaxed.

2. My knee, she is better. I'm probably not going to start the running program back up until June though, when we get back from our vacation.

3. I'm ensconced in vacation prep. We're headed to Florida for 11 days in June to see my brothers and family and will have a couple days at Disney and a couple days at another non-Disney resort. Because I am super anal diligent, I have been spending most waking moments planning.

4. I'm done teaching until the fall. Even my final grades have been calculated and uploaded. Wahoo!

Things that boggle my mind.

Watching Dems hand another election to the Republicans. Would the Elephants like their presidency on a silver platter or with a big red bow?