My mom thinks all that posing is a result of the one time she let them watch "Toddlers and Tiaras." (Don't worry, I gave her a good talking-to about it.) And I'm certainly not going to disagree with that theory.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Sidewalk photo shoot
My mom brought over some chairs for her salon for us to look at, but little did we know it would turn into an impromptu sidewalk photo shoot.
My mom thinks all that posing is a result of the one time she let them watch "Toddlers and Tiaras." (Don't worry, I gave her a good talking-to about it.) And I'm certainly not going to disagree with that theory.
My mom thinks all that posing is a result of the one time she let them watch "Toddlers and Tiaras." (Don't worry, I gave her a good talking-to about it.) And I'm certainly not going to disagree with that theory.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Red, white and cute
Every Friday, the kids at Marina's school gather in the main field to say the Pledge of Allegiance. It's something that started after 9/11 and has continued ever since.
A different class leads the pledge each week and then the kids sing a patriotic song. Today was Marina's turn and she sang "There Are Many Flags" so hard and so proud, I couldn't even handle it.
A different class leads the pledge each week and then the kids sing a patriotic song. Today was Marina's turn and she sang "There Are Many Flags" so hard and so proud, I couldn't even handle it.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Too old, too young
(From my Tumblr)
When "Sex and the City" was on TV, I was just young enough that I never completely related with what the characters were going through.
I enjoyed watching it and there were definitely moments that reminded me of situations in my own life, but the women always seemed a step ahead of me. They had established jobs while I was working as a news assistant. When they were all worried about weddings, I was most definitely not. And after Miranda had a baby, I completely lost my ability to relate to her.
Now the opposite is happening with, "Girls," HBO's new show about New York twentysomethings. I liked it, I laughed, but it certainly didn't change my life.
Today I spent many minutes reading hipster blogs that hated or loved this show, but either way, both sides felt very strongly about their argument.
I wasn't offended by the self-aware characters like a few people my age were. Some situations, like terrible indie boys and crazy friends, are things all girls can relate to at some point.
But I didn't feel like anyone on that show was speaking directly to me. I never had a trust fund or lived in New York or felt all aimless about life.
It's a weird situation to feel mild affection for something others are so passionate about. Like I'm left out of a movement, again.
So who were the TV girls that spoke to me? These are the first three that come to mind.*
1. Lindsay Weir of "Freaks and Geeks"
This show came out when I was already in my 20s, but there wasn't anyone like this on TV when I was in high school. (I had Beverly Hills 90210 and Melrose Place.) Lindsay dealt with exactly the same things I did at her age, especially trying to navigate her place between her intellectual and freak friends. For me it was the arty kids and the glamorous surfer girls.
2. Angela Chase of "My So Called Life"
Because she dyed her hair the color I was never brave enough to try and fought with her mom like I did and because she just felt things, you know?
3. Denise Huxtable of "The Cosby Show"
She embodied what I wanted to be when I grew up: stylish and confident. Denise didn't exactly fit in with the rest of her family, but in a way that was more empowering than alienating.
(*I know this list is predictable, and I could have searched for totally obscure people to include, but that would have been a lie. Also, it goes without saying that Molly Ringwald is by far the number one influence on my teen years, but she wasn't on TV.)
When "Sex and the City" was on TV, I was just young enough that I never completely related with what the characters were going through.
I enjoyed watching it and there were definitely moments that reminded me of situations in my own life, but the women always seemed a step ahead of me. They had established jobs while I was working as a news assistant. When they were all worried about weddings, I was most definitely not. And after Miranda had a baby, I completely lost my ability to relate to her.
Now the opposite is happening with, "Girls," HBO's new show about New York twentysomethings. I liked it, I laughed, but it certainly didn't change my life.
Today I spent many minutes reading hipster blogs that hated or loved this show, but either way, both sides felt very strongly about their argument.
I wasn't offended by the self-aware characters like a few people my age were. Some situations, like terrible indie boys and crazy friends, are things all girls can relate to at some point.
But I didn't feel like anyone on that show was speaking directly to me. I never had a trust fund or lived in New York or felt all aimless about life.
It's a weird situation to feel mild affection for something others are so passionate about. Like I'm left out of a movement, again.
So who were the TV girls that spoke to me? These are the first three that come to mind.*
1. Lindsay Weir of "Freaks and Geeks"
This show came out when I was already in my 20s, but there wasn't anyone like this on TV when I was in high school. (I had Beverly Hills 90210 and Melrose Place.) Lindsay dealt with exactly the same things I did at her age, especially trying to navigate her place between her intellectual and freak friends. For me it was the arty kids and the glamorous surfer girls.
2. Angela Chase of "My So Called Life"
Because she dyed her hair the color I was never brave enough to try and fought with her mom like I did and because she just felt things, you know?
3. Denise Huxtable of "The Cosby Show"
She embodied what I wanted to be when I grew up: stylish and confident. Denise didn't exactly fit in with the rest of her family, but in a way that was more empowering than alienating.
(*I know this list is predictable, and I could have searched for totally obscure people to include, but that would have been a lie. Also, it goes without saying that Molly Ringwald is by far the number one influence on my teen years, but she wasn't on TV.)
Monday, April 16, 2012
The return
Hello again!
It looks like I have returned from hiatus.
My schedule will soon be changing and there will be more room for writing. I sort of gave up on myself as a writer for a while. I know I've hinted at it over the years, like that whole thing about being a nurse and volunteering at a hospital. And the giant ego-blow that happened with going part time.
But I finally did try something else, and even though I enjoyed the work, not writing on a daily basis didn't feel right and it reinforced who I really am.
Then, this morning I turned on the Today show, which is something I rarely do. And who was on but Heather Armstrong of Dooce, the blogger who inspired me to even start Cost of Beans.
It's obviously a sign.
I'm not sure what's going to happen to this space. Will it be only about kids? Will I include pop culture? Will I link to stories from work? I have no idea.
But that in itself is pretty exciting.
It looks like I have returned from hiatus.
My schedule will soon be changing and there will be more room for writing. I sort of gave up on myself as a writer for a while. I know I've hinted at it over the years, like that whole thing about being a nurse and volunteering at a hospital. And the giant ego-blow that happened with going part time.
But I finally did try something else, and even though I enjoyed the work, not writing on a daily basis didn't feel right and it reinforced who I really am.
Then, this morning I turned on the Today show, which is something I rarely do. And who was on but Heather Armstrong of Dooce, the blogger who inspired me to even start Cost of Beans.
It's obviously a sign.
I'm not sure what's going to happen to this space. Will it be only about kids? Will I include pop culture? Will I link to stories from work? I have no idea.
But that in itself is pretty exciting.
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