Friday Playdate » Blog Archive » grace in small things: eleven (Irish Car Bomb version)

We’re still iced in; school and work are canceled AGAIN tomorrow. Oh, not MY work — that’s NEVER canceled. In fact, I only got through today’s endless round of phone calls and emails and writing (and possibly a nap, because I got up at FIVE AM to take care of something for WORK) because Wade was here to entertain the children all day.

Which brings me to today’s list.

1. Wade

Wade is sick; he has picked up Charlie’s cold. I can’t imagine how — I mean, it’s not like we constantly snuggle and kiss the boy. Oh wait yes we do. Anyway, they’re both stuffy and sneezy and frankly a helluva lot more cheerful than I would be in their place. Or really, than I am just in general.

Despite the sick, Wade entertained the boys ALL DAY TODAY, while I was doing whatever it is I do all day (which included not showering or getting dressed until nearly four pm — and even then I just changed my yoga pants for a pair that I hadn’t slept in). They read stories and drew pictures and played an elaborate game of Dragon Hunters.

Also, he dusted the living room. God I love that man.

2. My iPhone.

How else could I have climbed into bed this afternoon to ~~snooze~~ work and not have missed a Very Important Work-Related call? Thank you, Steve Jobs — feel better soon!

3. Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book

My kids love SpongeBob — LOVE. HIM. And while I’m not opposed to using SpongeBob as a cheap babysitter when, say, one of the kids is sick and has to stay home with me on a day when I have to work, I die a little bit every time the boys ask for one of the many many paperback adaptations available at our local bookstore. SpongeBob is funny as hell on television, but he does NOT translate well to book form. Trust me on this.

There is a LOT of crap published in this country (and YES I realize the irony of complaining about bad writing on a BLOG, thankyouverymuch). Kids’ books are especially bad; they are poorly written (I’m looking at you, Stefenie Meyer) and don’t do anything to challenge kids as readers and thinkers. So when I read that Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book had won a Newbery Medal for the year’s most outstanding contribution to children’s literature, I did a little happy dance.

It was a nerdy happy dance, but still.

I want my kids to read books that challenge them, that make them think — I want them to grow up to be smart readers who choose really excellent books. This is a good start.

4. Newman’s Own Black Bean and Corn Salsa

Delicious AND philanthropic. Which justifies my eating nearly the entire jar in one sitting.

5. My brother, who is easily one of the funniest people I follow on Twitter.

Although it is possible that you have to actually know him to get the funny. But this is my list, so there’s that. Now how many of you know what an Irish Car Bomb is without Googling?

I thought so.

Make the world a better place by finding Grace in Small Things.

14 Comments so far

How could any readers of your blog not know that?

I cried at the end of the Graveyard Book. I reviewed on my blog a couple of weeks ago so I’m all happy to see that you liked it too! (I have a literary crush on Neil Gaiman. Death from the Sandman novels is one of my favorite characters and if you’ve never read “Good Omens” (co-authored with Terry Pratchett) you should. It’s really great!

I didn’t know anybody anywhere didn’t know of Irish Car Bombs. Although, I have to tell you that you need to be careful where you order them — at authentic(-ish) Irish pubs, you risk getting your ass kicked, thrown out, then getting readmitted so they can kick your ass and toss you out again. Not that I know about that or anything.

I went to my 3rd grader’s library time Monday and convinced him not to renew a Capt. Underpants book and get Sterling North’s Rascal instead. He’s enjoying it and totally surprised mom could recommend a book that’s good. That MA in Medieval Lit doesn’t impress him at all….

My boyfriend likes Irish Car Bombs. He chipped a tooth once on the dropped in shot glass. Which makes me nervous whenever he talks about getting one with a friend, because he already chipped one tooth, I’d like him to keep the rest intact.

Yay for the Newbery! I loved watching the awards get announced on Twitter (until the stream died, but whatever. . .we won’t talk about that).

I just bought a jar of the same salsa. And may or may not have eaten the entire thing in one sitting. With a bag of tostitos.

If winter continues much longer my pants will never fit

I wast trying to read one of Stefanie’s books. I just can’t seem to do it. I don’t feel so bad.

I will admit I had to google the Irish car bomb. Sad but true…

Oooh… the Newberry awards were on Twitter? Maybe that makes me a nerd, but I must go follow!

And yep, I had to google Irish car bomb, but I’m surprised I didn’t know what it was. And now I think I want one because we are on OUR second snow day here too. And I don’t have a Wade.

Eh…..Whats an Irish Car Bomb???

PREACH IT about Stefenie Meyer. English teachers at the middle school where I teach are happy that kids are reading, but sad that they are learning to TELL what characters are feeling instead of SHOWING it. And the adverbs. OH THE ADVERBS.

Oh I so hear you on the iPhone, whatever would I do without mine. I wonder what the heck I would do without it?

I love Irish Car Bombs! Or at least I used to. I can’t say I’ve done a car bomb race in several years. Sad.

Also - I am a 27 year old self-professed Twilight addict. But I am also fairly well read, and I enjoy challenging works of literature. Twilight is no literary masterpiece, but it is an engaging and thrilling nail-biter of a story. I forgive the imperfect writing technique when a story is that good.

I haven’t read “The Graveyard Book” but when I saw that it won the Newbery, I decided to make it my read on the plane book for my upcoming business trip.

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