Saturday, June 21, 2008
5th Day of Summer Vaca
Well, it's the fifth day of summer vacation and I'm not really excited. I'll try to keep you all updated on my life throughout the summer.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Nana
I would like to dedicate this post to my grandmother, Ruth S. Rodger.
I went to her home today. It's amazing how doing simple chores around the house can bring back happy memories that have since turned painful. Doing the dishes. I made dinner for myself and washed the dishes afterwards. I also washed the dishes that my sister dirtied. As I stood there washing my late grandmother's Martha Stewart Everyday dish, I started to reminisce. I thought about the times that my Nana would make us dinner. She would labor over our dinner and after we were finished, she would take the dishes into the kitchen and wash them ever so carefully.
I looked over to my left and saw the bread box. I remember when she first bought that bread box. She opened it and showed me that one puts bread in there and it would keep for longer periods of time than if it was just on the counter. I looked farther left still and noticed the absence of my grandmother's table. It is now at my home a mere three blocks away, however at the moment it seems as though the distance from Nana's kitchen and that table might as well be a million miles. One of my favorite memories of my grandmother and myself is when we were waiting for my mom to pick me up one night. I begged my grandmother to play war with me. We had so much fun playing cards on her table that night. I just didn't want it to end. Unfortunately, as with all good things, there must be an end.
I only have a few dishes to go, but I take my time as I try to wash each dish with the care that my grandmother did when she did the dishes. She very well may have been my closest living relative. She was funny and sweet, and I like to think that I have inherited my good qualities from her. As I turn back towards the sink, I notice that there is a plant next to the bread box. It's drooping, but it appears to be alive.
After I finish with the dishes in the sink, I go to the adjacent living room where I spent many an afternoon watching television and eating Pepperidge Farm cookies. I sit on the green and blue couch as my mother drives up the driveway in her mini-van. It reminds me of all of the times that she picked me up after a visit to Nana's. I never wanted to leave, but I always did.
My mother gets out of the car, and notices the weeds in bags on the front stoop. She comes into the house, and immediately inquires where I weeded.
"Out back", I say without looking up to meet her gaze.
I clearly have more important things on my mind. Of course she cannot notice, and continues to barrage me with seemingly meaningless and obvious questions.
"What's with the fan?" She asks
"I was using it to cool off," I reply still without meeting her gaze. My mom leaves the room and begins her inspection of the house. She finds many minor impurites in the cleanliness of the house, and makes sure that I take care of them. I notice that though she found many faults, she didn't notice the starving plant next to the bread box. Once my mother is done with her inspection and certain areas are cleaned up to her satisfaction, she heads into her mother's TV room. My mother turns on the television, and after a few minutes of standing in the kitchen rehashing fond memories of my grandmother, I ask my mom if she's ready to go. She immediately turns off the television and heads into the living room and sits down at the chair next to the front door. I am still standing in the kitchen when she says, "Well, aren't you coming?"
I respond with a promise that I'll be there in a minute. I look at the plant and I think of how my grandmother must have taken meticulous care of it. I imagine how my grandmother watered it everyday and made sure that it had enough sun. Though she passed on last October, the plant seems to have survived. I decide to water the plant. I quickly get some water in a juice glass and pour it into the plant's pot. I pour a second glass in the pot and make a note to come back soon and continue watering it.
My mother and I close up the house, and lock the door. She stands outside while I pick up the two bags of weeds that I pulled from my Nana's backyard earlier that day. I put the weeds behind the driver's seat of her van and close the door. We get in the van. Before we pull out of the driveway I make sure to remind my mother that we have to come back soon to water the plant. Her only reply is "Hm" which suggests that watering a plant in her mother's house is at the bottom of her to-do list.
After we arrive at home, I notice that despite it being dark out, my mother taking great care to water every one of her plants. I continue to sit in the car until long after she has gone inside. I sit and ponder why my mother doesn't even notice Nana's plant, yet takes such good care of her own. The world is funny like that.
I went to her home today. It's amazing how doing simple chores around the house can bring back happy memories that have since turned painful. Doing the dishes. I made dinner for myself and washed the dishes afterwards. I also washed the dishes that my sister dirtied. As I stood there washing my late grandmother's Martha Stewart Everyday dish, I started to reminisce. I thought about the times that my Nana would make us dinner. She would labor over our dinner and after we were finished, she would take the dishes into the kitchen and wash them ever so carefully.
I looked over to my left and saw the bread box. I remember when she first bought that bread box. She opened it and showed me that one puts bread in there and it would keep for longer periods of time than if it was just on the counter. I looked farther left still and noticed the absence of my grandmother's table. It is now at my home a mere three blocks away, however at the moment it seems as though the distance from Nana's kitchen and that table might as well be a million miles. One of my favorite memories of my grandmother and myself is when we were waiting for my mom to pick me up one night. I begged my grandmother to play war with me. We had so much fun playing cards on her table that night. I just didn't want it to end. Unfortunately, as with all good things, there must be an end.
I only have a few dishes to go, but I take my time as I try to wash each dish with the care that my grandmother did when she did the dishes. She very well may have been my closest living relative. She was funny and sweet, and I like to think that I have inherited my good qualities from her. As I turn back towards the sink, I notice that there is a plant next to the bread box. It's drooping, but it appears to be alive.
After I finish with the dishes in the sink, I go to the adjacent living room where I spent many an afternoon watching television and eating Pepperidge Farm cookies. I sit on the green and blue couch as my mother drives up the driveway in her mini-van. It reminds me of all of the times that she picked me up after a visit to Nana's. I never wanted to leave, but I always did.
My mother gets out of the car, and notices the weeds in bags on the front stoop. She comes into the house, and immediately inquires where I weeded.
"Out back", I say without looking up to meet her gaze.
I clearly have more important things on my mind. Of course she cannot notice, and continues to barrage me with seemingly meaningless and obvious questions.
"What's with the fan?" She asks
"I was using it to cool off," I reply still without meeting her gaze. My mom leaves the room and begins her inspection of the house. She finds many minor impurites in the cleanliness of the house, and makes sure that I take care of them. I notice that though she found many faults, she didn't notice the starving plant next to the bread box. Once my mother is done with her inspection and certain areas are cleaned up to her satisfaction, she heads into her mother's TV room. My mother turns on the television, and after a few minutes of standing in the kitchen rehashing fond memories of my grandmother, I ask my mom if she's ready to go. She immediately turns off the television and heads into the living room and sits down at the chair next to the front door. I am still standing in the kitchen when she says, "Well, aren't you coming?"
I respond with a promise that I'll be there in a minute. I look at the plant and I think of how my grandmother must have taken meticulous care of it. I imagine how my grandmother watered it everyday and made sure that it had enough sun. Though she passed on last October, the plant seems to have survived. I decide to water the plant. I quickly get some water in a juice glass and pour it into the plant's pot. I pour a second glass in the pot and make a note to come back soon and continue watering it.
My mother and I close up the house, and lock the door. She stands outside while I pick up the two bags of weeds that I pulled from my Nana's backyard earlier that day. I put the weeds behind the driver's seat of her van and close the door. We get in the van. Before we pull out of the driveway I make sure to remind my mother that we have to come back soon to water the plant. Her only reply is "Hm" which suggests that watering a plant in her mother's house is at the bottom of her to-do list.
After we arrive at home, I notice that despite it being dark out, my mother taking great care to water every one of her plants. I continue to sit in the car until long after she has gone inside. I sit and ponder why my mother doesn't even notice Nana's plant, yet takes such good care of her own. The world is funny like that.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Last Day of School
Today was the last day of school and I am really excited for sumer vacation! I don't know what I'm going to do yet, but whatever it is, I'd like it to include some time for relaxation. I'll keep you all updated on whatever it is that I decide to do this summer. I don't plan to waste it. If any of you guys have any ideas on what I should do this summer, leave a comment. I love to hear from you!
Friday, May 30, 2008
National Geographic: Stonehenge
I thought that the cover article talking about Stonehenge was worth commenting on. If you read the article, you would notice that they talk about the history of Stonehenge that dates back thousands of years! The title on the cover of NG says “Secrets of Stonehenge”. One thing that I didn’t know was that there is another smaller structure near Stonehenge. It’s called Woodhenge. Another thing that I didn’t know was that until the early 20th century, the land that Stonehenge is on was owned by a private citizen. The citizen willed the land to the British government who turned it into a national park of sorts.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
American Dad
Hey guys. I've been watching American Dad recently. It's a pretty good show. I have to give you fair warning. If you are easily offended by potentially questionable content, I have to tell you that you should probably avoid it. Otherwise, I would recommend it to people looking for a show that makes fun of many aspects of American culture.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Almost the end
Well, I'm counting down the days. School ends on June 12th this year. I am in Sports and Entertainment Marketing right now and I am done with what I need to do today. I am not including my gigantic mythology project that is due tomorrow. I'm a little afraid of presenting this project because it's so gigantic, but I'm sure that I'll pass. The question is then, what will my grade be? Whatever it will be, I'll be happy as long as it is a C+ or above.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
The Day of Tests
Tomorrow is going to be a horrible day. I have a test in Mythology that I'm fairly worried about, and I have a test in US History that I'm not at all worried about. Though the latter may not be difficult, it probably will be tiring.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Mia
Today I saw my old nanny, Mia for the first time in years!!! I was so excited to see her and catch up. We went to the DYC and had a fun dinner. I'm sorry that I have not been writing enough. I have been really busy. Anyway Mia and I caught up, but Lizzie didn't get to spend much time with her, so we're going to see her again in a few weeks.
Monday, May 05, 2008
Les Mis Update
I went to see Les Mis on Saturday night as opposed to Thursday night, so disregard the previous post. It was pretty good, although it certainly could have been a little shorter.
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