Look At Me, I'm Not Dumb!

I have to admit that I did a lot of guessing, but I did pass, and that's what counts.


Thanks to Heather, by way of Wendy, by way of Freakmom -YOU GO GIRLS!


Smooches!

Movie Review Day!

Well, I know I've been behind in posting our Movies as Literature movie reviews, but today I'm going to get caught up right quick.


I have two movies to discuss.


The movie we watched a few weeks ago is called The Journey of August King. Let me give you my short version first - Hated it! (Unregulated flashback to Men on Film)


I guess I need to give a more detailed review, so here ya go.


The movie is about a widow, August King, who is on the way home, a three day journey, from the general store where he has purchased his annual supplies for his home and farm. Along the way he discovers a run away slave girl and reluctantly decides to help her get to the freedom trail so she can get to the North and be free. Ok, that sounds nice, even noble, but this movie is dry as a bone. It seems like it goes on forever even though it's only a hour and a half long. The dialog is silly and barely understandable due to the overly emphasized "native dialect" that both the white man and the slave girl use. Both Baby Boy and I spent most of the time asking each other what was going on. It also has one extremely violent scene that had me covering my eyes. I wasn't expecting it and it took me quite by surprise. I think that given the fact that this movie is rated PG-13, it could have been handled in a more subtle way. There are lots of other things implied in the movie where it doesn't go into graphic detail. They should have followed suite with this scene. I don't know, maybe I was having a bad day, maybe I have just seen my fill of slave movies for the year. Believe me, black people have more to contribute to American history than the fact that we were once slaves. (hopping down from soapbox, sorry) The movie does show that even common every-day people can make a difference in the world, like August King did for the slave girl. That's the message I emphasized to Baby Boy, but the movie simply was not very entertaining or engaging. For it to be considered good by me, it would have to be at least one of those, and preferably both.


The movie we watched last week, A Raisin in the Sun, was magnificent. Ok, I will admit, I love Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee, so I may come off a little biased. Actually, I may come off a lot biased. It's the story of a multi-generational family, (Mom, her daughter, and her son along with his wife and child) living in a tenement where they share a bathroom with several other families. The father has recently passed away and they are waiting for his life insurance check to come in. Once it comes in, there are many twists and turns as they decide what to do with the money that will be best for everyone in the family. The mom is a hard working old fashioned woman, the sister is a free spirit artistic girl, and the son is a hard working man with big dreams regarding his future and the future of his family. They deal with financial struggles, class struggles, and racial struggles even though there is no slavery, there is still segregation and racial tensions. This story is so cleverly written and acted. It's really great to see Ruby Dee and Sidney Poitier in their youth. I don't want to give too much of it away, so I'll just say that it's highly recommended.


I missed Puff Daddy (or P Diddy, or whoever he is right now) and Phylicia Rashad's remake of A Raisin in the Sun. I recorded it to my DVR, but somehow it got erased before I could see it. It's supposed to be coming on DVD in a few months, so once I get a chance to look at it, I'll try to compare the two. I didn't think Puff Daddy acted that great in Monster's Ball, (I hated that whole movie, so once again, I'm biased) but everyone keeps saying he was really good as Walter Lee Younger, so I'll reserve judgment until I see it for myself.


In news on the home front, we are going on another field trip with the new home school activities group tomorrow. Wish us luck!


Until next time . . .


Smooches!

Guess Who's Coming For Dinner?

The weather has been super hot lately, think 90's.


Anyway as a pick-him-up for having to get surgery last week, Big Papa (my dad) took Baby Boy on another fishing trip this weekend.


Guess what we're having for dinner . . . Delicious!




. . . Until next time . . .


Smooches!

He's Gonna Live!

Just for anyone who was thinking of us, Baby Boy's surgery went well, and he's home safe and sound. We're just taking it easy as he is extremely grouchy when he wakes up from anesthesia and it takes a while for it to flush out of his system.


Oh, and just for kicks, Mom #2 woke up with a raging flu. So she was unable to help me get everything together and get me out of the house on time. Now, this is one of Mom #2's major job functions. It is her job to get me out of the house for any class, extra-curricular activity, social event, or appointment on time. I am habitually and perpetually late to everything. I don't do it on purpose; I don't think I'm better than anyone else; I don't think I'm worth waiting for or anything like that. I have read all the psycho mumbo-jumbo and none of it applies to me. I am just always running late!


So, of course, I was running late to the hospital. It really didn't help that I was trying not to breathe or allow Baby Boy to breathe all morning, because (per the rules and I know them by heart) if he had thrown up, run a fever, or had excessive mucus in the 24 hours prior to surgery, then no surgery for him. No one wants surgery, but really the worse kind of surgery is re-scheduled surgery after you've already planned your entire life around this one hospital visit.


Anywho . . . here's a look at him after the nurse had already taken his vitals, but before the doctor to came in and talk with us. Still trying to keep his spirits up.




I'm off to take care of my Baby Boy!


. . . until next time . . .


Smooches!

Spring Break Avoidance, Dr's Appts, and Linear Art Projects - In Other Words - MARCH MADNESS!

Well, we've been plugging along at our own pace here at the Two Moms' Homeschool. The public schools are on Spring Break here this week, so there are spare children running the streets everywhere. We also have a little music festival not far from here this week, so we have lots of extra people around. I've been hibernating inside to avoid all the extra commotion. Besides that, I'm still recuperating from the time change - Springing forward - OY!


School is going remarkably well. Baby Boy has really been applying himself and even in the toughest of subjects, I'm seeing lots of positive grades. It's so sad when the teacher suffers more from spring fever than the student. That's what's going on here. I have to physically force myself to get my lesson plans together, get my paperwork organized and to stay on task so Baby Boy and I can get things done in a reasonable amount of time.


We've had alternating days of beautiful and sucky weather. One day it's 75 and sunshiney and the next it's 40 and raining. On the nice days, we try to get out and have a little walk or at least sit out on the patio and soak up some sunshine. I love sunshine. The one thing I do have to admit about the time change is that I do like having the sun stay up a little longer. That part is nice. I just have to conquer getting up on time.


We're planning another tag-along visit next week with our homeschool field trip group. This time we're going to see a poetry exhibit followed by bowling and chit chat. Wish us luck, I'm sure you've heard by now, we really aren't group people.


Oh, and I've been trying to pick up extra shifts at my little work-at-home gig. You know, as the infomercial lady. So if any of y'all get bored in the middle of the night, turn on a little late night TV and then pick up the phone and give me a call. Order everything or nothing at all, I'm paid per minute of talk time. ;-)


We got some pretty disappointing news from one of Baby Boy's medical specialists this week. I don't think Baby Boy quite realizes what was said. I'm taking a little time to digest it myself before I sit him down and tell him all about it. It really sucks! It's not life threatening, just life affecting and, frankly, life annoying, if you know what I mean. Anyway, keep us in your hearts and minds as we work through this one.


Also, Baby Boy is having another outpatient surgical procedure tomorrow. It shouldn't be a big deal, but you never know. I have a little flutter in the pit of my stomach every time he has to be put under anesthesia. I'll keep you posted. Give us an extra thought as you sleep tonight.


But don't let all this talk of medical negativity get you down. You KNOW that if nothing else gets done around here, art projects always will.


So let's get it started!


First we learned . . .

Perspective


One Point Linear


By Baby Boy

and

By Mom #1


Then we learned . . . Two Point Linear


By Baby Boy

and

By Mom #1

Then we learned Perspective: Atmospheric. It's apparently the art of coloring in a picture so that it appears to be moving into the distance. We aren't really sure if we accomplished it or not. What do y'all think?

Atmospheric Perspective


By Baby Boy

and

By Mom #1

Who knows, eh? LOL. I always tease Baby Boy because he has a very heavy hand as you can see by his coloring. I'm glad he doesn't spar me in tae kwon do! Even when he tickles, it feels like he's rubbing you with Brillo pads. LOL.


Anywho. . .

Until Next Time . . .


Smooches!