I’m sore from working in the library all week. Sore! I expected tired, but not sore. I had a friend come in on Thursday to help me, and after a couple of hours she joked that she shouldn’t have bothered with the gym that morning. I felt a little better about my traitorous muscles. On top of better, here are a few of the things that made me happy this week.
:: On Monday the boys had the day off, which meant the library was closed. I took the opportunity to visit Andrea and new baby-Hayden. The boys were very excited. Mikey spent most of the afternoon giving Andrea’s mother parenting advice.
:: I wouldn’t be so behind with the library if I stopped reading every single bit of folklore I happen across. I spent Tuesday in Japan. Mikey made a two-headed dragon after he finished his homework. He’s getting really into drawing–more-so than usual.
:: Wednesday was a really productive day in the library, and I found an African folktale called Story, Story! I posted it all over the internet after I read it, naturally. On that day I stayed and organized with two other moms until after 5:00pm. Our kids did their homework and then played. Mikey made comic strips and then sold them for free. “Free comic! Free comic! Buy your free comic!” Santa is giving him a book on economics for Christmas.
:: Thursday wasn’t as productive on my end. Two other moms came in to help, and they seemed to have more will to live. They got things done while I walked in circles. I had a parent teacher meeting at 6:30pm, which left me even more tired than tired. But! I came home and saw that Shaina found a video of Story, Story, the African folktale I read on Wednesday! She shared it with me on Facebook, and the animation is just like the book. The narrator is Dr. John Akar and�Dr. Vaclav Kubica composed the music using African instruments loaned from the N�prstek Museum Prague. I love it when people send me links. I often feel that I need to tone down the nerd in me when I blog and be more user friendly. I have every intention of doing that, too, but then I get caught up in the moment and before I know it I’m posting pictures of The Cat Ate My Gymsuit.
:: God willing, I’ll be done with the library on Friday. Well, not done. I’m getting it functional and hope to bring it up to snuff over time the next couple of months…after October.
I bet you can guess what I’m doing this weekend! I’m prepping for the next 31 days! We’ll discuss Divergent on Monday for book club, even though that’s also the first day of 31 Days of William Morris.
Have a happy weekend, everyone! See you Monday–twice!
I loved Paula Danziger at school- must try to find some copies for eldest daughter who I am still desperately trying to get enthused about reading…
I remember everything about this book! Funny, because most of the books in the library I have only a vague recollection.
Thanks for sharing! I just called my two boys over to watch, and they loved it. I have that book at home, I’ll be bringing it home for the boys to read.
I’m going to show it to Mikey and Nico when we come home from school! And–shhhhhh–I might borrow the book from school, too!
Oops, school, yes you knew what I meant. ; ) Being an elementary school teacher has a few perks
Hi Jules – I thought of you and your library project the other day when I got an email from my son’s school librarian reminding me that I had signed up to volunteer in there. She sent me directions on how to shelve books, and the “nerd” in me was positively giddy about it. I cannot wait to get in there and shelve some books – who knows what I’ll discover? Also, I’m doing my own 31 days series for the first time ever . . . further evidence of your inspiration. Keep being you.
First off: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! ;)
Are you on Twitter or Facebook? If you find any great books, I want to see them!
Love, love your posts as they are, nerdy or not :)
That means you are either kind, or a nerd. ;) Thanks for the support!!
I’ve been loving the trip down memory lane that your library work has given me!
It’s been a trip for me, too! I think that’s one of the reasons I’ve enjoyed myself so much.
The video is beautiful – thank you to Shaina for finding it and thanks to you for sharing it. My now 23yo was a huge fan of Raffi when she was little – and I liked them too. He had a song called Anansi which I haven’t thought of for years. Thank you for reminding me about that and the sweet memories of listening to Raffi with my daughter. :)
I am 34 and I was also a huge Raffi fan when I was a kid and holy crap – I never made the connection to that song and this Story Story! Thanks for the reminder :D
My favorite thing about the video was the paintings. I love love love the ‘S’ clouds and the geometric patterned fill of objects!
I never listened to Anasi, but my favorite was how it turned into “Aunt Nancy” in the South. It’s like a folkloric game of Telephone.
Shaina – I loved the sky shapes also! And the old man – when he’s talking to the Sky god I loved how his vertebrae were kind of dotted down his back.
I have my copy of “A Story A Story” from my childhood. I LOVE that book. It’s great to read aloud. LOVE IT!! I have no desire to be on social media, but now I am a little bummed that I missed all of the children’s lit posts. I think I may need to go through my kids books today. : )
I admit, I went a little nuts. :) Part of the reason I didn’t post as much the last couple of weeks is because all I would have had to talk about was random children’s books!
I’ve so enjoyed the trip down memory lane!
And the infamous nerd sign–I know it well. This is the reason I tend to shy away from Twitter–Facebook is bad enough. I was all proud of myself for posting somewhat regularly when my aunt–my AUNT–mentioned my nerdly state. Then I thought I’d post a PSA (free donut on Talk Like a Pirate Day) and I received a private message asking if I’d be interested in a health analysis. :)
With that, good luck today . . . and in the coming days as you prepare for 31!
I get people telling me all the time that they love reading what I write on FB (personal page) because I’m so odd that they never know what I’m going to write. O_O
Well obviously the nerd in you strikes a chord in the nerd in me ;-)
So I say keep on keepin’ on like you are! “Normal” people are boring. Be yourself because it’s those little surprising quirks that make people interesting and intriguing – even if we don’t always relate!
I mentioned this in a comment above but wanted to make sure you saw it too – I absolutely LOVE the artistic style of illustrations so often found in 60’s & 70’s era storybooks. The ‘S’ clouds, the geometric patterned fills, the simplistic yet highly detailed backgrounds. Love love love!
Haha! When I saw that video last night I thought, “My people! I found my people!” ;)
The illustrations were my favorite. That, and the idea of a man weaving a web into the heavens. Actually, the book won an award for its illustrations in the 60s or 70s! I think 70s, because I think the book is from ’71?
Dear Jules,
I bet you will be surprised to know that one of your fans (me) is a 64 year old Jewish woman in New Jersey. How did I find you? I have no idea. Why do I read your posts? I really get your sense of humor and have enjoyed many laughs because of it. I also understand your struggles and appreciate your honesty. I am rooting for you. One more thing – your boys are just so adorable. Who could resist reading another Mikey story?
I have two grown recently married daughters and I am now itching for grandchildren. Hearing about your sons will have to do for now.
Keep writing and I will keep reading.
Susan
Susan – not Jules but I had to reply because I’m a Susan G also. And I’m a 55-yo Jewish woman. :)
Wow! I had never heard of spider stories before, but it is so interesting that parts of this story are woven into our culture – a la shades of Winnie the Pooh “Tut Tut, it looks like rain” and Uncle Remus and “De Tar Baby”. It’s like we’ve had elementary-library book club this entire month – and it’s been wonderful (especially for the likes of us nerdy ones!).
As a fellow nerd I appreciate all your “indulgences,” which aren’t even odd or weird to me — just instantly familiar, like the photo of the Paula Danziger book. (Can’t even remember the plot, but I read it at least twice.) No need to tone it down!
Where is this library?!? I want to spend all day in it organizing books!
Ha! I just finished Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, in which Ananse is a major character.
Just saw your post after writing mine! Looooove American Gods! If you liked it there is a little tale about Shadow on the book Fragile Things.
This excerpt of the book made me thing of Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman. I am guessing you would love it! (oh I love all his books and comics!)