did you know . . .

. . . that April is National Poetry Month?

Last year I found a fun way to get into the spirit at poets.org. You can sign up on the website to receive a poem a day via email.

The poems are modern ones, so you won't be sent any by Emily Dickinson [pictured to left] or other poets you may have studied, but the website also features an archive, with access to poetry written by both past and modern poets.

One of my favorite poems by Emily Dickinson:

There is no frigate like a book

There is no Frigate like a Book
To take us Lands away,
Nor any Coursers like a Page
Of prancing Poetry –
This Traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of Toll –
How frugal is the Chariot
That bears a Human soul.

new shoes

Found these little babies as we were leaving Morro Bay. We had just finished dinner with my parents and had stepped into a little shop nearby so the kids could have a look around before heading home. And there they were, tucked away into a little corner of the shop. And they're even size 5.5. My ultimate, perfect size. Many people do not even realize how difficult it is to get shoes in a size 5.5.

I think these shoes were meant to be.

do you have all the missing pieces yet?

Unless you've been living under a rock, you probably already know that LOST returns to primetime TV next Thursday for a run of eight new episodes. You've seen the first three seasons. But, have you checked out all the "Missing Pieces" on the ABC website?

The missing pieces are short, two to three minute clips that have been newly filmed [well, at least before the writers' strike]. They are intended to give new info that happened in the past-no flash forwards here as of yet. You can usually tell about when they are happening since they will usually reference something that allows the viewer to place it in the LOST timeline. Right now there are eleven episodes, but I believe there are supposed to eventually be thirteen in all.

Anyway-watch them here!

parlez-vous?

During our fog day on Tuesday I took a moment to browse amazon.com to see if the new DS game I've been crazy for was back in stock yet. Since it was, of course I amazoned it and it arrived on Saturday. [Don't you just love amazon? I especially love how "amazon" has become a verb.]

I've been having lots of fun brushing up on my French skills with My French Coach. I took French in high school and in college, so I remember a lot of the basics, but this program is amazing, because it lets you record your pronunciation and compare it with a native's recording. Unbelievably helpful! Plus, it has a lot of nice features that make it a bonus to travel with, such as a glossary and lists of helpful phrases in case you're in a pinch. [In France. Or maybe just in French Canada.] Anway, it has lots of fun training games and it's been fun to see just how much French I remember-and how much I've forgotten since BYU! Bailey started a file as well, so he's enjoying his French lessons with the DS.

And I'm still having fun with the original, My Word Coach. Bailey, Libby and I all have our files on Word Coach and I've been having them do some every day [give or take] so they can work on their vocabulary skills. I love how they're learning while they play!

how old is your brain?

It all started with Libby. A couple of months ago, she earned and saved enough money to buy a used Nintendo DS. Since I don't allow unrestricted access to video games [whether or not they bought it with their own funds] the DS is stored in my closet until she has permission to use it. It sits right where I can see it every day when I walk inside.

One night I am running errands and Christmas shopping by myself at Target and suddenly I find myself perusing the video games. I stop in front of the DS games and right at eye level is Brain Age. I've heard about Brain Age before. Adults play Brain Age. I, too, am an adult. And I love brain teasers, games, and sudoku, all of which are included in Brain Age. I have access to a Nintendo DS. I decide to buy my first ever video game. I'm feeling younger already.

And I'm hooked! I love competing with myself [and other family members] for the high score. One game card allows you to have four files on it, so Owen, Bailey, and Libby have been playing as well. There are daily training segments, and the more days that you train, the more games and options that are opened to you. And of course there is the namesake Brain Age Check. I currently hold the household high score of 24 [not too bad for a 35 year old mom 'o four]. The best Brain Age is 20, because apparently when we are 20 our minds are as sharp as they're going to get. And if you think about that fact for too long, it gets a little scary! The lowest score is 80. I'm determined to [someday] get to that score of 20. And I'll make sure and let you know when that happens!

Find out more about Brain Age at their website. I've already got my eye on Brain Age 2!

gluten-free girl

For those of you who are following a gluten-free diet, here is some information about a new book written by Shauna James Ahern, a woman who was recently diagnosed with celiac. I recently found her blog and have been following it. She's a great writer, cook, and photographer. So, if the book is as good as her blog, it should prove to be a great read! The book was just recently released and contains lots of gluten-free recipes. If you want to learn more about it, check out the book on Amazon. You can also get to her blog by clicking on gluten-free girl or by using the link on my sidebar under JUST FOR FUN.

love at first scent

I think I'm in love. With Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel.

Now, I know this is old news. Mademoiselle has been out for a few years now. But I'll be the first to admit that I'm behind the times. I noticed the new ad campaign [with Kiera Knightley] on the internet and had checked out the website. So, when I came across a magazine sample, I decided to try it. I rubbed every bit that I could off of that paper and onto my skin. And I really loved it! Even Owen, who barely notices what I look like, let alone if I smell good or not, told me that I smelled good. Hey, if he noticed, it has to be good!

So, I get to thinking. I know without even looking at the price list that I won't be rushing off to buy a bottle anytime soon. Christmas is always an option, yet so far away. Suddenly I remember the times when my friends and I were in high school and went to all the fragrance counters, collecting as many sample vials of perfume that we could. Hmm. I wonder. Do they still give out those little samples? I decide to find out.

After my visiting teaching appointment in the morning [yes, I am the eleventh hour visiting teacher], I stop by the local department store and head straight for the Chanel counter. After spritzing myself with Coco Mademoiselle [OK, dousing is really a much more accurate word], I score my sample of Mademoiselle! With a sample of Allure as well, just for good measure.

So now I have some. Maybe if I strategically place the Chanel ad just so on the bathroom counter, Owen will get the hint. Or maybe I can just keep going back for more samples! That could be fun it and of itself. There's just something about scent for me. When I am wearing something that really smells good, it's an automatic pick-me up. It even seems to keep me centered throughout the day when things get crazy. Maybe I'm just crazy!

aicha

Earlier this week I was at the bank. As I was signing my name, the young teller [who appeared to be at least partially Middle Eastern] asked me how I pronounce my name. When I told him, he looked interested and asked me, "Like the song?" I was thinking he was referring [as many people have in the past] to a song by some little boys singing about Aisha on the playground, so I said, "Yeah, yeah, I know that old song you're talking about." When he said that the song he was thinking about was fairly recent, I was curious and asked him to tell me more. He said it was a song by a group called Outlandish [they're a sort of eclectic, world-type band from Denmark, although the members are part Middle Eastern] and that it was called "Aicha" and pronounced the same way my name is [I guess the two are interchangeable].

He wrote it all down for me, told me that there were also versions of the song in French and Arabic, and then almost hesitantly asked me if I was part Arabic. That was kind of funny to me, since if you've ever seen me you know there is no way I could be Arabic-way too pale and not nearly exotic enough! I told him that although I wasn't Arabic, I was familiar with the Arabic origins of my name. In case you've never heard the story, before I was born my dad was reading a novel in Spanish [a language that has many Moorish influences] where the main character's name was Aisha. In the novel her name was originally spelled "Aixa." Thank heavens they didn't go for that spelling or I really would be in trouble. Aisha was also the name of Mohammed's youngest wife.

So, my interest was piqued. I googled it and actually came up with a video of the song on YouTube. The song is really mellow and sweet and I rather like it. Evidently this version is a remake of an older song by the same name [after seeing/hearing the original as well, I definitely like this one better] but it's sung in French. The video definitely has a Middle Eastern/World vibe to it. Click here to watch the video!

all things austen

I think I'm going to go and see "Becoming Jane" this weekend. I've been waiting to see it and I'm sooo excited about it. The movie opened the weekend Owen and I went to Sonoma, but it wasn't playing either here or up there yet [we saw "No Reservations" that weekend-it was very good]. So, I think it just started playing here either last weekend or the one before, and I'm ready to immerse myself in the British Regency period for a couple of hours. Last week I read "Austenland" by Shannon Hale and I just started "Mansfield Park" by Jane Austen this week, so I guess I'm in a bit of an Austen mood. Fine by me! I'll either go tonight and let Owen get the kids to bed by himself or, if he'll be getting home from work Saturday early enough, I'll catch a matinee then. And yes, I am going by myself. All the more popcorn for me!

UPDATE: Went to see it Friday night! It's good, although somewhat unexpected. Some parts are a bit, ah, rambunctious, for lack of a better word. It's always interesting to speculate about people of historical note, fleshing out what their lives may have been like. I've read a biography of Jane Austen, so I was already familiar with many of the major events in her family's life, but there are many things that we don't know about. I think that there were letters burned, etc. that may have shed some more light on her life. Evidently there is a book of the same title that this movie was based on. I've already got it on queue at the library-am looking forward to getting my hands on it. Anyhow, it was so nice to get out for an evening on my own. So liberating!

P.S. The movie features two British actors, Maggie Smith and Julie Waters, both of whom appear as regulars in the Harry Potter movies. Whenever they had scenes together, I couldn't help but thinking, "Wow, there's Professor McGonagall and Mrs. Weasley!" I know, so pathetic, but so funny at the same time!