Okay, so I’m not really reading Minerva.
I did read it last week, though. It’s my favorite Regency novel, even
though I can’t “officially” recommend it due to the
questionable-morality scence at the end (although not graphic in any
way). 

Shouldn’t I be grading timed essays for my AP class? Yes, and I will
get back to it right after I post. Blogging is an awful lot like
writing letters for me, something I love to do.  I don’t think I
would use it as an emotional outreach, but it is an interesting thought
posed by kid6896.  I think that the sum total of all my writing
when I die will be contained in letters to friends, talks I’ve given,
and comments on essays.  I was thinking this morning of all the
things I enjoy, and if I could pick only one of them to continue doing,
which one would it be? I decided that I’d allow myself three things
instead of one: reading, writing letters, and taking walks.  I’ve
often thought, “If I were ever put in a concentration camp (not likely,
I realize), what would I miss the most?” I think of this quite often
when I slide into a bubble bath with a novel and a bowl of Jax cheese
twists or chocolate by my side. What would it be for you? What would
you miss? What three activites would you want on your list?

To answer a question in my comments–why didn’t I have my tooth pulled
instead of crowned–the dentist seemed to think that my bite would be
messed up, which is ironic considering how much my jaw cracks and how
much my bite was affected by the crown. Go figure.

Tonight, Libby has a buddy for a sleepover (Sarah B. for those who know
her.). They are giggling in the basement listening to the new Wow 2006
CD my mom got Libby for her birthday and are playing American Girl
dolls. I like nice friends. (And now, let’s all sing along with
Barney…)

Our whole family seems to have some sort of odd ailment which has no
other symptom than fatigue. Of course, it might not be a virus, but a
lifestyle. Still, it is odd that it hit almost all of us at the same
time.

Nathan is off archery hunting for the next few days. When I think about
hunting, I feel very sad for the animal, but I try not to think about
it. When I think about hamburger too much, I don’t feel the same way,
because those cows weren’t happily running wild.  I guess I’m
secretly a bleeding heart. Maybe I’m just squeamish.

Am I allowed to type a blog when I should be doing something
else?  It’s lunch break for the kids right now, but they are
working on chores. “He who does not work, neither let him eat” is a
maxim at our house. If chores are not done, then the kids do not get
lunch.  Yes, some days one or so of them haven’t eaten lunch until
2:00 or later, but when they eat a huge breakfast at 8:30, I think they
can last.

Yesterday continued the undefeated streak for both  David and
Michael in football. They both played Central Mountain, a team from
Lock Haven, and easily the toughest team in the league to beat (except
for the mighty Centre Bulldogs, of course).  The weather was
gorgeous, no one got hurt, and we had a party at a teammate’s after
David’s game, so I didn’t even have to think about supper. Plus, while
I was waiting for David’s game to start, I had about 45 minutes to
write in my journal, which was a  nice treat.

Today David starts attending a club at Park Forest  Middle School.
It’s the Technology Student Association. Despite the geeky name, I
think it will be right up David’s alley as they do Lego robotics,
middle school engineering competitions, and computer things.  We
shall see!

Nathan has orchestra (first chair trumpet this year!) and his shooting
league.  I don’t know that I mentioned last week’s ordeal. 
Two weeks ago, Nathan and James came home from the shooting league
complaining because they insisted N. shoot with both eyes open. He
always shoots with one eye closed. He did as they asked and his scores
went from 97 to 76, a huge, embarassing drop. Well, the real problem is
that Nathan is right-eye dominant and shoots left-handed.  We
consulted a professional (my dad) and determined that Nathan needs to
start shooting  right-handed.  This sentence seemed like a
horrible one for my extremely sinistral son, but we decided to try it
out. So, with fear and trepidation of just how low his score would go
the very first time he shot a gun right handed, Nathan and I headed off
to the shooting club.  It turns out that he immediately took to
shooting right handed and shot a 92 and a 94. I was rather impressed.

We’ve been enjoying the Canterbury Tales, and I’m looking forward to a
big Death Day celebration for ol’ Chaucer on the 25th. I’m not sure
what we’ll do. Pin the nose on the Wife of Bath?  Pass gas out the
window like Sly Nicholas?  Tell our dreams and recomment laxatives
like Chauntecleer and Pertelote?  Oh, the options are almost
endless… Maybe we’ll watch Heath Ledger and Paul Bettany in Knight’s
Tale. No, it’s not real Chaucer, but it’s fun. I like the part when
they all break in to the modern dance–so goofy!