He said it!

I love Ogden Nash, and he is a giver of very good advice.

A Word to Husbands by Ogden Nash


To keep your marriage brimming

With love in the loving cup,

Whenever you’re wrong, admit it;

Whenever you’re right, shut up.

To A Small Boy Standing On My Shoes While I Am Wearing Them by Ogden Nash


Let's straighten this out, my little man,

And reach an agreement if we can.

I entered your door as an honored guest.

My shoes are shined and my trousers are pressed,

And I won't stretch out and read you the funnies

And I won't pretend that we're Easter bunnies.

If you must get somebody down on the floor,

What in the hell are your parents for?

I do not like the things that you say

And I hate the games that you want to play.

No matter how frightfully hard you try,

We've little in common, you and I.

The interest I take in my neighbor's nursery

Would have to grow, to be even cursory,

And I would that performing sons and nephews

Were carted away with the daily refuse,

And I hold that frolicsome daughters and nieces

Are ample excuse for breaking leases.

You may take a sock at your daddy's tummy

Or climb all over your doting mummy,

But keep your attentions to me in check,

Or, sonny boy, I will wring your neck.

A happier man today I'd be

Had someone wrung it ahead of me.

Do you know about poetry slams?
They are all kinds of awesome.
Poetry is made to be enjoyed aloud so if you can, follow the link to youtube. However,  the first poem I've linked  is also copied below from Taylor Mali's webpage below so you can read it even if you can't see and hear his amazing performance.

What Teachers Make  (performed by the author)

What Teachers Make, or
Objection Overruled, or
If things don't work out, you can always go to law school

By Taylor Mali

He says the problem with teachers is, "What's a kid going to learn
from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"
He reminds the other dinner guests that it's true what they say about teachers:
Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.
I decide to bite my tongue instead of his
and resist the temptation to remind the other dinner guests
that it's also true what they say about lawyers.
Because we're eating, after all, and this is polite company.

"I mean, you're a teacher, Taylor," he says.
"Be honest. What do you make?"

And I wish he hadn't done that
(asked me to be honest)
because, you see, I have a policy
about honesty and ass-kicking:
if you ask for it, I have to let you have it.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional medal of honor
and an A- feel like a slap in the face.
How dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall
in absolute silence. No, you may not work in groups.
No, you may not ask a question.
Why won't I let you get a drink of water?
Because you're not thirsty, you're bored, that's why.

I make parents tremble in fear when I call home:
I hope I haven't called at a bad time,
I just wanted to talk to you about something Billy said today.
Billy said, "Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don't you?"
And it was the noblest act of courage I have ever seen.

I make parents see their children for who they are
and what they can be.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids wonder,
I make them question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them write, write, write.
And then I make them read.
I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely
beautiful
over and over and over again until they will never misspell
either one of those words again.
I make them show all their work in math.
And hide it on their final drafts in English.

I make them understand that if you got this (brains)
then you follow this (heart) and if someone ever tries to judge you
by what you make, you give them this (the finger).

Let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true:
I make a goddamn difference! What about you?


The The Impotence of Proofreading (tee hee, this one is funny)

and just one more, because I really just had to

Totally like whatever, you know?

It's National Poetry Month again!

I do love poetry, not just the formal kind, any lyrical expression of words will work, really.
I have to start the month off with Auden, cuz I luffs him.

The More Loving One    by W. H. Auden

Looking up at the stars, I know quite well
That, for all they care, I can go to hell,
But on earth indifference is the least
We have to dread from man or beast.

How should we like it were stars to burn
With a passion for us we could not return?
If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me.

Admirer as I think I am
Of stars that do not give a damn,
I cannot, now I see them, say
I missed one terribly all day.

Were all stars to disappear or die,
I should learn to look at an empty sky
And feel its total dark sublime,
Though this might take me a little time.
-----------------------------
Over here you can hear him read his poem On the Circuit.

It's another stolen meme!

Lime was having fun with this, and so was Cooper, so I played along.  The Queen's Meme #76

The Prissy Meme

1. What is your favorite lipstick color and why?

As you can see, my lipsticks are all variations on a pretty similar theme; matte in a vaguely natural shade. When I'm wearing makeup I like to look like me, but ever-so-slightly more attractive, you know, that I just had a great...
walk
 sort of look. 
2. How long does it take you to get ready to go to work in the morning?
 Anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, in actual getting ready minutes. If I get online...it may take longer.

3. Do you have your nails professionally done? Mani? Pedi?
I have my toes done from time to time. It's been about a year though. My favorite part is sitting in the massage chair with the little mini whirlpool massage thing working on my feet, hmmmmm... feels so goooooood. Then I had the gal paint my nails bright green.

4. Tell us about your latest spa experience - real or imagined.

I got a gift certificate for a massage and facial. It was AWESOME! I love being

stroked, and rubbed, and you know...all that.

5. Is there something you'd like to change about your appearance? Would you ever have cosmetic surgery?

I think I'm mostly ok with what I've been issued.
As for surgery? Well, ask me again in 10 years.

6. How do you take care of your skin?
It rubs the lotion on its skin.

7. Tell us your secrets for vibrant, shiny, healthy-looking hair.

Don't shampoo it.

8. What is your favorite fragrance?
I tend to like real scents; verbena, lavender, vanilla, cinnamon, or coconut,
no artificial chemical substitutes accepted!!

9. Everyone has a certain color they love to wear. What is yours?

Ummm, I am going with...brownish

10. Do you have ink?

At the moment, yes, all over my hands, dang Sharpie markers!

11. How would you describe your personal style?
Eclectic
----------------------------------------------------------------
Also,

This is a hat, scarf, and fingerless glove set I made for the esteemed elder sister for Christmas, modelled here by a thrilled looking Thing Two.



Have you noticed this?

       JAVIER BARDEM            JEFFREY DEAN MORGAN

                       Are we sure this isn't the same guy?

What I'm listening to today - Stephin Merritt

The Gothic Archies


Magnetic Fields


Magnetic Fields


Magnetic Fields

Pictures as demanded

First, I was gone for Valentine's Day so I missed my usual opportunity to mock.

To make up for it here is a bouquet for you all.

See how much I love you? I give you the very best.

Here is a picture Thing One used for his poster in World History in their treatment of Fascism.

Here is Notre Dame. I got to see Notre Dame, isn't that AWESOME?!?!

This next one is Sacre Coeur. Walking up all the steps to this church make me think I was probably going to see Jesus quite soon. Holy cow, it's a long way up.

This is the inside of the Orsay Museum which was once a train station. It is gorgeous on its own and THEN, when you count all the Monet, Manet, Van Gogh, Morisot, Renoir, etc. etc. it is one of the most beautiful places in Paris!

Mr. Logo was spoken to quite sharply for taking that photo. I hope you enjoyed it.

Here he is at the Moulin Rouge. Last time he was in the area he went in for a show.

Next, you have the Champs Elysees as seen from the top of the Arc de Triomphe.

As you can see, we brought our NW weather with us.

The stairs in the Arc de Triomphe.

For reasons that defy understanding Mr.Logo decided he need a photo of my ass as I went up to look at the winged victory.

Who knows...

Rue Cler is the home of a really yummy pastry shop where I got a Napoleon.

This is some sidewalk art we found.

The English language book shop on the Left Bank.

You knew I had to go there!