Thursday, January 22, 2009

Too much TV, not enough time

I recorded 5-1/2 hours of inauguration coverage and I've only watched about an hour so far. It's strange trying to watch it without Kevin. Yes, I've read the newspaper coverage, but this is something I want to SEE.

Nina is pretty excited and really wants to watch some of it. I think tonight we're going to view the FIRST Oath of Office, the one without "faithfully." We also bought an age-appropriate biography of the 44th president the other day and are reading a little each night. Nina really likes reading about Sasha and Malia, though she jealous that they're the same ages as cousins Lillian and Mary. "Which was was born in 2003, like me?" she wants to know. Nina also wants to know a lot more about The Jonas Brothers, since they've figured so prominently in the First Daughters' inauguration-week activities.

So why haven't we watched the whole thing yet? Because I've been caught up in a "Lost" marathon. The Season Five preview aired last night, and I wanted to refresh my memory about the first four seasons. So while Kevin's been out of town, I've been turning on the tube immediately after getting the kids to bed, watching three or four episodes each night. I've been staying up a little too late and having lots of plane-crash nightmares. I'm up to the beginning of Season Three, but I took a break from the DVDs to watch the new show last night.

SPOILER ALERT: Not quite sure what I think about last night's episode--the whole time travel thing is a little far-fetched for me. Still, I'm hopeful about getting a few more answers to some of the many mysteries this season. And where the heck is Claire?

In other exciting Eason family news, I've had a couple of stories in the paper this week, one on a Jack and Jill-Memphis Chapter tennis mentoring program and one about family movie night.

Happy Thursday.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. We discussed delivering MIFA meals today in honor of the holiday but didn't get things coordinated soon enough. But I will be taking the girls to The Children's Museum of Memphis, which has several events scheduled in conjunction with the holiday. Last year, Nina and Amelia leared a lot about MLK and heard his "I Have A Dream" speech. Today seems especially significant in light of the election of Barack Obama, and like many Americans, I feel that Dr. King's dream has finally come true.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Flight 1549

UPDATE: Phooey! Sully postponed the interview.

I've been a junkie for information on U.S. Airways Flight 1549, and I'll definitely be tuned into the Today show tomorrow to see the interview with Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger III. I find the story absolutely fascinating, an almost unbelievable example of everything going right in what could have easily been a tragedy. I imagine the pilots and flight attendants spent untold hours in safety training in their many years in the industry, and all that training served 155 people well that day. The ferry-boat operators and passengers and first responders who sprang into action without even thinking about their own safety--they're all heroes. Not to mention the passengers, who for the most part remined calm-headed in the ordeal, and many of them helped one another to safety. And every one of them I've seen interviewed has expressed much gratitude for the quick thinking. professionalism and selfishness that saved their lives.

This story just gives me faith in humanity, and I can't get enough of it.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Ha Ha

This is the funniest video I've seen in a long time. Thanks to Kristy Macre for sending. (Warning: includes foul language, alcohol, nicotine and stupidity).

Friday, January 16, 2009

Employee of the Year

Wanted to brag for a minute on the World's Greatest Aunt, who just happens to be MY aunt. Maureen Tice, affectionately known as Pookie by all of her famiy and many of her friends, was named the St. Jude Children's Rsearch Hospital Employee of the Year for 2008. You can read more about her, the hospital and the award in an Employee Spotlight article here.
Man, has it really been almost two months since I posted on my blog?! I can't believe how behind I've been (on everything) over the holidays, but I'm really working to get caught up.

We had a great holiday season. Spent Thanksgiving in Hilton Head at a beach condo, then enjoyed numerous Christmas festivities and family gatherings in December. It went by so fast! Nina and Amelia really enjoyed having two-plus weeks off from school, ballet, scouts, etc., but Mom was really ready for the holidays to end. Don't get me wrong--we had a lot of fun playing games, watching movies, putting together puzzles, etc., but I was glad when it was over and I was no longer their full-time source of entertainment.

I thought things would slow down in January, but we've had a couple of birthday parties already this month plus three more this weekend. I'm getting back into freelancing (I had a story in The Commercial Appeal today on the interesting subject of
permaculture; if I didn't have such a black thumb, I would definitely like to pursue growing some of our own food) after a holiday break, and I hope to soon have a little time for fiction writing. Much of January has been spent trying to get organized so I'll have more time to pursue my writing, and I'm slowly but surely getting there.

And now, much to my chagrin, Kevin has been asked to shift to another company office to help out for a few weeks. He leaves EARLY Sunday morning for the Twin Cities, which experienced a record cold spell this week. He'll be gone for about two weeks, then come home for a week, and probably back to Minnesota for a couple more weeks, though it could take longer. It remains to be seen whether I'll have more or less time for writing while he's out of town, but I have no doubt that the girls and I will really miss him!

Hope the holidays were wonderful for all of you and that your New Year is off to a great start.