Catchy title, eh? 

We’ve been pretty busy around here with cook outs and outings with the kids.  Yesterday’s outing to the local library was particularly interesting.  I pulled into the parking lot, gathered the kids, books, DVD’s and merrily crossed the lot and into the front doors of the library where I was met by a librarian who said, “A woman just called.  Apparently one of your tires is flat.  Did you know that?”

“No. Thank you for telling me.”  At that point I dumped all our stuff at the return desk and went back outside to inspect the tire.  It was as flat as any tire I’ve ever seen.  Completely deflated…I can’t believe I didn’t notice as I was driving but the roads in our area aren’t so great, so I’ll blame it on that!  I called Jim who called Geico and conferenced me in on a call with the service people and someone came out and changed the tire for me.  Within 30 minutes.  That’s my Geico commercial for the day…I wasn’t stranded really at all…and even if I had been we were in a safe place and not stuck on the side of a road somewhere!

Ana was lucky yesterday.  We scored a really old, but in really good condition copy of Cinderella (1954, Caldecott Medal Winner), “freely translated from Perrault” and illustrated by Marcia Brown for 5 cents (Our library sells the withdrawn books).  The illustrations have an impressionist feel to them, which I like.  And the story is a bit different from the Disney classic.  Cinderella goes to two balls and each time is unbelievably gracious and complimentary towards her step-sisters.  In the end, when she gets the prince, she takes her sisters to live in the castle with her and makes sure they are married well (two great Lords of the Court).

Cinderella was very kind and obedient in the movie, but I don’t remember her overlooking her sisters abuse and providing for them.  I’m wondering if this difference has something to do with the era in which it was written, but I don’t really know enough to say “yes” or “no.”  My gut tells me “yes” though…that we are more apt to look out for ourselves and forget our sisters and brothers, evil and abusive though they may be and decided that they have gotten their “just deserts” so to speak.  Anyone smarter than I have any thoughts on the matter.

That was yesterday’s excitement.  The kids and I went to an opera last week with our play-group friends (Papageno…an adaptation of The Magic Flute for kids) and loved it.  We then saw the Jungle Book on Monday which we didn’t like.  The rest of the week has been spent trying to get back into a regular routine following the craziness of Holy and Bright Weeks.  I have a cold on top of my allergies which is making me sniffly and snarfly.  Every allergy med I take this year save good old Benadryl makes my heart race.  I think I’ll make an appointment with Jim’s allergist this morning when I make our dentist appointments to see if there is anything else I can take.

Oh…and we already have water restrictions here.  It’s been extremely dry (but not real hot yet) and now we can only water from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.  This doesn’t bode well for the flowers and veggies I installed on our front porch on Tuesday…but maybe things will turn around!

I hope all is well in your neck of the woods….