Sharing my first story

I'm taking a informal writing course on a Fan Fic site on Magical Creatures. This was the first assignment. I think it turned out pretty well. I still have a few bugs in the story that I'm trying to fix - but I thought I'd share. It's only a page or so.
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September 1st was an exciting day at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The staff spent the day preparing the castle for the arrival of the students for the start of the term. While the staff prepared the castle, Tenebrus put the Thestral’s through their paces.

As with most of the animals that lived in the forbidden forest, Thestrals were unique creatures. They were winged horses with white shining eyes, dragonish faces and necks, and skeletal black bodies. The herd at Hogwarts was considered the first herd to be tamed and they had developed an internal clock that told them the days they were needed to pull the student carriages from the train station at Hogsmeade to the castle.

The day began for the Thestrals with their own feast. Early in the morning, Hagrid had dragged enough raw meat to satisfy the winged horses. After the Thestrals finished their meal, they all found a dark corner of the forest to rest.

By mid-afternoon, it was time for one last inspection. Everyone understood that few of the Hogwarts students could see them – after all it was only after witnessing a death that they became visible to humans – they still wanted to look their best. Tenebrus call for the Thestrals to line up for one last inspection. As the first Thestral born on the Hogwarts grounds, Tenebrus had taken the roll of lead Thestral for this herd.

“Osiris, head up a little. Akkad, your wings are a little dirty. Duat, nice stance.”

As the sun started to set over the lake, the Thestrals wandered from deep in the Forbidden Forest to nearer to the edge of awaiting Hagrid’s notification that it was time for them to assemble at the train station at Hogsmeade.

Rebeus Hagrid had been Hogwarts Gamekeeper and Keeper of the Keys and Grounds since he was expelled from Hogwarts during his third year. He has also recently been appointed the Care of Magical Creatures teacher.

Hagrid left his hut and wandered to the edge of the forest to call them. As he reached the forest, he gave an odd, shrieking cry that echoed through the forest like the call of some monstrous bird. Hearing Hagrid’s call, the Thestrals emerged from the forest.

“Tenebrus, it’s time,” Hagrid called to his favorite Thestral.

Hagrid watched the winged horses walk towards him. Normally, Thestrals prefer to fly, but they recognized the honor it was to pull the carriages for the student’s ride from the station at Hogsmeade to Hogwarts.

“I want to thank you” Hagrid began his customary start of term speech, “for helping us today. I realize that you prefer to fly, but as you know, the students might be a little concerned if the carriages suddenly started to fly. As always, a few students will be surprised to see you pulling the carriages today. Please don’t be frightened by their surprise. Please let me know if you notice any students who can now see you. This way I can explain to them that you have always been here, but they can now see you because they saw someone die over the break. I don’t want them to worry they are seeing things.”

“Now, where are my two year olds?” asked Hagrid looking for Jerry Garcia, the coach for the young animals. Hagrid had chosen the name Jerry Garcia after he heard the Grateful Dead song Althea shortly before the Thestral was born. Althea was Jerry Garcia’s mother and Hagrid had been pleased to honor her this way.

“Here they are,” said Jerry Garcia. “They are very excited to pull carriages for the first time. I’ve run them through the directions again today.”

A group of two year olds looked at Hagrid. “Are you nervous?” Hagrid asked gently - or as gently as a half giant could.

Looking at the ground a little scared, the group shook their heads yes.

“Don’t worry,” Hagrid said with confidence. “I know you will do a great job. Just follow the rest of the group.”

Tenebrus gathered the group of second years to line them up. As is tradition at the start of term, they pull the carriages for the second year students. The rest of the Thestrals lined up according to tradition with Tenebrus in the lead to pull the carriage reserved for the Head Boy and Girl.

After Hagrid hitched the Thestrals to the carriages, he led them toward the station at Hogsmeade. As Hagrid managed every year, the Thestrals lined up just as the train pulled into the station.

As the Thestrals watched the students disembark from the Hogwarts Express, they heard a familiar voice call “Firs’ years over here . . . firs’ years. . .”

The Adult Meme

Tired of all of those stupid surveys made by high school kids who really think its neat to sneak out and sleep in a bed with the "opposite" sex? Well, I am, too.

Let me know if you fill one out - or even part of one - I'll come read your answers.

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?
Doctor - they used to be OK, but this new insurance rates are horrible for visits.

2. Favorite place to eat a romantic dinner?
Any restaurant with good food overlooking the ocean.

3. Last time you puked from drinking?
A friends wedding - oi.

4. When is the last time you got drunk and woke up in a strange place?
Never woke up any place I didn't intend to be.

5. Name of your first grade teacher?
I don't remember. Second grade was Mrs. Previti (but that's not how to spell it)

6. What do you really want to be doing right now?
Exercising, but my head is pounding from dehydration (yard work all day without enough water - when will I ever learn)

7. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I wanted to be an astronaut from age 9 until I gave up the dream at 18.

8. How many colleges did you attend before you settled on the one you graduated from?
Just the one. It felt right.

9. Why did you wear the shirt that you have on right now?
It was the first one I could find to sleep in.

10. Gas prices! First thought?
Yipes!

11. If you could move anywhere and take someone with you where would you go and who would you take?
Italy or Switzerland. I'd take my husband and children, because they're in my good graces today, but the rest of my family is only allowed to visit.

12. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
I didn't set it, but woke up anyway. Thought - thank goodness Sydney slept past 6:00 am.

13. Last thought before falling asleep last night?
2*4 is something. I woke up to a horrible wizard fighting dream, decided to try Amanda's multiplication to fall asleep.

14. Favorite style of underwear?
all-cotton hi-rise bikini

15. Favorite style of underwear for the opposite sex?
boxers - but DH hardly wears them.

16. What errand/chore do you despise?
Tie between balancing the checkbook, paying bills or cleaning the bathroom.

17. If you didn't have to work, would you?
Yes. At least a little bit.

18. Sex or sleep?
*waffles*

19. Your favorite cartoon character?
Angelica

20. Favorite non-sexual thing to do at night with a girl/boy?
watch movies.

21. A secret that you wouldn't mind everyone knowing?
Um...

22. What was your first car?
1979 Ford Thunderbird. It was a boat.

23. Your best "Your Mamma" joke?
ummm.

24. Your favorite lunch meat?
Braunswieger or liverwaurst

25. What do you get every time you go into a WAWA?Hardly ever make it to that region.

26. Beach Or shore?
Beach. Or we often call it going to the lake... because that's where our beach is.

27. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual that was invented by people who died at 20?
Nay. I done found and married my soulmate.

28. Who do you stalk?
Dr. Poultry

29. Favorite guilty pleasure?
good chocolate - preferably direct from another country.

30. Favorite movie you wouldn't want anyone to find out about?
An American President - even my DD is named from that one.

31. What's your drink?
Coffee in the AM, Decaf tea in the afternoon, scotch at night (ok, not nightly)

32. Cowboys or Indians?
No real preference.

33. Cops or Robbers?
Cop - I could never do anything to get in trouble.

34. Do you cheer for the bad guys?
Usually the good guy.

42. Norm or Cliff?
Cliff.

43. The Cosby Show or the Simpsons?
Mood dependent.

44. Worst relationship mistake that you wish you could take back?
Being a little insecure with a guy I just met. I often wonder if college would have been more tolerable that first year if we'd really started dating. Otherwise, I would not change them at all.

45. Do you like the person who sits directly across from you at work?
I'm in an office by myself.

46. If you could get away with it, who would you kill?
can't think of anyone

47. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
Madeleine Albright.

48. What famous person would you like to sleep with?
I just have no imagination that way.

49. Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?
No.

50. Last book you read for real?
Harry Potter - and This Body

51. Do you have a teddy bear?
Yes.

52. Strangest place you have ever had sex?
I'm so incredibly boring - my living room

53. Strangest place you have ever wanted to have sex?
A hot tub.

54. How many times a day do you text?
Zero

55. At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or relationship?
Career.

56. Do you go to church?
Most weeks.

57. Pencil or Pen?
Usually pen - but pencil would need to be a mechanical one. I hate the sound of a wood pencil on paper.

Oh, those muscles

This weekend, we are on a mission to work in the yard. For the past two days, I've been working on weeding beds and pulling daisys and baby trees from the hill on our yard.

Needless to say, I discovered this morning that you need your hamstrings to walk.

We have ordered new ground cover to plant in the hillside, so we are trying to clear the area before it arrives.

I'll post before and after pictures later.

Maybe I should head out now before it gets too hot.

Sunday Six - Memorial Day and Memory

"Sunday Six!" is a game where Kelly asks us to have six questions answered. Remember, the idea is to post answers to the following six question, but the trick is to get your kids to answer them! If you don't have kids, use your imagination... Your pet, your neighbor, your elderly family member, your roommate, etc. Did you play? Let me and Kelly know so we can visit you.

Today I was able to ask Sarah (SB - age 6 yrs) and Sydney (SK - age 3 yrs) the Sunday 6. I asked Sydney first so she was not influenced by her big sister's answers. Here they are:

1. Why do we celebrate Memorial Day?
SK: Cause tomorrow will be my birthday [not really]

SB: Because people who die.

2. How do we celebrate Memorial Day?
SK: Cause it will be my birthday tomorrow.

SB: Lots of people put flowers on peoples gravies.

3. What is a memory?
SK: Memory you play on the computer and you click the memory button on Thomas. [She likes to play the memory game on the Thomas the Tank Engine website]

SB: You remember people who die - like my Great Great Grandma.

4. What is your best memory?
SK: Playing a small memory game. [the easy setting of the above mentioned game]

SB: Nicholas - he played trains with me.

5. What do we cook when we BBQ?
SK: You make a tent.

SB: Hamburgers

6. Where is your favorite place to BBQ?

SK: Playing the workshop.

SB: Home.

Really - I'm here

I've had an off week. I don't know why because nothing is really wrong. I think I'm suffering of fear of the unknown. I had an appointment with my physical therapist on Friday. He thinks the steroid shot in my ankle didn't work. He thinks I'll need an MRI (I hope they've improved in the past 15 years). I fear that what I've believed all along is that I tore something.

I fear that if I did tear something, they will want to operate. After all, it's been 6 mos since I sprained it and nothing (physical therapy and brace) have fully fixed it. It's better - even in the past month - but not fixed.

The last time I went in for surgery in a hospital, I almost died (I survived having my wisdom teeth pulled). I realized that the probability of something going catastrophically wrong is minimal, but emotionally it's a PTSD issue.

I see the Orthopeadic Surgeon on June 5th.

But, I did manage to write my first Harry Potter drabble. It's just over 600 words and it's about the activities at the first day of Hogwarts before the train arrives. I've never written fiction before, so I'm pretty impressed. I'll post it after I've seen a few reviews.

So, I've not posted a lot - I've read, I've written, and I've tried to unbury my desk. I'll try to be around more.

Sunday Six - Our World

"Sunday Six!" is a game where Kelly asks us to have six questions answered. Remember, the idea is to post answers to the following six question, but the trick is to get your kids to answer them! If you don't have kids, use your imagination... Your pet, your neighbor, your elderly family member, your roommate, etc. Did you play? Let me and Kelly know. Today I was able to ask Sarah (SB - age 6 yrs) and Sydney (SK - age 3 yrs) the Sunday 6. I asked Sydney first so she was not influenced by her big sister's answers. Here they are:


This week, Kelly observed that Children are much more aware of the world around them... more than we often give them credit for. Let's see how aware they are this week (for lack of better theme!)

1. When you see Mommy or Daddy on the computer, what are they doing?

SK: Push the the peuter (computer) on.

SB: ummmmm Working?

2. How does a telephone work?

SK: You press the buttons until you need to answer the phone.

SB: It rings when someone is calling you.

3. When you play a game at an arcade (might need to expand and explain this one for them) what happens to the coin you use to start the game?

SK: It was gone (yea, the pretty well describes it!)

SB: goes into the machine.

4. How does milk stay cold?

SK: You just now warmed it up (we warm it in the microwave before she drinks it) and you put in in the kitchen fridgerator and make it coldie.

SB: Fridgerator.

5. What makes the car move?

SK: You put the engine on and drive.

SB: Gas

6. How does a radio work?

SK: When you turn it on and sleep in your bed (she falls asleep to music).

SB: People speak on it.

I DID IT!!

I survived my dance! One of the funny parts of these recitals is the response the moms in the audience have. You might have a parent stop a dancer they don't know once in a while, but I end up with a wide following.

I will admit I'm a bit of a unique feature in studio. You don't often have a 40 year old woman dancing in a kids recital, but I really enjoy it and it's fun to show what I've learned.

This dance was a bit of a challenge. The steps themselves were not hard, nor were the combinations. It was just that there were a lot of them. I really needed another week to learn them all, but - well, I did my best and kept up pretty well.

I need to go gather my laundry so DH can wash the clothes.

On to my next project, a friend has convinced me to try my hand at writing a Harry Potter fan fiction. I've tried to tell her I have no imagination (I'm a better editor than writer) but you never know until you try.

Definitely over my head

Tomorrow is the dance recital. Today, I still only know part of the dance. I knew this was going to happen. I knew that I would get most of the way but not all with this dance. I started learning it too late.

I was a bit frustrated that our instructor chose a number that was a bit of a stretch for me for the amount of time I had to learn it. I was the only person who didn't know a good portion of it 5 weeks ago. But, she is a good friend of mine and she knew I'd be a trooper.

So, I'm going to fake my way through knowing it.

I'll run steps about a hundred times back stage in hopes that I can beat it into my brain. I'll smile, I'll keep moving and I'll be a little frustrated that it's more than I can do.

The steps aren't all hard - although there are two steps that I truly can't do, but they are just beyond me. For the last two years, my dances have not been challenging. The first year, it was at my level, the second year I could have handled more. This dance is really where I have evolved to - if only I had time on my side.

So, wish me luck!

treading water

I'm swamped this week. I'll update later tonight.

Spring is finally here!!

Today, the rain finally stopped enough for our tulips to open. It was hovering near 60 today! So, I broke out my new camera and set it for the foliage setting. Here are the results.

These are Grecian Windflowers

I'm not sure what this is.


These are tulips our previous owner's planted. I love their vibrant red color.

Here is Sarah with the tulips

and Sydney with the tulips.

Can you tell I love my new camera?

Sunday Six - to honor Mothers.

"Sunday Six!" is a game where Kelly asks us to have six questions answered. Remember, the idea is to post answers to the following six question, but the trick is to get your kids to answer them! If you don't have kids, use your imagination... Your pet, your neighbor, your elderly family member, your roommate, etc. Did you play? Let me and Kelly know. Today I was able to ask Sarah (SB - age 6 yrs) and Sydney (SK - age 3 yrs) the Sunday 6. I asked Sydney first so she was not influenced by her big sister's answers. Here they are:

1. What is a Mommy?

SK: You (points at me)

SB: You, Y-o-u, you.

2. What do Mommies do?

SK: Clean up the house.

SB: They take care of little girls

3. What do you like best about your Mommy?

SK:Giving hugs (to sister and mommy and daddy)

SB: She reads me stories.

4. What do you not like (if anything) about your Mommy?

SK: No.

SB: She yells at me sometimes (she was very emphatic about the sometimes part).

5. What are things that Mommies can't do?

SK: Nothing - but you can cut.

SB: They can't lay on anyone.

6. What did you do for your mommy for Mother's Day?

SK: Bring a camera to her.

SB: I gave her a baby shoe.


Sarah's teacher had us send in an old shoe. They covered them in glue, and spay painted them gold. It's very cute. I've saved very few cloths for the kids. It was very hard to part with a shoe, but it's sooooo cute.

DH surprised me by buying a Canon Powershot A540. Now, if you read earlier this week, you know that DH told me he was buying me a digital camera. But, I didn't expect this much of a camera!

As much as I love these presents, my favorite was the card with a different thing that Sarah loves about me on each petal.

I hope you all had a happy Mother's day (even if you are just celebrating that it's Sunday.)

Yea - it's almost summer

Today we have temps in the 30s, predicitons for 1-3 inches of snow and currrently we have icy rain.

I think it's May.

Just a half step ahead

My poor DH. I seem to manage to be just a hair ahead of him, but never when he wants me to be.

I've been looking at new grills lately. The one we have is almost 10 years old and really needs to be replaced. So, the other night DH mentioned that it would be a great Mother's Day present. He told me the girls were already making me things at school/daycare. Stock answer. I've never liked it but hey, he does the laundry every Sat.

So, last night, he mentions that he was just about to buy me a digital camera when I announced about the grill and which would I prefer. I felt like a heel as I keep doing this - I come up with things just a hair too soon.

I decided the grill, while not great, is functional - but I can't play games without a camera!

So, soon you will be inundated with pics.

Gotcha Son!

Last night, DH and I were watching "Two and a Half Men." I started watching this show because I love Jon Cryer and Charlie Sheen. DH has started wandering into the living room every Monday at 9:00 and ask if I'm planning on watching *my* show.

In last night's episode, Jake had been invited to his first boy/girl party. The moves his uncle Charlie had taught him were fabulous - right down to "the more you move your arms while you are dancing, the sillier to look."

As he got back in the car, Jake's dad inquired if he had received a kiss good night from his crush. He informed his dad that it was private. Uncle Charlie then gets a glean in his eye and says

C: congratulations.
Jake: (looking confused) Why?
C: You have lipstick all over your mouth.
J: (wiping at mouth) Oh man.
C: Just kidding. And Congrats.

I wish I had sons just so I could try this!!

When is too much

I love my child playing sports. I think it teaches her a lot about teamwork and winning/losing with grace. Sarah loves playing sports too.

In fact, I like "Girl Power" so much, I bought Sarah these shoes for t-ball and soccer this year.

She doesn't know I ordered them for her, she just knows the nice lady at the store is trying to find them for her.

I signed Sarah up for t-ball thinking it was 1 night a week plus Sat. Nope, they found extra money and were able to expand back to 2 nights plus Sat. Most of the season is played while the kids are still in school. I know it's just t-ball, and she can miss, but it's still hard to do this.

The first night of practice, the coach we were sharing the field with wanted to scrimmage. The coaches knew nothing about the players they had - nor did they know if they could hit, throw or run. My child has never hit a real ball off a real tee with a real bat.

Thankfully, our coach didn't think they would learn the game better by scrimmaging on the first night and instead did primarily batting practice for the hour. I really like their coach. He seems to understand that you first have to let the kids get the batting part out of their system, then start working on the other skills.

I'm not even sure where I'm going with this - but I know that I'm having a hard time with losing 2 nights a week to t-ball. I just think that it's too much to expect of 5 and 6 y.o.'s. I guess I don't see why they need 1 practice and 2 games a week for 6 weeks. Maybe one of my lurkers can explain this to me.

The Education of Gifted Children

I will admit, my views have changed a bit since my child has entered Kindergarten.

What I've observed in Sarah's class is that kindy students arrive with a wide spectrum of knowledge. Some know what do to with circle time, they already know counting - others have never been in preschool and aren't sure of how the classroom routine works, otheres barely know their alphabet.

It seems that somewhere during second grade, the disparity starts to close.

On one of my boards, we ended up with a thread wondering what to do with the gifted Kindy student. I will admit I don't believe in jumping grades. I do believe in jumping subjects. I personally believe there is so much information to be learned that we fall into the rut of "forward motion" rather than learning all there is within the skill set we have.

For example, libraries are filled with a very large number of books for each age group. But once kids are comfortable with early readers, we automatically move them to reading chapter books. A better answer might be to have them start telling and writing stories using the site words they have mastered.

As a society, we seem to only know to challenge by horizontally challenging kids (moving to the next level). I feel we need to develop our vertical challenging of kids (creative learning within a skill set).

My child is definitely advanced for her classroom. She is one of the first to finish and really keeps her teacher on her toes. But, she has a teacher who is willing to work to challenge her rather than asking her to sit quietly while the rest of the class finishes their work. Sometimes it's extra work, sometimes it's something as simple as putting information into back packs.

I'm not sure I feel that the education system is saying that we shouldn't challenge our gifted children until 2nd grade. But, it will take a little bit for the group of gifted children to emerge. After all, how do they know if the child was just well prepared for kindergarten or recognize the truly gifted child who doesn't appear so because nobody nurtured natural curiosity in a child who barely knows his or her ABCs, we need to give the children a chance. Does that mean we don't encourage natural curiosity?

No, but maybe instead of teaching them what they will learn in 1st grade (perpetuating the cycle of the student knowing more than the rest of the class) teach the child who loves dinosaurs how to spell the names of the dinosaurs.

As parents, our job is to work with our children's teachers to make sure they are meeting the needs of our child. It is also our job to supplement the learning.

To me, this doesn't mean not teaching them something they ask to learn (like when Sarah wanted to learn to read), but not introducing the next level automatically before you expand what they have already learned.

I will tell you, the freshman I see in class really seem to be missing a natural curiosity beyond what is taught. It's much harder to convince an 18 y.o. they want to learn more than the assigned than it is to nurture that in a kindergarten student.

Sunday Six - getting old

"Sunday Six!" is a game where Kelly asks us to have six questions answered. Remember, the idea is to post answers to the following six question, but the trick is to get your kids to answer them! If you don't have kids, use your imagination... Your pet, your neighbor, your elderly family member, your roommate, etc. Did you play? Let me and Kelly know.

Today I was able to ask Sarah (SB - age 6 yrs) and Sydney (SK - age 3 yrs) the Sunday 6. I asked Sydney first so she was not influenced by her big sister's answers. Here they are:


1. How old is old?

SK: 3

SB: 70, I mean, numbers never stop.


2. Who do you think of when you hear the word old?

SK: 3

SB: Somebody is very old.

3. Are you old?

SK: NO.

SB: Only 6.

4. What does it mean to get old?

SK: 3

SB: You're a big fat grandpa (laughs at how amusing she is).

5. How old should you be to get a job?

SK: 4

SB: 20

6. Who should take care of old people?

SK: Mommies.

SB: Big fat grandpas (laughs again)
(sydney, Why do you keep saying "Big fat grandpa's?" Sarah, "because that's my answer)

Tap song

Our dance recital is coming up in a few weeks. I only have a few weeks to learn my dance. I'm really starting to panic.

Here is the song I will dance too. It's bit long, but it's growing on me.


Tons of Songs at WebCodez.com!

And the tide changes

While driving to work today, I heard that schools were starting to take out sugary drinks out of school.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/03/AR2006050300053.html?sub=AR

Interestingly, Kelly noticed an influx of diet soda's at her office this week.

It seems that all elementary schools and middle schools will only stock drink machines with water and healthier juices (8 oz for elementary and 10 oz for middle school). High Schools will stock water, sports drinks, diet sodas and healthier juices (12 oz) But, if you want a regular Coke or Pepsi you either have to bring your own or wait until you head home.

I remember arriving at high school and being able to grab something to drink whenever I wanted. It was liberating to have such control over my life.

But, I'm not sure that replacing sugar with sugar substitutes is necessarily heathier. True, I've chosen to drink diet drinks for most of my life - but it's been my choice. I work hard to limit my exposure to them and my children. I agree for diabetics, they are a godsend.

Maybe the availablility of healthy alternatives coupled with portion control will help students lead a heathier lifestyle.

After all, does a student really need a 20 oz bottle of soda when a 12 oz would be adequate?

We got the call

I debated for a long time about signing Sarah up for t-ball. She gets really cranky in the evenings so night-time activities are limited. She wanted to play t-ball for the past 3 years. Last year we rejected it because we learned t-ball was 2 nights a week plus Sat - a bit more than she could handle. We made the same determination this year, but then learned on the last possible sign up day that due to field availability, it was only 1 night plus Sat. THAT, we can handle. So, I sent in the application 2 days late. Thankfully, we are in a small town. So, the wait list is almost a formality at this age. I hadn't heard anything, nor had they cashed our check a week ago.

But, last night, we got the call that Sarah starts t-ball on Wednesday night. I'm tooo excited. She is too.

Sign up for soccer is Wed night also. Thankfully, one pair of cleats should work for both.

I wonder if I can find pink ones. . . .