Please, call me Chuck
Although I set my alarm as usual, I didn’t have to, seeing as I have absolutely zero children to take to school this morning. I know what you’re thinking: I wished them away. No, no. I’m not as rabidly anti-parenting today. They just spent the night with friends, leaving me to remain tucked contentedly in bed with my coffee, my laptop, my books, my word puzzle magazine, my guitar lesson manual, my guitar, a small pile of clothes, and my desk-sized Scribner-Bantam dictionary. If I were to lift up a couple of the books, I would probably find a few scattered sunflower seed shells as well.
Man, today feels good. Rather stress-inducing events are behind me, so I can simply relax. I should find the magic paycheck in the mailbox later, so I can order oil and pay a few bills. The paying part isn’t fun, but the having-them-paid part is. We must endure the shit to enjoy the flowers, musn’t we? I have a few errands to run; namely, buying items to fill a couple gift boxes. I’m really a one-stop shopper (because I’m lazy; not because I advocate it… grr Wal-Mart), so it’s hard to motivate myself to drive around from store to store, but once I get into the rhythm of it, I have fun. Besides, buying presents for friends is a blast.
My meeting with Torie’s people yesterday went great. Both the guidance counselor and the psychologist are very loving, kind women whom I can tell really like Torie, who joined us as we talked. (Though nothing was said outright, I believe they thought I was going through a divorce, as Torie had told them earlier that her dad is in Nantucket, but I decided not to disillusion them because I found myself basking with great delight in their sympathy.) It was decided that, instead of ADD testing right away, Torie would see the school psychologist once a week for unburdening purposes. Halleluia. I’m a huge proponent of unburdening oneself to psychologists and their ilk, and I truly think it’s all Torie will need to help her through the next couple months.
Random and sundry thoughts:
@ To ease my transition out of Sunnydale, I put a picture of Spike and Buffy on my computer background. That way, every time I sit down to write, I can gently press Spike’s forehead with my finger and lovingly say, “doink.” Some of us must find therapy via less conventional means.
@ There’s only one book I can read these days, along the lines of outright spirituality, that doesn’t fill me with impatience, and that’s My Utmost for his Highest by Oswald Chambers. He was very down-to-earth, and yet seemed to have a grasp of some of the loftier ideas. At least, he explored them in a way I can relate to. Besides, the book is broken up into smallish, daily readings, which is exactly what I need right now.
@ One of my guitar assignments this week is to come up with a variation on the first line of Ode to Joy by next week, so last night I sat down and started tinkering. You guys, I am having more fun that I ever imagined. Exploring which notes sound best together, memorizing what the notes are, and writing them down – all that – is once again feeding the songwriter in me. I forgot how much I love that stuff. I’ve even been hearing fresh new ditties in my head again, as well as thinking of how my old piano songs can fit with the guitar. I think about my guitar all the time now, like a lover, which makes sense, since I hug it more to myself than I do any human person. Thank God it’s incompatible for sex purposes, so none of you have to worry.
Unless you want to. Have a great day, friends. Kiss xo
March 9th, 2006 08:18
#FIRST
March 9th, 2006 08:20
I’m thinking you need to be inventive, I’m sure a geeetar could be used to good effect (have never tried it myself tough, now the mind boggles….)
Glad all the parenting malarkey went well, is that what I have to look forward to? God help me.
Have a great day, Chuck xx
March 9th, 2006 08:35
Wow, American schools really do have counsellors and psychologists! How weird. I always thought it was something they made up for TV and movie purposes.
I am super-busy again today (so no posting!) but now I have a laptop to take notes on instead of stupid bossman’s idea of taking notes by hand and then typing them up in the two minutes free time I have per day. Computers rule!
As do you.
March 9th, 2006 08:37
Claredy, I hesitate to ask what you’re talking about in regards to my guitar, in that I strive at all costs to retain a sparkling and pure mind. Honestly.
You have FOUR children, my friend. You have signed up for a lifetime of fun ‘n’ games in the veritable bowels of hell. Case in point: Gabe’s photog opp.
Well, there are a bunch of genuinely fun times, too, and that we can thank God for. Definitely.
Thanks for being first to call me Chuck; I mean, first EVER.
xo
March 9th, 2006 08:44
Nines, shall I go ahead and tell Fence you made me ruler? I’m too far away for an ass-kicking, but I believe you’re going to see her tomorrow, right? Wear extra panty layers.
I am in a really weird mood today, apparently.
Yes, our schools have all of the above. Haven’t you heard how absolutely screwed up our society is? There’s your proof; we need daily doses to fight our psychoses. Actually, you guys have priests heading up some (most?) of your schools, right? In a way, they could perform the same function. As I ask that, I find that I actually have NO idea what the schools are like in Ireland, other than what I’ve read from Frank McCourt’s experience. Which was Catholic.
Yay, so does this laptop business mean we’ll be chatting off and on all day? Yippee!
xo
March 9th, 2006 08:47
If Clare was first to call you Chuck, I’ll make a name for myself by being the first to call you UpChuck. Yes, I live with a Chuck, so I know the variations.
I’m glad things are looking good for Torie. I’m SHOCKED that you would continue to let those nice women believe you were going through a divorce. Shame on you. Actually, Karma’s gonna gettcha when they find out and think you’re a stinker for not setting them a-right.
I’ve never had the song-writing bug, so I don’t know how it feels, although it sounds marvelous. Let’s just keep the guitar as a friend and not a lover, shall we? Besides, the guitar is clearly feminine for these reasons: 1) invented by the Spanish, it was given a feminine name LA GUITARRA, 2)It’s shapely 3) I said so.
March 9th, 2006 08:57
Jenns, it’s clear that you’re worried about me, which was my sinister plan all along. Thank God it worked.
Well, as I said, it was never out and SAID that I was getting divorced, in any way really. I just got the impression that’s what they thought, because when I spoke they would both look at me with those soft, goodly, sympathy eyes and cock their heads a little, nodding all the while. Waay beyond normal conversational body language. So, threatening me with bad Karma’s not going to work. Karma LOVES me, Jenns.
Regarding my feminine guitar, maybe it’s just a subconscious extension of myself, which I’m embracing for all I’m worth. So, someone explain why I named it Jack…
UpChuck? har har.
xo
March 9th, 2006 09:05
UpChuck? That’s just beeeautiful
So is girl-on-girl action frowned upon in the U S of A??!!! haha
March 9th, 2006 09:18
Yes, Clare, in some factions it is. However, I believe that girl-on-guitar action is frowned upon on all fronts, in that it’s nigh impossible. I mean, think about it. Okay now, you perv, STOP thinking about it.
Please do NOT encourage Jenns and her UpChucking. I have a hard enough time controlling her without people egging her on. xo
March 9th, 2006 09:58
Kelly, maybe your Jack and my Lady should get together~ then we can all stop worrying about you getting splinters in odd places off Jack!
I’m being pulled back into the whole guitar/songwriting thing, after being left alone to brood on it, for a few months, and was going to be writing about it on the ol’ blog, but I see you beat me to it! Eh, I’ll still prolly write about it, it’s been digging at me for long enough.
Last time I sang on cable access, I was like 10 pounds over what I wanted to weigh, so I never would watch the dumb thing.
March 9th, 2006 10:13
Well it’s clear that this conversation has degenerated past redemption this morning. I would just like be the one to say: Jenn, how the hell did you know that about the guitar?!
When I was in middle school, I went through this stage where I called my dad “Chuck.” His name is Greg. I’m not entirely sure what that was about.
So good morning, Chuck.
March 9th, 2006 10:28
Well at least you have your music - so many women getting divorced have nothing.
March 9th, 2006 10:35
I agree with Cathy~ with Scott being such a stranger to you, off in the wild, partying life of Nantucket, at least you have Jack to console you.
March 9th, 2006 11:06
No, Kelly dear. The laptop is sadly not internet connected. Also I’m working my ASS off while using it so cannot be chatting to the likes of you. I’m too busy listening to people describing their terrible lives in Ireland’s industrial schools (sort of young offender’s institutions run by religious orders and filled with under-sixteens who were often not young offenders) in the 1940s and 50s.
Which brings me nicely to Irish schools! I went to a non-religious national school (ages 4-12), which meant everyone there was Catholic and we had religion classes but it wasn’t run by a religious order and no nuns, priests or brothers taught there. It was also a mixed school.
In secondary school (ages 12-17 or 18) I went to a convent school. The principal was a nun, there was an Ursuline convent attached to the school and there were a few nuns teaching, but mainly lay teachers. No boys, all girls! We had nine forty minute classes a day, two breaks and an hour for lunch. School was from 9 to 15.50. We had sport once a week, for forty minutes. A lot of people played sports at lunch or after school - hockey and basketball mainly. There was a career guidance counsellor who was totally shite - most of them are. There weren’t any psychologists or anything. Relatively little parental involvement in school. Few extra-curricular activities. No cafeteria with food. We brought our own food and ate it in salle or in the classrooms or outside. We could buy drinks and sweets if we wanted.
Generally our schools don’t have much of the extras. Our school building was old - the new wing was about 50 years old! The library had a lot of novels and books, mostly old and some of them had been “edited” by the nuns to make them suitable for us!
That’s enough on that subject.
March 9th, 2006 11:56
Chrissy, you named your guitar Lady? So, apparently, you’re already up on the feminine guitar thingie. I don’t know how I got so offtrack; must be my onetrack mind. Heeey, maybe if we DO get Jack and Lady together, we’d end up with a bunch of little violins, which would be fun.
It’s interesting how life moves in seasons, isn’t it? I really did think I was finished with music. I love how God doesn’t forget who we are, because I definitely feel that this whole scenario was his idea, and he led me into it. I knew the SECOND Torie told me James’s dad taught guitar that he was my teacher. I don’t think there are accidents. I know you feel the same way.
Maybe I should send Jack to Scott. No wait, eww. xo
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Good morning Heathee. I got a sweet li’l card in the mail today. Guess from who? smoochie girl…
I WOULD wonder the same thing about Jenns, but I’m so used to strange things popping out of her mouth (I mean WORDS) that I didn’t think one second about it. Now that you mention it, though… it is a thing that makes you go “hmmm.”
Chuck is just funny. And you can sing the Banana Fanna song to it and always get a snicker, even if it’s only you snickering. xo
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Cath, you can have sex TO music, but not sex WITH music. Or with your guitar. So, divorce is hell despite any amount of musicianship you may enjoy. Not that NOT getting divorced is helping me in that arena. And goodness yes, this comment section HAS deteriorated. I blame my therapist. Doink. xo
March 9th, 2006 12:12
Nines, that was a wonderful first person view! You know, the setup sounds similar to our schools here, although we do have a lot of extracurricular activities. Some of which are great, and some of which are NOT. Fer instance, both my boys took a truly useless class called Cinema, in which they watched movies and then wrote reports on them. I mean, c’mon. And we have cafeterias but the food is usually utter crap; so bad, in fact, that my kids take bag lunches to school.
I went to a private Protestant high school, where girls had to wear dresses, until the year after I graduated (of course) when they finally allowed pants. We had all kinds of rules, the 6″ rule being the most fun: guys and girls had to be 6″ away from each other at all times. Some teachers actually carried rulers around to enforce it. Also, no skirts above the knees. Bible classes by the gallons. No drinking, no smoking, no sexing, no drugging, no swearing, no questioning authority. I mean, some of that is okay to protect kids from, but it really was a stifling environment, and kept me insulated from anybody who wasn’t part of it. I was terrified of non-churched people. Good GRIEF.
So, you just got to hear ME complain about my terrible life in school!
Though I’m an old offender, and besides, I won’t expect to see you in court. I hope you get a break soon. I really hope that baron shows up. xo
March 9th, 2006 12:30
oh, oh, oh, oh *hyperventilating*
Purleeeze get Jack & Lady together. I am on the lookout for a fiddle, I would adopt one of yours!!!
March 9th, 2006 13:43
Heather Anne, know what about the guitar? I’m confused?
Kelly, I’m not really worried about you. Disturbed by you may be more like it. Okay, so not really that either. I’m just waiting for my package. See, this is me, waiting… patiently!
March 9th, 2006 13:57
Clare, oh GOOD; I’m glad you finally explained why you were hyperventilating. I thought you still had your eyes closed, imagining…
You’re number one on the list. They’ll come with papers, too. xo
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Jenns, hee hee, disturbed by me. THAT’S more like it! Guess what! I got your package all ready to be mailed out tomorrow. I’ll beat your mom by a few months, even so, so don’t give me no lip girl.
I’m pretty sure HAH wanted to know how you knew the guitar was created by Spaniards, etc., though I don’t believe it for a sec. Didn’t they have lyres in biblical times? We know you made up the rest…
I love picking on you, missy mae. xo
March 9th, 2006 14:09
Jenn, you just know so much about so much that you don’t even realize that most of the world doesn’t know it. Like if someone asked me the nationality of the guitar, I would be just as likely to say Portuguese as I would to say Haitian.
Nines, I for one really enjoyed that school description. Tell us more things about first-person Ireland.
March 9th, 2006 15:09
Extra panty layers? Do I really want to know what thats about?
I went to a religous primary school when I lived in Dublin. Scoil Mhuire. Which was really just part of four schools. Scoil Mhuire, Scoil Áine, and two others that I dont remember. What school (scoil) you ended up in depended on what part of the year you were born. I was Feb, so Scoil Mhuire, Brother #2 was August so he was in Scoil Áine. But after 1st class all the boys had to go to a different school. Cause you couldn’t be having boys around
Then we moved to Sligo and I went to a regular National School. It wasn’t particularly religous, but the parish priest was still on the board, head of the board, maybe. And religion was part and parcel of school.
De mudder taught for a short while at a non-denominational school. She was there to give the Holy Communion crowd religous instruction, but because the school was non-denominational it was something the kids had to sign up for. Not sure what the children who weren’t cafflic did.
Then my secondary school was the same as NM’s. Full of strange little old ladies, and psychos who had been away on the missions and had come back to introduce us to the music of Charlie Landsborough [http://www.nfspublicity.com.au/nfs93/9319.htm] *shudder* and assertiveness training. Couse it wasn’t all “I” message, we also had accusations of people being “the root of all evil”. Happy days
March 9th, 2006 15:15
Okay Heather Anne and Kelly, the guitar (we know as a guitar and not a lyre) really was invented in Spain. And how do I know this? I didn’t live in Spain for 5 years for nothing! Every Spainiard knows that. It is a matter of national pride. After all, think of all the beautiful Spanish guitar music, flamenco and all. And what about Andres Segovia?
Oh, and it’s not my fault that I know all sorts of random facts. My mother says her brain is full of useless information (of which this is one of the pieces) and my father is the Trivial Pursuit KING! I grew up in a family where sharing tidbits like this was normal and we all love it. So I really can’t help it. I’m sorry. I’ll restrain from now on.
P.S. If you’ve never listened to classical Spanish guitar, you’ve missed out.
March 9th, 2006 15:39
[…] I was over at Kelly’s blog, and got to talking about schools.[1] And that made me think of Charlie Landsborough. […]
March 9th, 2006 15:39
Why would you refrain?! How else are we supposed to fill our brains up so we can win Trivial Pursuit? As a matter of fact, I say we should mandate Jenn’s Fact of the Day. And you could educate us and make us CHAMPIONS. I have never won a game of Trivial Pursuit and if you can help me win, I will thank you in my next Oscar acceptance speech.
March 9th, 2006 16:03
Heathy, let’s ask Jenn some strange question like, um, How many Martians emigrated to Saturn before the Nubian War and what was their primary source of income?, and make her answer without googling it first. I’ll bet you anything that, if she doesn’t know, she’ll give us an answer that sounds correct, and we’ll believe her, because we’re gullible idiots.
If things go as planned, I’ll get you loving Ireland at LEAST as much as you love England, so that you’ll come with me when I go, whenever that is. We’ll take Jeans with us, you know, the Undenim One, and lots of snacks. Don’t forget your green umbrella, and do you still have that 5?
xo
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Fence darling, Nines went ahead and made me ruler (see comment #3) and I was just preparing her for the inevitable ass-whooping she’s going to receive from you for doing so. Understand now?
Oh my, school in Ireland sounds too confusing. It’s no wonder you’re all brilliant; you’ve had to be from the beginning, just to figure out where to frickin put one foot in front of the other. And what with all the dog shite and butter to wade through… Yikes.
It’s interesting that even the National schools in Ireland have religious training. That is a hugemongous NO-NO in our public schools, although now groups like Youth For Christ etc can gather for meetings (I think, unless they changed that). We just had a huge klaflaffle about the Ten Commandments being displayed in our local courthouse… It’s too bad, as those rules are all based in love and we could definitely use more of that. That’s possibly why every school here needs at least one resident psychologist…
“People” meaning non-religious people, as the root of all evil? Or just everyone?
In that case, I’d agree. JK!! JK!! Only those who aren’t willing to subject themselves to our leadership. Agree?
I’m going to check out that last link you used… is that a new post? I’ll find out… xo
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Oh Jenns, the Spaniards just made that up. They think they’re so hot. I’m KIDDING. I saw a special on this family (Ramirez?) who are famous for their guitaring, and it was fascinating. I think of them ALL the time, and of COURSE I’ve heard Senor Segovia; I have one of his CDs. Beautiful, beautiful music, and something I aspire to in addition to my mountain music goals.
My head used to be stuffed with trivia, but my children, and constant tv consumption, and coffee as my primary source of fluid, are all conspiring together to kill the little grey cells that store it. I’ll just google YOU from now on, if I have a question. hee hee. Google YOU. ha. xo
March 9th, 2006 16:04
Heathy, I won a Trivial Pursuit game once, and I don’t see you asking ME for help. Pout. xo
March 9th, 2006 16:24
Twas a post. A pingback-y thing-y. As you found out
Nowadays the religion classes are different. They are about all religions, and there are exams on them. Back in my day (how old am I?) it was really all about the catholic-ness.
March 9th, 2006 16:25
Oh yeah, and NM has no authority to make anyone ruler. Unless it is to do with straight lines
March 9th, 2006 16:59
the Undenim One? Ha…
Yes, here I am, lurking. You knew how to drag me out of hiding didn’t you?
March 9th, 2006 21:59
How many Martians emigrated to Saturn before the Nubian War and what was their primary source of income?
Oh, that one’s easy. I thought you’d make it tough. Let’s see, prior to the Nubian Wars, there wasn’t much need for Martians to emigrate, but, tourism had picked up on Saturn and many Martians were discovering the beauties of that fine planet. Yet, few were willing to make a permanent transition. Only about 600 Martians had made the move to Saturn before the Nubian Wars broke out on Mars in 4023. The figure isn’t exact, as little research had gone into the immigration (all data comes from Saturn).
The Martians had enjoyed nautical pursuits on Mars (this of course was before the Nubian Wars exhausted all of the liquid on the planet, causing a mass exodus). They brought their knowledge of the seas with them to Saturn and coupled with their hospitible nature, they became commercial sea capitains. Many ran what humans would call “cruise ships” and others transported passengers across the vast oceans of the Northern Hemisphere of Saturn.
Next time, Kelly and Heather Anne, give me a difficult question!
March 10th, 2006 02:20
Fence, does Nines carry around a ruler for measuring purposes, too? I was fooled by her savoir-faire manner into believing she had king-making authority. Of course, maybe you’re telling me she doesn’t just to veer me off course. Devious girl. I laugh in the face of devious… um,…ness…
I see now, about the religious instruction. It’s possible that prep schools have the same thing available, since most colleges do, but regular old public school doesn’t. Thank God there was a Latin class available, though, so Jesse could take three years of learning spells.
xo
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Jeans, yes, I know all it takes is one little mention of you to get you to peek around the corner. We didn’t have our coffee together this week… the last time I saw you was for five little minutes at your house, where I was curmudgeonly and just wanted to get home to Buffy and bed. I’m sorry. Caffe soon? xo
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DANG, Jenns, I KNEW I shouldn’t have asked you a sci-fi question. It was stupid of me not to remember that you wrote that book about the Nubian Wars. Remember when Katie Courac asked you how you knew so much about them without having any actual documentation and you used your mind powers to make her eyeballs bleed? That was so COOL.
Your mind is green and fertile, and if you’ll think about that for half a tick, you’ll realize what I’m REALLY saying to you.
Okay, here’s one for you. A double-parter again. If I wanted to, would I be able to flip someone off with my middle toe?, and what would be my motivation for doing so? You have one hour to complete this exam. Please turn your paper over and begin. xo
March 10th, 2006 08:33
Kelly, I really DO know the answer to that one. This is NOT made up. (Okay, I’ll be honest. I’m almost positive. If only Johanna were awake on the west coast I could confirm it since she’s had all kinds of anatomy classes).
The muscle groups and tendons in your foot allow for isolated movement of your big and tiny toes, but the three toes in the middle are all controlled by the same muscle group and do not allow for isolated movement. So, NO, you could not flip someone off with your middle toe unless you held the other toes down with your hands.
As to the motivation to do so, you would like to sting your opponent with a dirty gesture while simultaneously impressing them with your dexterity.
March 13th, 2007 10:49
[…] I was over at Kelly’s blog, and got to talking about schools.[1] And that made me think of Charlie Landsborough. […]