The Rest of the Week

So I didn't quite blog every day like I started out. It's been a busy week. In class we have had lots of guest speakers on different types of documentary: photography, video, audio, writing, etc. We have had some class discussions, and we have watched some documentaries.

I fell behind on blogging because my evenings have been full. Tuesday we had a class get-together on the porch, which John and Virginia came to. She had fun playing with my professor's kids (ages 5 and 3). They ran around together and held hands. So sweet!

I had an extra class meeting on Wednesday and Thursday evenings for documentary viewings.

Last night Virginia really seemed to miss me. :( We had gotten her to sleep on a blanket on the floor for a few nights (didn't take the pack and play to save trunk space) but I let her back in the bed last night. If I can't see her during the day, the least I can do is cuddle with her at night! She was her usual bright-eyed and bushy-tailed self this morning, so I think she appreciated it.

Today is my last day of class and we are preparing to do 5 minute presentations on our documentary ideas this afternoon. I am talking for my entire presentation - no power point or pictures or audio I have previously collected (some people have projects in progress).

I found a quiet place outside to talk to myself and my first run-through was 10 minutes. Yikes! I did some cutting and I think I'm good.

John and Virginia have spent the week going to the park, the museum, and the gardens. He has some good pictures on his facebook - especially of Virginia and the duckies.




I am so fortunate these two agreed to follow me up here and continue to support my interests!

Sunday in Durham

John, Virginia, and I went to the Museum of Life and Science when it opened at noon.

What a great place! There were drums and chimes Virginia enjoyed hitting with sticks. Then we went to the butterfly house. Virginia had a great view from my back! After that we walked over to see the bears, lemurs, and wolves. We took a short break for a snack, then went inside to see the space exhibit (I insisted). We were there about 4 hours and didn't see everything. Maybe John and Virginia will go back on their own this week.

In the evening I had the first session of my class: introductions and discussions about the opening sequence of Spike Lee's "When the Levees Broke."

I told Virginia to take John out for father's day, so they went to a pub where Virginia sat in a "dusty" high chair (been a while since it was used). She charmed everyone there including the bikers.

In Durham

We split up the drive with a couple of long stops to let Ms V stretch her legs. Lunch at Waffle House and walking in the grass, then a stop at a Chick-fil-a with a play area. We got to Durham before 6pm, then walked to a restaurant and the building I'll be having classes in. The restaurant had great food and a rug in the corner with toys and a chalkboard wall. Another fun place for Virginia. She makes friends everywhere she goes!

More exploring tomorrow before my first class session in the evening.

I'm Sorry

I'm seeing a lot more of Virginia these days now that I'm home for the summer. She is not very gentle and she does at least one thing to me a day that hurts. Swings her elbow into my stomach, throws a book in my face, steps on my toes. That kind of thing.

She isn't hurting me intentionally but I still want her to know that it hurts so that she'll start being more careful. I tell her in a firm, serious voice: "That hurt. Please say you are sorry."

She instantly says "Sorry," lays her head on me, and rubs me gently. This response makes me think that she has some experience apologizing. What has she been doing to the other kids at day care?

Ain't I a Woman?

Before I got to the breastfeeding chapter in Bossypants, there was another section that really made me think. Tina Fey was in a workshop doing research for Mean Girls where all attendees were asked when the first "knew they were a woman."

Almost everyone first realized they were becoming a grown woman when some dude did something nasty to them. "I was walking home from ballet and a guy in a car yelled, 'Lick me!'" "I was babysitting my younger cousins when a guy drove by and yelled, 'Nice ass.'"

This made me wonder if there was a moment when I suddenly "knew I was a woman." I certainly did not have any men say anything nasty to me. Either because I didn't walk next to busy streets enough, or, more likely, because I was a late bloomer and continued to be awkward and gawky until about college.

But what I could come up with was a comment from a guy that made me feel womanly and was actually very nice.

I went to my senior prom with a friend of mine. He had attended his junior and senior year of high school at a college but was still earning high school credit. He was about to graduate from our high school and he wanted to come back and see everyone and have that memory of going to prom. I remember that he was having problems getting a tux and so I suggested we do the duct tape prom thing. Some couple usually came to prom wearing duct tape so it wouldn't be too weird, and then we could make our own clothes! He said, no he would find a tux, so I got a dress and then we met up before prom. When he saw me in the dress he said, "And you wanted to wear duct tape..." It was sweet and gentlemanly and made me feel pretty.

I guess I should count this as one of the small things that was right about my adolescence. I was never cat-called from a passing car, but I did have a great time at my senior prom and I was beautiful.