Pure Gravy: September 2009

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Where I Was

But for a minute or two I did forget
myself and everything else. I know I did.
For when I turned back I didn't know
where I was. Until some birds rose up
from the gnarled trees. And flew
in the direction I needed to be going.

From "This Morning" by Raymond Carver

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Past Life With Elephant & Cow

I got Imogen a book last weekend called "Beasts: An Alphabet of Fine Prints," at the local historical society's rummage sale. We were going through it this morning. The print paired with "E" for "Elephant," is from a 15th-century Italian engraving called "The Triumph of Caesar: The Elephants." When we got to that page, Imogen, pointing to the picture, told me that she was there before she was born, in "Bologna."

Now, I've never said "Bologna" (I didn't even know how to pronounce it until just now), and the book doesn't mention it either, but it is a city in northern Italy (Wikipedia).

Immy also pointed to the elephant in the print and said she knew one named "Caracca," and that she rode a cow who was nursing its calf.

I told her if she remembered anything else to let me know.

Tylenol Recall

Tylenol, on Thursday, announced a large recall of its children's and infants' liquid Tylenol because of a positive test for bacteria in one of the inactive ingredients (The Seattle Times). Check here to see if your child's medicine is part of the recall and what to do if it is. If you don't know or have other questions, call the medicine's maker, McNeil, at 1-800-962-5357 (ET business hours).

Photo of medicine: Mom's Budget

ElderKitty

Gaea turned 14 in June.

American Bubble Retriever

Niles, about one year

Happy Birthday Niles

Niles turned 12 this week.

Happy Birthday Puppy!

Niles is apparently 61 in human years.

How old is your dog? Find out here.

Friday, September 25, 2009

How Women Are Feeling

Maureen Dowd thinks women are getting unhappier and studies show it's true.

She writes:

"According to the General Social Survey, which has tracked Americans’ mood since 1972, and five other major studies around the world, women are getting gloomier and men are getting happier."

Photo of Super Mom action figure: Happy Worker

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

More Life with Fairy

Toys: CE Mark

A CE mark on a toy means it meets the increasingly stringent requirements of the European Commission's Toy Safety Directive. It's a French acronym for "Conformité Européenne" (Wikipedia).

Image: European Commission

The Human Face

The Content of Our Character

"Talk to little kids about race early, explicitly and frequently."

-Jerry Large of The Seattle Times, paraphrasing former Seattleite Po Bronson, co-author of "NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children," on the book's chapter "Why White Parents Don't Talk About Race"

Photo of Seattle Head Start class, 1984: Mary Ellen Mark

Put Me in the Zoo

Here's Sally, Mum of two girls age three and under, who writes of this photo, "it's not moss that grows on slow moving things in our house…"

I couldn't help but think of a book we just read.

Photo of Sally: Her blog

Image of book cover: Vox

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

An Enchanted Moment

I don't think there are words that can speak to being nearly three-and-a-half better than these photos of Addie Ray and Immy May--born a week apart--can.