odds and ends ( all good)

HUGE quadratic-formula-like congratulations to Child #3 who just finished GRADE 7. And who, a couple of weeks ago, took the high school district math test for entrance into HIGH SCHOOL HONORS GEOMETRY.

HE PASSED! So, next fall, he'll start his school day in 9th grade honors math, then return to middle school for the rest of his classes.

This is proof positive that dh's brilliant math genes totally dominated my very sorry math genes. Probably at the embryonic stage. Because all my children are better at math than their mother. Which leads me to believe that my math gene is BLANK!

Anyway, seeing your child succeed where you would've failed is...I'm not sure how to describe it, but it's an incredible, floaty feeling.




One of my sisters and her three girls are coming down this summer. My sister is fun and sensitive and interesting. Someone you want as a your BFF. And she'll be under my roof for close to two weeks. I CAN'T WAIT! I've already started stockpiling meals in my freezer so we'll have lots of time to play and still be able to feed our kids. Thank you Southwest for the great deals from Buffalo to San Diego.






Today I rewrote the first paragraph of I So Don't Do Makeup. (Waves to Editor Wendy who may or may not have been expecting this!) I read aloud the revamped paragraph to Child #2 who paused after I'd finished, then said, "Oh, that's good."

Yes, I raised his allowance.

Oh, and you know that the nanosecond I have a cover for Makeup, it's up here on the blog. The nanosecond.

So, you're all having a good summer so far, right?

Book Recommendations, Laurel Snyder

Thought you might be interested in what we intrepid travelers were reading on our LONG LONG flight from Buffalo to San Diego.

Off topic for a sec, I think Southwest Airlines might want to consider investing in an up-to-date map of the United States. Even I, a woman who can barely make it to the end of her driveway without a Garmin, know that it makes ZERO sense to fly from Buffalo to BALTIMORE and then San Diego.

Southwest, please research the expression "as the crow flies." Yes, yes, I understand there are weirdo rules about hubs and flight patterns. BUT we live in an age of expensive gasoline and over-extended busy lives. Why don't you stand up, be a leader and fly DIRECT.

AND, if you're going to make huge geography faux pas resulting in HOURS of extra air time, please offer a hearty, substantial meal. Preferably something steak-ish. With a robust red wine. Toss out the cockpit window those mini packets of salty nuts and teeny tiny cans of coke. Luckily for you, Child #3 had the presence of mind and stomach to suggest we grab some Quizno subs on our dash through the Baltimore airport. Because a hungry child #3 and a hungry child #4, well, let's just say it's not a pretty sight.

Rant over, here are our respective books:

Words of wisdom from Child #3 (age 12 years) regarding The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan: It's a fantasy. It's a mystery. It's great.

(Mom interjection: The Lightning Thief is the first book in the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series. It's a modern-day, fast-paced adventure that's based on Greek myths. I've read enough of it with Child #3 to say I'll definitely go back and finish it on my own time. Terrific read!)



From Child #4 (age 8 years) about The Talented Clementine by Sara Pennypacker: Clementine has so many talents that she can't choose one.

(Mom interjection: Clementine is a feisty third grader. It's a humorous book about believing in yourself and all that you can accomplish. Another terrific read!)


Me: Over the Edge by Norah McClintock is a magnificent teen mystery. Chloe figures out why classmate Peter winds up dead at the bottom of a cliff. This is one of several "Chloe and Levesque" mysteries. I'll definitely order the rest of them. This book is appropriate for younger readers as well. Nothing untoward happens. (love that expression, but can never find a place to use it!) Thank you Niece K for the recommendation. And for the book which I, ahem, left on the plane. No worries, though, I'll order one from amazon and have it shipped to you.



From the Class of 2k8: Here's a link to a contest for a free signed middle-grade book: Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains by Laurel Snyder. Laurel is a classmate from the Class of 2k8. She's easily one of the most creative people I know. This is her launch week on the Class of 2k8's blog. I'm sure you'll get a kick out of her posts.

My Town Monday: Niagara Falls

Ahem. Gulp. Gulp.

We missed our flight.

I'd had the brilliant-ish idea of flying out of Buffalo. And we did not allow for the fact that Toronto has two seasons: winter and construction. There was tons of traffic on the QEW (Queen Elizabeth Expressway) and tons of tourists travelling across the border to the US via the Peace Bridge.

When we finally arrived at the airport, our plane was pulling out. All Southwest flights for the rest of the day (Saturday) and the next day (Sunday) were overbooked. Not a seat to be had.

So, we decided to turn the whole experience into an adventure. Thank you sisters, Niece K and Child #3 and Child #4 for the fun!

We drove across the Rainbow Bridge back into Canada and headed for one of the seven natural wonders of the world--Niagara Falls.




Some facts about the Falls: The water flows over the falls, down the Niagara River to Lake Ontario, down the St. Lawrence Seaway and ends up in the Atlantic Ocean. The water beneath the Falls is 170 feet deep. The brink of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls measures 2500 feet.


None of us had ever ridden the Maid of the Mist. And now we have. Fantastic!! Amazing! Don't miss it! It was windy. Wet. Incredible.

Boat tours of the Falls have been running since 1864. The Maid of the Mist (I think there are two) is a diesel-powered boat with two 350-horsepower engines. The 600-passenger boat takes you past the base of the American Falls, then into the basin of Horseshoe Falls. The boat ride lasts about thirty minutes, and tours run from May to October this year. Cost is about about $14.50/adult and $7.00/child

Horseshoe Falls from the boat

The churning water in the basin of Hoseshoe Falls (photo taken from the boat)

For our Fearless Leader, Travis Erwin's My Monday Post, please visit his blog. He'll also have links to other Mondayers.

P.S. Just so that you don't worry--Southwest Air booked us on new flights free of charge and we'll be home late tonight. My sisters are braving the drive to Buffalo once again. They are that great! And, thank you DH for being such a good sport about it all.

(Info from www.niagaraparks.com and www.maidofthemist.com)