What the What?

It’s been forever since I updated my reading list. Here's what I can remember. Bear with me:
My rating System:
*****Lawrence Block and Ross Macdonald (THE BEST OF THE BEST)
****Double Thumbs (GREAT!)
***I liked it (GOOD)
**It's not that bad (OK)
*It's Bothering me (BAD)

*** Summer of Fear by T. Jefferson Parker
**** L.A. Outlaws by T. Jefferson Parker
**** Silent Joe by T. Jefferson Parker
*** The Blue Hour by T. Jefferson Parker
*** I'm The One That I Want by Margaret Cho
***1/2 Redwall by Brian Jacques
**** Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
**** When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
*****Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling (A reread, but totally great)
**** The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
**** The Deep Blue Goodbye by John D. MacDonald
*** A Purple Place for Dying by John D. MacDonald
**** Nightmare in Pink by John D. MacDonald
*** Bright Orange For the Shroud by John D. MacDonald
****1/2 The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly
***1/2 The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
*** Mattimeo by Brian Jacques

My special skill is the ability to create something out of nothing. If I want to make a a second hanging bar in my son's closet, I am able to make one using things found around the house (PVC pipe, thick wire and clamps). Done and done. If I want to make a curtain for my son's theater I'm making, I use an old duvet cover, wire and screws. Beautiful. It's my gift. I find joy out of not having to buy anything to make my project happen. The other key is being able to produce the final project in 10 minutes or so. Being painstaking takes all of the fun out of it. My son has figured out this gift and he abuses it to the fullest. He'll say, "mom, can I have an antenna like Bender?" I'll say, "probably" and then I'll figure it out (headband, aluminum foil, a ping pong ball and a glue gun). Adorable. Lately he's been having me outfit his Futurama characters. His favorite episode lately is "Less Than Hero" when Leela, Fry and Bender become superheroes. His favorite is Bender's character, Super King, pictured here:





















He asked me to make a crown for Bender and using things around the house this is what I came up with in about 10 minutes:







Materials used: Sequins, old burgundy pants, old dalmatian puppet and gold material.


Aidan was thrilled. It's fun to be creative with my son. He believes that I can make anything. The other day he asked for a marionette. I told him I didn't know if I could do it. He said, "Sure you can. All you need is string and some plastic." I ended up putting embroidery floss on a long limbed stuffed animal and that worked just fine. No plastic necessary.

After the the Super King success, Aidan wanted me to come up with a costume for Fry when he is Emperor:

I’ve been knitting a lot lately, but I can’t remember the last time I knit something for myself. I mostly knit or crochet for others. These have been my projects in the last 2 months. There has been this for my mother in law:

Four different variations of this for ladies in my life:

Two of these:

A pair of these:

A set of these guys:

And countless scarves of my own design. I don't think I've knit anything for myself in years and when I did I'm sure it was something simple, like a scarf. I was just about to cast on a project for my nephew when I came across this pattern (sorry Slims) :

I had to have it. For me and only me! I've decided to knit it with this:

A nice deep black cotton so I can wear it everyday. I can be an ambitious knitter, but never have I taken on a project like this for myself. I cast on last night. It feels good to be selfish.

Aidan is showing me his backside,
Mommy: What is this?
Aidan: It's my butt.
Mommy: What do you want me to do about it?
Aidan: Get some underwear for it.

*

Mommy: Aidan, could you turn that light off for me?
Aidan: (exasperated) Very well.

*

Aidan in bed,
Aidan: Mommy, I need some lovings.
Mommy: Where?
Aidan: Everywhere. C'mon, let's snuggle.

*

Watching Wall E
Daddy: There's the captain. What's his name? Captain Flabs?
Aidan: No, it's Captain Boneloss.

*

After brushing his teeth,
Aidan: Mommy look at my teeth! They're all clean and sparkly!

*

Playing with a light saber,
Aidan: I'm gonna get 23rd century on your ass!
Mommy: Aidan, don't say ass.
Aidan: But ass is funny.
Mommy: It's a naughty word and people don't like to hear it. Especially from a little boy.
Aidan: Ok. I'm going to get 23rd century on your (pauses for an acceptable substitution to ass) giblets.

An actual conversation over dinner last night:
Daddy: Aidan, who is our President?
Aidan: George W. Bush. He's bad.
Mommy: Yeah, I don't think he's been a very good president.
Aidan: Me either. He talks bad.
Mommy: Yep, and he doesn't have good ideas.
Aidan: No he doesn't. Obama has the good ideas.
Mommy: Yes, that's why I voted for him.
Aidan: Me too.
Mommy: He's going to be our president soon, in 8 days.
Aidan: Yay 8 days!
Mommy: Bush's turn is almost all done.
Aidan: And then Obama gets a turn. Daddy calls him Barack Obama, but we just call him Obama.

Aidan has created a new game called "Toilet." It's easy and fun. The rules are simple, someone flushes the toilet (after being used) and whoever is playing (usually mommy and Aidan) run for high ground. This means we usually jump onto a bed or a couch. We have to make it to high ground before the flushing cycle stops making noise. If we don't make it in time, then we lose. If we do make it, then we are winners in the game of toilet. That is how you play Toilet Classic. There is a new version that I'm naming Extreme Toilet. This is when the toilet flushes when you aren't expecting it. It usually takes Aidan a few seconds to hear the flush and then call, "Quick Toilet!" This is the call to high ground and you better be quick. I suggest you try it, it's gonna be huge.

This shouldn't make my day, but it does.
I went to Aidan's school this morning to deliver some Christmas gifts for his teachers. They were nice handmade scarves (perfect for a cash-strapped mom). I thanked the teachers and told them how much we appreciate all that they have done for us. The Head Teacher took me aside and told me how great Aidan is and how much he is progressing. Then she told me that "even though I love all of my students, Aidan has a very special place in my heart." Yay, he's a favorite. This shouldn't bring me joy, but it does. Aidan is the favorite of the class. He's totally great and it's nice when other people acknowledge it!