One Mom's Tip: Podcasts

Cleaning the house can be boring. Music helps, but often it becomes only background and you are left alone with your thoughts and a toilet brush. Which isn't always a bad thing. I'm just saying, sometimes it's nice to be able to switch focus to something interesting to take one's mind off mundane or disgusting tasks.

I use podcasts.

I used to listen to podcasts when I exercised and it made me actually look forward to my four mile daily power walk because I could listen to something interesting, different and sometimes funny every day. I've started running now and one pod cast recently took my mind off my circular run for over half a mile.

My podcast of choice for cleaning day is How Stuff Works. It's free from iTunes, as are all the other podcasts I listen to through NPR. How Stuff Works is a 15-30 minute show about how different things work. Things like dreadlocks, cremation, the Life Straw, homelessness, octopi, the MARS turbine, being a knight and much, much, MUCH more.

Tonight while I dusted I learned how moonshine is made and that today's NASCAR is a direct result of bootleggers running moonshine in their souped up cars and then deciding to see who's was fastest. I bet you didn't know that.

While I folded laundry I learned about credit default swaps (a little thick, but still interesting).

While I cleaned out the tub I learned about where the superstition about Friday the 13th came from.

I spent maybe 2 hours cleaning, but it was actually enjoyable because of my podcasts.

So if you need to do some housecleaning but dread the drudgery, download a few podcasts onto your iPod and start listening.

Other podcasts I enjoy are NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me, This American Life, and the CBC's The Vinyl Cafe.

Do you have a favorite podcast?

Boy Books

Facts about me:
1. I love to read.
2. I especially love to read books I think my boys might enjoy.
3. My boys rarely take my recommendations...
4. ...but other boys do!

Since I often get asked to recommend books boys might like and since I often spend a lot of time writing out my recommendations, since I usually think of one or two more every time I'm about to stop making my list, I'm compiling my list here. That way if you ask me for book recommendations for a boy in your life, I'll be able to direct you to this blog post.

Airman by Eoin Colfer - Combines adventure and fantasy, a young man uses his fascination with flying to save himself, his family and his entire kingdom. For mature middle graders and up.

Epic by Conor Kostick - Fantasy and science fiction, on New Earth violence is banned, but Epic, the virtual reality video game provides the arena for settling disputes. As you create and build your character in the game, you build your status and opportunity in real life. Great for mature middle graders and up.

The Heir Series by Cinda Williams Chima - Fantasy, each book focuses on a different character and their special gifts and talents that end up coming together to defeat the evil forces in a great wizard war. Possibly young adult, there is a little romance and kissing that may not appeal to younger boys.

Airborn, Skybreaker, Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel - Fifteen year old Matt Cruse loves his life aboard the greatest luxury ship in the sky in this Victoian era, alternate history story. (You might even say series has elements of steampunk to it.) His greatest desire is to one day become captain of his own airship. He meets wealthy Kate Devries who is determined to prove girls can be scientists too. Lots of adventure! Appropriate for middle grade although there is a bit of romance as the series progresses that may not appeal to younger boys.

The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud - Bartimaeus, a powerful, sarcastic djinni narrates this story of Nathaniel, the young magician who summons him to exact revenge on an enemy. Barimaeus makes his snide remarks in lots and lots of footnotes, a style that works well and brings humor to this otherwise serious tale. Middle grade and up.

Dark Life by Kat Falls - Science fiction, with most of the land covered by water, pioneers set out to explore and settle the last frontier--the ocean. Ty, the first child ever born underwater is more at home there than on land. He meets Gemma who is looking for her brother and together they help to defend the underwater settlement against bandits who would destroy everything. Perfect for kids 10 and up.

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld - Fantasy, steampunk, alternate history, takes place at the start of World War I when Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife are assasinated. Europe is divided into two factions: The Clankers who rely on machines and the Darwinists who rely on creating new species. This book has two narrators, Prince Aleksander the son of Ferdinand, and Deryn Sharpe, a girl who poses as a boy to train as an airman for the Darwinist cause. First in a series, the second book is Behemoth. Middle grade and up.

Ship Breaker by Paulo Bacigalupi - Postapocalyptic, dystopian, Nailer is lucky to be small enough to  work on light crew, crawling through the ducts of massive tanker ships to strip copper wire, a dangerous job that is hard to come by and even harder to keep. The story is raw, harsh and frightening, a little dystopian and very much amazing. This book was the winner of the 2011 Printz Award, chosen by librarians for excellence in young adult literature. There is some violence in this book, so it is probably more appropriate for 14 and up.

Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer - Epic fantasy, a great book but might get a little thick in places for younger kids. Just see what Amazon has to say.

The Fiddler's Gun by AS Peterson - This may be the only book your son doesn't like because there is a girl as the main character. But I have to list it anyway because it's a wonderful book and for much of it the girl, Fin, is mistaken for a boy. She certainly fights like one! Historical fiction, takes place at the start of the Revolutionary War and follows the adventures of Fin Button as she runs from her life in an orphanage to a life of adventure. If your boy doesn't like it, you certainly will!

In Which I Become Susan Heffley

Last night as I stood at Walgreens, looking for a day planner for the son who lost his when he lost his entire backpack, I was surprised at the lame selection. It's January after all. The beginning of the year. Shouldn't there be all kinds of planners to choose from? Evidently not.

The very best one I found was this one:

And I couldn't help feel a bit like Susan Heffley, Greg's mom in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie and books. It just sounded like something she would do. I knew that Ethan would never use a "Mom's Busy Year" planner, but I also knew I could fix it so he'd never know what it really was. The planner had several sheets of cute stickers to use for things like appointments, sports practice, birthdays and holidays.

But this sticker had to go. There were twelve of them. I just stuck them in random places on the big family calendar I keep on the fridge. Maybe someone will get the hint.

I then removed any evidence of the word "Mom."

Finally, I covered it with this super awesome boy paper, front and back. I used spray glue, which I love but which always makes a big mess. At least I know the cover will not come off by accident during math class. Can you imagine if Patty Ferrell saw the "Mom" cover? She would make Ethan's life miserable.

No one, including Ethan, will every find out.

Unless they read this blog.

*Update - Guess who just called from middle school to say he found his backpack? 

Wit's End, We Meet Again

How do you lose your whole backpack? How?

Maybe the question I should be asking myself is, who would want to steal a whole backpack?

No, no. I think I was right the first time.

Here's the thing. I don't know what to do with this kid. Today also happened to be progress report day. You know all those times I asked him on Saturday night or Sunday night--or any night, really--"is all your homework done?"

And you know how he said, "yes" and then proceeded to play Wii, or watch lame videos on the computer, or stay glued to his DS or his brother's DS and the only way I'd find out is because I happened to notice light coming from under the doorway at 10pm?

Well, evidently, his definition of "done," and my definition of "done" were not the same.

What do I do?

Well, other than the obvious--all screen off limits until I have proof that all homework has been turned in. And he feels bad about it. He really does. I just don't think he can organize himself well enough to figure out how to do everything. Which really isn't that much until it all piles up.

Or disappears when he loses the backpack.

Ahhhh!

On Weather and the 24 Hour News Cycle

Today is the day that the weathermen predicted we would have 6 inches of snow in downtown Portland. Snow in downtown Portland means even more snow in the hills, where I live. I was excited about the snow because a) it's pretty, b) it's fun for the kids to play in and c) we haven't had a snow day this winter yet.

As we got near and nearer to today, the big day, the forecast got more and more conservative until this morning when all offers for snow were rescinded. Instead, we will have rain. And it might freeze, but probably not.

Well, thanks a lot.

This makes me feel like I am wasting my time watching the weather reports. Although I usually watch while I'm making dinner, so it's not a total waste of time. Dinner does get made and the family has been pretty supportive of my feeding them. But seriously, what's the point. I'd do better to just see what the weather is like when it's happening. You know--open the door and stick my head out. Or look out the window and see if things are wet, dry, or windy.

This thought led me to consider the 24 hour news cycle and the recent shooting of US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. The tragedy in Arizona set off an unfortunate run of news stories blaming toxic political rhetoric as the cause of the shooter's violent outburst. As in, if the politicians could just talk nicely to each other, then maybe there wouldn't be crazy people.

While it would be nice if everyone could talk nicely, the logic is flawed. But are the news people to blame for pushing this story? The news is on TV 24 hours a day. They have to come up with something to say. Even if that something is the rantings of people in shock. Or people who haven't had time to learn all the details. The information we get is opinions rather than facts. We hear comments based on fear and anger, not rational thinking.

That's not news.

The 24 hour news cycle does plenty to stir everyone up. It creates division. It promotes conflict. It shines a light on the faults of our public servants and makes us forget their humanity. It makes us feel the need to take sides instead of stand united.

So, boo to the news. You don't offer me useful information and might possibly be a catalyst for crazy people.

And boo to the weather reports. I want snow!

But I'll still watch you tonight while I'm making dinner.

Symbiotic Relationship

Ethan loves to shoot the air soft gun he got for his birthday. He lines up soda pop cans on the fence and stands back to take shots. Or sometimes he just walks right up to the cans and shoots at point blank range. He prints targets off the computer and works on his accuracy. Any time he has free time, he's out in the back with his gun.

Of the several rules and responsibilities we have for the gun's use, one is that he must pick up all the little colored plastic pellets he shoots around the yard. Shooting is fun. Picking up pellets is not.

Ethan, however, has found a way to satisfy this rule without having to do the actual pick-up work.

Isaac collects air soft pellets. When we take a walk through the nearby woods, he is always on the lookout for pellets. He picks them up and puts them in his pocket. He is not allowed to go into the woods alone, so he can only go pellet-hunting when Mom or Dad go with him. Which is not nearly as often as he'd like.

Now, when Ethan shoots his gun, he doesn't worry about how many pellets he expels into the nether regions of the yard. As soon as he's done, he comes in the house and announces to Isaac, "If you pick them up, you can have them."

Isaac rushes into the backyard, sometimes in his stocking feet, mostly without a coat, and scampers around picking up all the pellets he can find while Ethan sits in the warm house, smugly shirking his responsibility.

Both boys are so completely happy with the arrangement I haven't been able to come up with a logical protest.

But something about it doesn't feel right.

Don't Fence Me In

Ethan has been fencing once a week since September. He really enjoys it and the club is wonderful. Great owners, teachers and parents. It's the type of thing you could easily sink a bunch of money into if you were so inclined. I'm not, but not because I don't think fencing is a great sport for Ethan to participate in.

See, I also want to help him go to college. And I think it would be fair to also offer the same thing to the other two kids. Plus, there's braces, and did I mention those two other kids? Those two other kids like to do things also. They like to play basketball and baseball and they take swimming lessons in the summer. All of which costs more money.

Good news though--some universities offer fencing scholarships. This is where my checkbook starts coming out. I'd be willing to invest a little moolah in the chance that Ethan could get a full ride scholarship to college. Here are just a few of the universities with division 1 fencing teams: Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Duke, Cornell, Columbia, Penn State, Stanford, Notre Dame.

I don't want to seem like a mom who's down on her kids, but at this point, I don't really see Ethan getting in to any of those universities. Even if he was a world class fencer. Because I can almost guarantee there will be other world class fencers who also have good grades.

But, you never know...

Last week Ethan brought his Flip camera and a tripod to practice so he could watch how he fences and try to improve. I'm not sure how much he's watching the video critically and how much he's watching it with this in mind.

But, you never know.