outsmart me!

Funny how even my own mind will due me in. I was lunching with Tim today when an fabulous acquaintance and my coworker friend walked into Great Harvest. Gushing about how great she is, I tell Tim, “Oh yeah, Jody’s really nice.” I have a little moment thinking about when I was quite tipsy with her and some lady friends from the office last year. I was quite silly that night…imagine ME dancing wildly on a very small dance floor --- ALONE --- at Liberty Spirits. I believe I threw in some of my signature pirouettes, and ‘I’m a superstar’ jumps like Mary Catherine sports from SNL. Yeah. Hard to envision, riiiiiight? Teehee. I suppose by now you all know how I roll, or at least dance foolishly.

Anyway, I got back to the office and confessed to my coworker friend how LOVERLY it was to see Miss Jody out on the town, and how it’d be great to talk with her again, etc etc. On and on. Oh, she’s just so great (yeah it’s getting embarrassing). When Ms. Coworker informs me, you know her name is JOSIE! um…. REALLY? OH THAT’S RIGHT! That was the first AUTOMATIC reason why I liked her! I LOVE the name Josie! I could not believe myself! Good thing Ms. Josie was a tad too involved in her conversation to come over and talk. Wouldn’t it have been so great to be all “HI JoDDDDDY! I LIKE YOU!, here’s my friend Tim, you know…”! Yeah! Phew! How could this happen? I do not forget these crucial details in life!

It reminds me of some of my other classic moments when I put something in the “smart place” so I won’t forget it. Of course…you know what happens. Where would THE smart place be? Why didn’t I write it down? Gabrielle, your treasure trove of lady clippings is in THE MOST LOGICAL spot. YOU put it there, don’t you REMEMMMMMBER? Guess not. Can I use this as a reasoning behind NEVER putting my things away? (please?) Once I put them away, I can never find them, therefore…

One of the last nights I really hung out in my beloved craft room, I was in DESPERATE (yeah I’m really playing up the ALL CAPS today, huh?) search for this ONE image. It was a picture of a lady --- quite provocative, quite insanely perfect and well…in the words of Jacob: Let’s just say it: hot. So I’m scouring every magazine I have. Where was this picture? What kind of magazine was it in? Would I have tossed it aside in some failed attempt at ‘weeding’ out the thumbed-through magazines? Would I have torn it out to memorialize it? Would I have been slightly scandalized by its perfection and decided to shred it in disgust? Why?, WHY?, WHHHHY?? I question myself, why wouldn’t I REMEMBER where I would keep such a fine fine image? I could have put it in the MOST logical spot so I would be able to access it at a moment’s notice. If only I could just reconnect these slightly fried synapses and get back to knowing where these smartspots are all located.

Until then, should I entirely butcher your name and lose your birth certificate even after you told me NOT TO LOSE IT EVER!, you’ll know why. Oh you, with all of your knowingness powers!

friday list: appreciating life (list i keep at work - are you seeing that square stamp? woohoo!)

let's hear it for the boys!

After two years of surrounding myself in a sea of women (which I’m quite happy in, by the way), I have found myself moving towards a more leveled world of gender. All these boys showering me with laughter, and wit, and laughter&laughter&laughter and friendship. I’m such a lucky girl.

Ryan, Solomon, Tim, Craig, and Jacob. How I adore each of you. How you have made me laugh and cry, and learn, and laugh.

Ryan. My dear dear companion in life. Knows me like no other, and has found a wild way to love me and our girls. How we laugh and sing out LOUD, and look at birds, and feel such desire for one another (and wood, and coffee, and camperdown elms) is really quite magical. After this time apart, it astounds me that I continue to find new things about him. His new thoughts on politics, the way he BELTS out “Wanted Dead or Alive” like it were his anthem of life, and the way he enjoys his Kitchen Aid Mixer. (Bonus points for loving to cook and eat with me, and for being my Rhinoes.)

Solomon. My Best Friend. Been there for me through and through. A rock, a genius, a gourmand, a new father. He rocks my world with his passion for life&food&family&learning. We shall wear our orange t-shirts, shall laugh at our FF jokes, and be merry forever and ever. If only we weren’t hundreds of miles apart, our girls would grow up so very close. (Bonus points for being a SUPER gourmand and teaching me about yummy cheeses and cooking me yummy foooooods!)

Tim. He’s the newbie. He’s quickly become one of my dearest friends though. Within a very short period of time, we have become familiar. It helps that he’s unquestionably HILARIOUS. His genuine good nature is melodic to me. I find him to be incredibly fascinating, and have set out to spend lots&lots&lots of time doing much much laughing with him (and learning about economics and copyright law and lolcats). (Bonus points for lunching with me!)

Craig. Dear Craig with his art and his things. How can he have the best taste in THINGS? Vintage radios&typewriters, and the finest selection of estate sale artwork west of the Mississippi. He has been more than an inspiration to me for committing myself to creating, thinking creatively, breathing creatively, living creations. (Bonus points for dinnering with me!)

Jacob. Yeah, my gayhusband. I adore him. He’s easy to adore. HI-Larious, sharp-wit, brilliant understanding of the way people interact, and the finest masterbaker I know. His magnificent delectables astound me! How can they taste soooo good? How can they look so GLAMAROUS? I feel we’re both on this path --- to DO something with our lives, and we struggle, nonetheless we are on this mission together. Jacob always has an optimistic undertone to him that feeds my soul. He has the vision for changing the world! I have stood upon the mountainside and shouted out his glory, and will do so every day forever. (Bonus points for the rolls, the biscuits, the scones, the muffins, the ahi tuna STEAKS, the stuffing, the jam, the fooooooooooooooooood, and the charmingness of it all)

Oh, these funny funny, smart, and good with food men. Sigh...

yesterday's highlights...

precious...my sweet sweet precious

I need you magazines, with your glossiness, your unexplainable sexy smell, and smooth, sweet smoothness. My body aches for a giant tub of images, all intermingled with editorials and advertisements. I long to brush my cerebral cortex with cut outs of something previously captured --- something previously conceived. I keep consuming more and more magazines, raking through them as if they were basic sustenance, and I am finding nothing. Nothing of value. Nothing worth cutting. Have I become too picky, or am I refining my search?

I found myself in the midst of a goldmine, or what I believed would be one, this weekend, thumbing through some erotic books and images that I have not visited in a couple of years. Did I cut a single square? I think so. I believe there were two or three pieces that I needed for my collection. I am not interested in anything too blatant. I am not interested in anything too obvious. I am cutting pieces of horizons, sliced with fabric design. I am attracted to the abstract distilled from a tangible world. I am cutting unrecognizable genius. Did the artist even know that little frame of gorgeousness was there?

I have always fought with personal reluctance in recycling the magazines I have pillaged. My romantic mind is loyal to them, as if they were old friends, believing that there is still something in those pages worth seeing. I keep these magazine carcasses for years. When will they ever incite some new spark within me? What could I have possibly overlooked? It is time. It is time to move on, and pay some respect to these tired rags. Give them peace, Gabrielle. Let them go.

I remain hopeful. One of my main suppliers (and sweetest friends) bequeathed some fresh blood upon me yesterday. OH! THE EXCITEMENT! OH! The anticipation! I feel like a rabid animal, out for the kill! I am close to demanding all of you give me what you have. You don’t need that Vogue, I do! What is new and unchartered for me to tango with? I am waiting for you, lovely, inspiring, snapshot of perfection…We will be so happy together.

fluke this, friday!

1. The middle row of seats in Tallulah, the Red Van, fold down to create a table surface. I love that table, decked out with cup divots as well.

2. I like to name things. I used to be quite obsessed. Naming every inanimate object that had any significance to me.

3. Oh, and if we haven’t met…there are MANY inanimate objects in my life that have significance.

4. In the past, it would’ve been ludicrous that I have yet to name my red stapler --- my gorgeous, lovely, sleek&useful Swingline stapler.

5. I like beer&pizza. Mmmm...

6. I am exceptionally giddy today. Good work. Good friends. Good love. Good girls. Life = goodness.

grid it out

where would each feeling&thought go? maybe the bottom left one, maybe the middle one on the right. life feels all confusing and muddled. if only they could be inside this phenomenal grid.

these are a few of my favorite things at the office

the working girl

I have alluded to it before, but somehow going to work is just fine. At work, the rules are different. The people are different, and you can operate in that world with different goals, expectations, likes&dislikes. You are – literally, a unique character, standing apart from your life of baggage&woes.

How is it that I can be accomplished, confident, and charismatic professionally, and somehow not be able to embody those qualities in my personal life? Why have I set up a world in which I allow myself the room for CHOOSING to flourish? Where I make the choice to initiate projects and follow through? Maybe the better question is, why isn't my whole life set up in such a way? A dependable, self-realizing Gabrielle? What is it about work that allows for success?

In many ways, I am startled by my willingness&efforts at work. I have been less or more committed to self-sabotage for much of my life. Many of us peculiarly take the worst care of ourselves, make the leastbest choices, and wield the heaviest hands towards our personal image. That’s fine. Really. We’re used to this. Nothing new here…except when it comes to the office.

Furthermore, this isn’t the job I would have believed to be my ‘give it your all!’ place. I work as an administrative assistant at a busy law firm. This was supposed to be temporary, until I got my footing. My intentions have always been directed towards creative ventures or teaching. Why would this grey-cubicalized office be my new love ballad? I feel twinges of ‘sellout’ ringing in my head.

My glorious, hardworking&creative days at the Bronx Museum was only part-time. The firm is the place I have been the longest. It’s really the time I have been able to sink my teeth in to impress my mark. And yeah, I’m invested. I like the people there. I like feeling like I am capable, and helping people out. I am a 2, after all. I am more than happy to leave (as much of) my endless personal melodramas at the door and just get busy. I’m good at it.

Recently I’ve taken to negotiating prices, terms, and business over the telephone. Previously, this kind of thing terrified me. Now I am this superfirecracker ready to make it happen. If only I could spread the wealth a bit, and some of this newfound vavoom would infuse its way into my reflection, so I could remember even after the day is done, that I’ve still got it.

the rant sits atop my head and laughs at me

I am cornering myself with this feeling of drowning, of being overwhelmed --- taxes, moving, paying bills, child care, hannah’s therapy, p, r, his family, my friends, getting time to myself, art work, work, parenting, being more active, eating better, going to the dentist, weaning, sleeping better, getting bedtime routine down, living in such a small spot, looking for a house to rent, stress. Stress. Stress.

ARGHHHHHHHHH!

I guess when I list it out it kinda makes sense that I’m a bit stressed. I really just want to ignore it all. Pretend like I’m not a responsible woman. I don’t want to open mail. Answer the phone. I just want to hole myself in the office and type away. Here I am, being a good worker. Here I am, doing my job. Sigh… Isn’t that enough? Why must I deal with all these other things? Yesterday, I couldn’t deal. Last night there were a few moments when I thought I’d be able to be accomplished. I actually checked some things off my list, but with such weight I am feeling again. Such heaviness and incompetence. Can someone come take care of me, please?

Gabrielle, you just aren't doing enough. Some women parent alone. They take both kids to daycare. Make lunch, get them ready. Take them to school, go to work, do great at work. Pick the kids up, make them dinner, put them to bed, pay the bills, have some alone time, go to bed, and do it all over again.

I am not that mother. I am not that woman. I want to curl up and cry, die, scream, and then maybe go to work. Work is fine. I can do my job and pretend like my personal life is irrelevant, allowing my competency to flourish. Eventually, I will muster the energy to take care of things. To stand tall even after I leave the office. Until then, if you want a sunshiney Gabo, you’ll have to call her at the Firm.

i am sure not the first

to say that today's sun&warmth has been remarkable.

thank you.
we needed that.



and to you, ms. p, my heart goes out to you. you are an amazing midwife. amazing. an amazing woman.

flukify fridays!

1. pizza twice in one day = good.

2. tundra and shrapnel. i like those words.

3. the sun invigorates me. oh, sweet, lovely warm sun, i adore you (today).

4. why is it ok to not capitalize, but i still use punctuation? interesting questions....

5. i am feeling the urge to convert all this mulchiness i have within me into some serious hotlooking artwork. seeing those lazysusans in the van every morning helps, i think.

6. excitement.

7. random lists are yumyums for the soul.

8. i wonder if these lists are one-third as entertaining as they are for me to compose.

9. i have done a LOT of laughing today.

10. clemmy needs someone to hang out mondays, wednesdays, and fridays. will i ever take care of that?

11. why drag your feet?

12. i prefer to skip.

art that moves me pt. 3, for gail on matisse

As for Matisse’s paintings… Well, I think it’s important to divide his work into some phases to really get a grasp on what his motives were all about:


1. Fauvism
2. Movement
3. His cutouts

During fauvism, he did all that wild/crazy/ugly painting of people with green and pink faces! His poor wife was often his subject. I mean, I get it. Changing up color is indeed fascinating, but really? Why like that? They’re important pieces, I know that, but definitely not the most funnest ever-ever to look at.

When he was really working with movement and the complication of combining design, he came out with some of my favorite pieces. I just love his use of curling lines, and his interest in flattening the canvas and simplifying forms. This is when art gets OH-SO-GOOOOOOD! Many of these paintings are ginormous!

Unfortunately, Matisse suffered from insane stomach cancer, and was bedridden towards the end of his life. He couldn’t stop making artwork though, so he had ‘his people’ work with him to make the giant cutouts that he’s also renowned for. He sculpted with paper! These are some of those lovely unforgettable works that evoke harmony.


So yeah, there's a lot to say about him. I've barely skimmed the surface. The thing I appreciate the MOST about his work is that he was a risk taker. I'd say that I only 'like' roughly one quarter of his completed pieces. Much of it is ugly. He really took art to new places though! And the ones that are gorgeous, are simply breathtaking.


Life is goooooood!

art that moves me pt.2 ---- announcing the annunciation adoration!

Let it be known publicly that I did not grow up in a religious household (I know! I’m just FULL of surprises!). I gleaned the majority of my biblical knowledge in college. Between art history class and ‘religion and psychology’, I think I got the main thrust of Jesus’ life, as well as a few saints. Poor Sebastian. Doubting Thomas. John the Baptist losing his head to the sexy vixen, Salome. Let’s just say, I concentrated on a few highlights. I got the Reader’s Digest version, if nothing else.

It has always been The Annunciation, however, that has mused me for years. This most elegant moment – this passing of the heavens unto our earthly vessels…well, it’s truly magical. Why must she always be on the right? Why must Gabriel’s hand look as if he is about to strike her? All the symbolism – the lily, the closed garden, the dove…. Magnificent! Glorious! The innocence! The first sparkling moment of her difference from everyone --- what a moment to capture! Here are a few of my favorites. Some of them are dramatically different from the thousands that came before it. I wish I could show you all of them. Maybe this introduction to my faves will lead you to find your own.

Let us begin...

Perfection in its traditional beauty:

by Fra Angelico, c.1441

The beautiful wings, the delicate, softness of Mary’s pose. She willfully accepts her destiny. The elegant columns, trimmed garden, bowing angel… Ah…

******
Then we get all Byzantine with ornate gold with this:

by Martini, c.1333

SO SO elaborate and gorgeous with the high flying wings of GLORY! Mary’s pose is almost peculiar though, as if she’s shying away from Gabriel’s message. And is it me, or is her face reluctant here? Beauty, tradition, grandeur though, all radiate from this altarpiece.

******

So these pieces are pretty much how this scene was painted for oh, five hundred years or more. The next four are pieces that really stir things up. The most hopeful, optimistic, pious one is this:

Maurice Denis, 1912

The bright sun bursting in through all the windows. Distorted and yet quite cheerful palette makes the gorgeous light white of Mary’s dress seem all that much more holy. She’s praying, seemingly allknowing with her acceptance of baby Jesus growing within her. This time Gabriel is on her right, in complete honoring of her, kneeling under the rays of the sun.

******

While this next one came some sixty years before, I feel like it takes such a sharp turn from the others, that I wanted to save it until now. In this one, it seems that Mary is utterly frightened:

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1849-50

Crouched on a tiny bed, in what must be the smallest room, Gabriel towers over her demanding her to take on this commandment. She WILL BE THE MOTHER OF GOD’S SON! She cannot even meet the angel’s eyes. In her utter amazement, she zones out, wondering why her…WHY? WHY? This painting has always been my favorite of the bunch. To think of hearing such a line…So, um, Mary, by the way, I know you’re about 14 or so, and have barely seen outside your village, but yer preggers with JESUS in your belly! YEAH! Hallelujah, indeed! The realism here (not painterly realism, but emotional realism) is quite inspiring. Bravo, Rossetti!

*****

Finally we come across the pond, as it were, to good ol’ Americans and their take on the subject. I must start with this one:

Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1898

I am most moved by this one. I feel Mary’s quivering, squeezing her hands in fear and awe. Gabriel has become the bright&warm sunrays! No need for any human embodiment, the true message from god comes through this pure light. And yeah, no shit she’s scared! Sweet, brown hair, small little girl taking on the weight of the universe. This one just kills me. So gorgeous. So meaningful.

******

I will leave you with the one that would be MOST like my own, would I have thought of it! Ha! Here, we have all that we need to get the message:

Warhol, 1984

We have the hands. Gabriel’s direction. Mary’s acceptance. Isolated, distorted with color, but oh-so-freaking-brilliant! SIMPLIFY! Sigh…You gotta love Warhol!

Wow, what's left to say? Just know that I just experienced an amazing artgasm sharing all this with you!

she also likes to work

I was going to be all secretive and confide about something: i like my job.

I know I know! I shouldn't! How lame! I'm a sellout! It's true! I work for 'the man'! Well, in my case, a group of conservative men. I don't mind though. Really. While much of the time I find it to be uninspiring and monotonous, I do relish coming in some days.

There's also a possibility of it growing and growing some day in the future (and by future I mean somwhere in the ballpark of two years). They like me here. They're not awkward about that. It's clear, although they don't pay me what I feel is appropriate, they compliment my 'skill set', and are continually calling on me for my educated opinions. (I fought the urge to type :) )

I am, however, wasting time -- much of the time. I believe it to be slightly compulsive, but I also know that there is a part of me that would happily invite busier times. I ENJOY working. It feels good. I found staying at home with my lovely girls to be rewarding, and yet so harrowing to quantify. "What did you accomplish today?" What a sickening question! I...uh...helped the girls survive today. We ate food....? At work there are tasks. They are completed. Someone can give me those accolades I appreciate. I move on to do more work.

Right now, it's time to move on home.

go ahead and ask me

Here are some questions I LOVE to be asked, so feel free to use these on me ANYTIME, or to manipulate them to fit your cause:

• Gabrielle, do you want to go the park with the kids on Wednesday evening?
• Gabrielle, I’ve been thinking about Matisse, and I was wondering if you had any thoughts on his paintings?
• Gabrielle, I made some extra apple crisp, can I bring some over to you and the girls?
• Gabrielle, I’ve been thinking about being more active, and know you are too, so do you think we could start taking long walks together? You could push the girls in the stroller.
• Gabrielle, I want to plan a movie marathon day with you. What should we watch?
• See’s or Godiva?
• (and my personal favorite) I WANT TO GO DANCING, wanna come?

the day of many posts

It bothers me to be without blogging possibilities over the weekend. I don't have reliable internet access at the apartment right now. To make up for it, I would like to post a many things today. We'll see how much I can do.

First, I wanted to mention my personal annoyance with ALWAYS needing to get approval. OH, the joys of approval. It's been eeking out of my writing as well with all the "you know?"s and the "right?"s. It's just so.... WEAK! Like I'm some uptalker. I mean, surely we all want people to agree with us from time to time or to simply understand our own reasoning, but I think I'm taking it to new lows. I'm even wondering if someone will comment and say 'You're right, Gabrielle. I do that too. You know?' or 'Yeah, I've been noticing that about YOU, Gabs, you're just so passive in your writing. I didn't want to say anything earlier, but now that you've opened the doors...." Right? Where's my own personal integrity with the statements I'm making, or the choices I have chosen? Surely it's been severely rocked this last month, nonetheless this has been going on for quite some time. Shaky voices.

I feel that this all comes back to this complete insecurity about being liked. The voice of that 12-yr. old bitch in my head is getting louder, stronger, and damn articulate! I keep questioning my beliefs, my conclusions, my choices, the sincerity of people, the hope of the world, my own freaking HAPPY DISPOSITION has abandoned me. What is left are all these questions. All these desires for things to move in one direction or the other, and also have the freedom to doubleback.

Ok. End of first rant. The rant that needed to get out of me, and would like to be completed (sez that bitch), but for now, will end.

fluky friday

i just can't stop. making lists is life!
so for now on (or at least until i forget) it's FLUKY FRIDAYS here at shedreamsingrids! you could do it too, you know.

random racts rabout re:

1. i don't like writing the number four. i think partly because i can't decide if it should be open, or triangular on top.

2. i am getting more olfactory-obsessed as i get older. the smells of things intoxicate me. or positively make me wretch.

3. choosing the 'right' pen is hot!

4. i never used to like the sun. too bright. too hot. too popular. i was the raingirl. in fact, my nickname was 'rain'. oh those days. now, i get hollyjollyjoyful about it! look at all the possibilities, i think! it must have something to do with having girls that want to playplayplay out there in that jubilant sunshine.

5. i have some superduper radass friends!

6. i've always loved the word: baZooKa

7. yes with arbitraty capitalized letters

8. http://www.cuteoverload.com/

after the beeps.... BEEEEEEEP!

During some magical flutter of clarity last night, I dialed Dan May’s phone number. This is more/less what I said on his answering machine around 10:40pm:

Hey Dan, it’s me, Gabrielle. I was just sitting here thinking…Not sure if you’re out, or asleep, or annoyed…but I was thinking about you and your artwork and how maybe we could have some ---- art exchange ---- of our CLIPPINGS! Maybe…I could photocopy some of your clippings, and you could do the same of mine. I know that we both have quite an archive of images, and I want YOURS! Maybe that would be the exchange --- to just have one another’s images as inspiration or something, or…or we could use them in our own projects…Or maybe your machine is going to cut me off. But I just wanted to say that I miss you, and you know, Pamela and I broke up. And it sux. And I would love to get a drink with you. And yeah… so… if you want to call me, that’d be great. Ok…

Why is it SOOO alluring/hard/reDUNKULOUS to leave such insane messages? N. and I often do this kind of thing, leaving these three minute messages on voicemails, but… it’s different right? Do other people do this kind of thing? You don’t know how to end it. You’re completely paranoid you’ve made a (slightly charming)FOOL of yourself, and have no way to erase/edit/improve your words.

So yeah…Give me a call…We’ll talk about art…and stuff….? It’s all so laughable now.

required watching

Watched this AMAZING lecture last night on dvd, Alfie Kohn's "Unconditional Parenting". I was blown away hearing the words and thoughts that have sprinted through my mind before, and lingered in my heart. What always gets in my way are my needs for instant gratification: I NEED THE HOUSE TO BE QUIET!, or IT'S NOT CONVENIENT RIGHT NOW, SO PLEASE DON'T! Why didn't we watch this before? No regrets, just happiness that I've seen it now. Like other great teachings in life, it woke me up! to some frightening realizations.

So yeah, I'm a parent! I have these two amazing daughters, Hannah & Clementine, and I feel I have largely pushed them aside for awhile now for my own need to 'be happy' or some semblance of that desire. Getting that goal accomplished often meant feeling oppressed when they've been around. It's unsettling to say. Perhaps I am wont to play my cards so it looks like other influences lead me to these choices. I refuse to neglect my own hand in this. These girls are under my care; they deserve more. I feel a deep understanding that these girls are companions in life --- and together we can be active in life and loving.

Yes. The spring is a hopeful time, and during this tumultuous time, I am pleased to make some proudmama steps towards getting to know my children more. Allowing us to enjoy one another.

because my happiness needs some reinforcing these days...

Wanted to write about my adoration of "The Annunciation" in artwork, but just haven't fully fleshed out my whys and the perfect examples, so instead I am jotting down my recent additions to my "Happy List":


• My NEW gorgeous supply cart at work
• Little whistles, flags, ribbons, and baskets on bicycles
• Pianos
• “Starman” by David Bowie and the cover by Mates of State
• Once soundtrack
• Compressed gas dusters in a can
• Little shrubbery in model railroad sets, or any model town displays
• Teeth marks on No. 2 pencils
• Woodshavings
• Museum giftshops
• The Curiosity Shoppe in San Francisco
• Picasso’s Guitar sculpture
• How Pamela ADORES Botticelli
• How Nicole ADORES Raphael’s smooth line
• How Jennifer LOVES Andy Warhol
• How Jacob LOVES those gorgeous Van Gogh trees
• Fields of California poppies
• Ranunculus
• Peonies
• Hobo wallets
• Hyacinths
• Lilies
• Blowing the whispery filaments of a dandelion clock into a sunny sky
• Laying on a hillside staring at cloud shapes
• My craftroom
• When people use the word ‘crafty’ as a synonym for clever
• Well-loved stuffed animals: Nicole’s David, Corduroy in Corduroy, and the Rabbit in Velveteen Rabbit
• “The Annunciation” in art
• Daydreaming about getting a dog
• How long FishyBoy is when he stretched out
• Cribbage
• Smirking when winning
• Harry Potter books
• Finding the perfect stuffed animal
• My NEW square stamp
• Do you like me? (with squares next to 'Yes' and 'No')
• Fantastic folding of notes passed in school