7 Quick Takes

1.This story just took my breath away. As a doula I have read a lot of the literature about skin to skin contact being best for baby. That’s the first place babies should go after they are born. But that it saved this baby’s life takes my breath away.

I’m also angry that mainstream birth practice in this country is still so ignorant of how mother’s bodies work, and so brutal at times.

2. I was ordering a book on amazon and remembered that I’ve wanted to buy a copy of Tales of the Kingdom for a while now. One of my all times favorite books. I planned to read it to the kids this year. But when I went to order it I found out that a second hand used copy would cost more than $35. Why is this? Is it out of print? If you scroll down further you will see that people are selling new copies for more than $100. Someone should find out about this and organize another printing of this excellent book. It is very good, but I can’t spend $140 for it.

3. Without really realizing it at first I’ve been inspired by Elizabeth Foss In the Heart of My Home. Her post about the curriculum she’s been writing all her life from the books she’s loved and treasured and saved must have got my mind whirling. For a few short days after that I thought that reading The Little Princess to the Girl would be just the thing to inspire her to, well, overcome certain shortcomings that most 5 year old have. I thought the whole idea of Sara acting as a princess would act, even when she faced such difficult circumstances might help her to see the value of self control.

While I was digging out that book, from a very hot and dusty crawl space, I found so many other delightful books that I kept because I loved for one reason or another and so I set them aside as well. I don’t think we’ll be going to the library for a long time. We have Winnie the Pooh, (first edition) and the Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald, also The Princess and Curdie and The Wise Woman, we have an old book of animal stories, and Grimm’s Fairy Tales and My Friend Flicka just to name a few. I’m even more excited about this year now.

4. I’m not actually on Facebook all day. It may look like I am, but that’s because I never log out of anything when I walk away from my computer. Why would I do that? I’ll just have to log in again later. I feel the need to explain this. Apparently some people don’t live their entire lives online or keep 20 tabs open at once. Who knew? And they have asked if I’m really on Facebook 24 hours a day and how do I get things done?

So, I am not on facebook all day. My computer is though. It is present for me when I am washing laundry or making dinner, and it catches me up on all that I missed. Reminds me of the electric monk in the Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, it does all the believing so that you don’t have to.

5. I have spent months trying to find someone who wants to take my old toddler potty, booster seat, and portable gas grill by Thermos. Everyone I know already has this stuff. Since I don’t have a car I called Goodwill to come pick up, but they don’t pick up less than 3 boxes due to the cost of gas. Finally today I was cleaning out the storage room and I just took it all and laid it next to the dumpster thinking someone might see it and pick it up. An hour later all of it was gone. The benefit of living in a quasi lower income neighborhood I suppose.

6. Technology is cool isn’t it? I have been able to follow my husband while he’s on the other side of the world this week in Thailand. He’s been posting updates about his trip on twitter. So I know that he ate pigeon at the children’s home, and couldn’t stomach the raw dog they offered him in the village but the cooked was alright, and the raw barking deer meat, well… you get the idea. It’s an interesting read. To find out more go to, http://twitter.com/CharisProject.

7. I missed Jen’s carnival this week about choosing a defining post. One post that would summarize my blog. But I had to try anyway. I wasn’t sure I could do it because I am all over the place but I think I found one. So if you are interested you can go and read What High School Didn’t Teach Me.

Thanks Jen for hosting 7 Quick Takes Friday