Poetry readings

On Saturday, Andrew planned to make tacos for dinner, but then decided Sunday would be a better day for tacos. Besides, Grandpa came over and gave us all a lesson on how to change a tire and we ran out of time to make tacos:

1) Loosen the lug bolts

2) Jack up the car

3) Take off the lug bolts

4) Take off the tire

5) Put on new tire

6) Tighten lug bolts in a star formation (top, bottom, side, bottom, side)

7) Done!

Unfortunately for me and Rachel, we found step one to be virtually—nay! absolutely!—impossible, so we'd definitely still have to flag down help to change a tire. But once those bolts are loose we know exactly what to do!

We had "porridge night" instead. Our kids love porridge night. We just make multiple messes of pottage—cracked wheat, cream of wheat, bulgar, grits, rolled oats, whatever—and then put out a bunch of toppings—sugar, coconut, fresh fruit, dried fruit, whatever. Sometimes we make eggs or bacon or hashbrowns to go along with it (sometimes we don't). 

Grandpa brought over a little cake his neighbour had baked him—a lovely almond coffee cake—to thank him for mowing their lawn. It was too big for him to finish on his own and, well, we're rather good at finishing desserts at our house. We cut the remaining cake into eight pieces and enjoyed it after dinner. 

Phoebe was sitting between me and Grandpa, stealing bites from both of us. And I don't use "stealing" casually...

When I was nearing the end of my slice of cake, I reserved a delectable-looking bite, with just the right amount of glaze and a sliver of almond. And then I lifted up my fork loaded with a different—admittedly lower class—bite to offer it to Phoebe and she reached right past me, grabbed the bite I had intended to be my last bite—my perfect bite—and stuffed it in her mouth! (The little stinker!)

*****

On Sunday, Rachel made tacos for dinner.

Andrew and I had peanut butter and honey sandwiches in the car because when we were doing our meal planning we forgot about my class poetry reading—which was in-person in Athens. It was also wonderful! It was so fun to meet these people I'd been meeting with online all semester. It was a small group, but a good group!

Yixuan, Joel, Shari, Jie, Me, Skylar, Dr. Misha, Elizabeth, Matthew, Lemell, and Adam

My "small group" was made up of Yixuan, Jie, and Lemell. They were so fun to work with! I worked with Yixuan the last time I took this class as well, so it was fun to work with her again (and get to meet her in person this time).

Still being COVID-conscious, the reading was held outdoors in a beautiful garden at the former home of Dr. Hugh Kenner (who was actually Canadian! And a literary critic and professor at UGA, and now you can rent his home for $100 per hour, though I think our even was a charitable event on the part of our hosts). While I enjoyed the reading, Andrew and Phoebe explored and coloured on paper plates.

Andrew snapped a few pictures of me during my reading, as did my friend Elizabeth. I was happy to see at least this one where I look like a normal person...

Because in a lot of other ones I look rather awkward (talking, let's face, looks funny, which is why you should never talk when people are trying to take your picture):

Tonight Andrew and I had peanut butter and honey sandwiches in the car on the way to Athens again because I needed to attend a reading by Ilya Kaminsky and Katie Farris. It was marvelous. Kaminsky read from his book Deaf Republic and Farris read from her book Standing in the Forest of Being Alive. I haven't read her book yet, but I need to order a copy (it's about her journey through her breast cancer treatment).

Once again, while I enjoyed the reading, Andrew and Phoebe explored.

Here's Phoebe playing on the railway tracks (which I'm sure is not at all dangerous...considering these tracks are 100% live (just kidding; don't play on the train tracks, kids)):

Here she is getting her favourite dress hopelessly covered in black railway track...stuff:

We're grateful to Grandpa for hanging out with our older kids while we've been gone the past couple evenings. And I'm grateful the semester is over! 

All that I have left is my thesis now. Last week I wrote 1000 words per day for six days straight. And I got somewhat positive feedback on them, so I feel like I might have my bearings and can knock this thing out once and for all. And then...who knows?

This evening as we were finishing up scriptures and prayer so we could send the kids to bed, Benjamin asked if I had to go back to Athens "tomorrow," too. When I told him that I did not, he said, "Oh, well, it's nice to have you back!"

It's nice to be back! I'm sure Andrew will be happy to have something more substantial than a peanut butter and honey sandwich for dinner!