Thursday, October 29, 2020
A Painter’s Impartial Observation
A Painter’s Impartial Observation: Mythaxis looks at books, movies, music and magazines. The focus includes articles, essays, and interviews about everything to do with technology and publication. The people covered range from small press owners to self publishing authors. Workshops talk about writing and the use of technology.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Elizabeth Eve King (evieeveking) on Twitter
Elizabeth Eve King
Brandon’s Big Gun, or Communal Effort Routs Superior Weapons
More Tales from Esperanza.
Last Friday it was hot. It has been hot for months. Heat has entered our bloodstreams, creating longing for cold seas, mountain breezes, swimming pools… and water fights.
As we watered the gardens, the kids often missed the plants and wet each other, envisioning rapid growth spirts and glorious careers as basketball heroes.
Brandon’s Big Gun, or Communal Effort Routs Superior Weapons
More Tales from Esperanza.
Last Friday it was hot. It has been hot for months. Heat has entered our bloodstreams, creating longing for cold seas, mountain breezes, swimming pools… and water fights.
As we watered the gardens, the kids often missed the plants and wet each other, envisioning rapid growth spirts and glorious careers as basketball heroes.
We have red peppers now. Something I thought would never happen, as till now our peppers have vanished before ripening.
Our Butterfly plants (Milkweed) Salvias, succulents thrive, and our tomatoes ripen.
“Can we have a water fight?” asked Irene
“If you all bring a change of clothes and follow some rules,” I countered, “We can, Monday.”
“Can we bring food?”
“Yes, to be eaten AFTER, the fight.”
Monday & I arrived hot and muggy.
But unlike Monday, I carried with me 8 cheap water guns and some balloons. The early arrivals (Metz & Irene) helped water the garden and engaged in some squirting and chasing. Soon more kids amassed, including Genesis.
Genesis was born without legs & only one thumb. She is a wise child, patient and humorous. She is an inspiration to all who know her. I am always especially touched when this gracious child has an opportunity to join in something fun and physical.
The water balloons were almost impossible to fill and even harder to burst. They bumped off of stomachs and heads into the sidewalk and remained intact!
Then Brandon & Chris showed up
Chris is 2 or 3 and Brandon a very serious 6.
Brandon came armed. He lugged with him the incredibly enormous water gun he had been given for his birthday. This gun was the size and weight of a medium Sherman tank.
It was larger than most of my cars. It fired both forward out of one barrel and backward out of two.
“You guys, better go after Brandon,”
“GET BRANDON!”
Irene transformed, into General Irene. She mobilized the kids, having them fill and carry buckets, dictating what each bucket was to be used for (one for filling Guns and one for foot washing.) Who could use the buckets (Only the good (her) team.)
The good team consisted of everyone except Brandon, Chris and (by choice) Casey.
Due to the complex mechanism of gun, it was very difficult to make it squirt; also, it weighed almost as much as Brandon.
That poor kid, not only was he out gunned and out numbered, due to his weapon; he was hardly able to move. Soon the tiniest children were lugging buckets of water over to Bandon, hoisting them overhead and emptying them on top of him.
The odd thing was that the kids still viewed THE GUN as a superior weapon, even though it demonstrably was not. I tried to fire it once and during the time it took me to pump it up, I was surrounded by an army of water gunning Lilliputians.
After everyone was chilled and my fingers had turned white and bloodless from filling water balloons, we changed clothes.
Some of the moms arrived with quesadillas, salads of cucumber, carrots and apples marinated in lemon (yum!) nuts, soda and cookies.
Then the children insisted on “doing art,” until I finally made them go home at about 9:00pm
(Arron Glazes his Scuba Diver.)
We have red peppers now. Something I thought would never happen, as till now our peppers have vanished before ripening.
Our Butterfly plants (Milkweed) Salvias, succulents thrive, and our tomatoes ripen.
“Can we have a water fight?” asked Irene
“If you all bring a change of clothes and follow some rules,” I countered, “We can, Monday.”
“Can we bring food?”
“Yes, to be eaten AFTER, the fight.”
Monday & I arrived hot and muggy.
But unlike Monday, I carried with me 8 cheap water guns and some balloons. The early arrivals (Metz & Irene) helped water the garden and engaged in some squirting and chasing. Soon more kids amassed, including Genesis.
Genesis was born without legs & only one thumb. She is a wise child, patient and humorous. She is an inspiration to all who know her. I am always especially touched when this gracious child has an opportunity to join in something fun and physical.
The water balloons were almost impossible to fill and even harder to burst. They bumped off of stomachs and heads into the sidewalk and remained intact!
Then Brandon & Chris showed up
Chris is 2 or 3 and Brandon a very serious 6.
Brandon came armed. He lugged with him the incredibly enormous water gun he had been given for his birthday. This gun was the size and weight of a medium Sherman tank.
It was larger than most of my cars. It fired both forward out of one barrel and backward out of two.
“You guys, better go after Brandon,”
“GET BRANDON!”
Irene transformed, into General Irene. She mobilized the kids, having them fill and carry buckets, dictating what each bucket was to be used for (one for filling Guns and one for foot washing.) Who could use the buckets (Only the good (her) team.)
The good team consisted of everyone except Brandon, Chris and (by choice) Casey.
Due to the complex mechinisum of gun, it was very difficult to make it squirt; also, it weighed almost as much as Brandon.
That poor kid, not only was he out gunned and out numbered, due to his weapon; he was hardly able to move. Soon the tiniest children were lugging buckets of water over to Bandon, hoisting them overhead and emptying them on top of him.
The odd thing was that the kids still viewed THE GUN as a superior weapon, even though it demonsterably was not. I tried to fire it once and during the time it took me to pump it up, I was surrounded by an army of water gunning Lilliputians.
After everyone was chilled and my fingers had turned white and bloodless from filling water balloons, we changed clothes.
Some of the moms arrived with quesadillas, salads of cucumber, carrots and apples marinated in lemon (yum!) nuts, soda and cookies.
Then the children insisted on “doing art,” until I finally made them go home at about 9:00pm
Brandon’s Big Gun, or Communal Effort Routs Superior Weapons
More Tales from Esperanza.
Last Friday it was hot. It has been hot for months. Heat has entered our bloodstreams, creating longing for cold seas, mountain breezes, swimming pools… and water fights.
As we watered the gardens, the kids often missed the plants and wet each other, envisioning rapid growth spirts and glorious careers as basketball heroes.
Brandon’s Big Gun, or Communal Effort Routs Superior Weapons
More Tales from Esperanza.
Last Friday it was hot. It has been hot for months. Heat has entered our bloodstreams, creating longing for cold seas, mountain breezes, swimming pools… and water fights.
As we watered the gardens, the kids often missed the plants and wet each other, envisioning rapid growth spirts and glorious careers as basketball heroes.
We have red peppers now. Something I thought would never happen, as till now our peppers have vanished before ripening.
Our Butterfly plants (Milkweed) Salvias, succulents thrive, and our tomatoes ripen.
“Can we have a water fight?” asked Irene
“If you all bring a change of clothes and follow some rules,” I countered, “We can, Monday.”
“Can we bring food?”
“Yes, to be eaten AFTER, the fight.”
Monday & I arrived hot and muggy.
But unlike Monday, I carried with me 8 cheap water guns and some balloons. The early arrivals (Metz & Irene) helped water the garden and engaged in some squirting and chasing. Soon more kids amassed, including Genesis.
Genesis was born without legs & only one thumb. She is a wise child, patient and humorous. She is an inspiration to all who know her. I am always especially touched when this gracious child has an opportunity to join in something fun and physical.
The water balloons were almost impossible to fill and even harder to burst. They bumped off of stomachs and heads into the sidewalk and remained intact!
Then Brandon & Chris showed up
Chris is 2 or 3 and Brandon a very serious 6.
Brandon came armed. He lugged with him the incredibly enormous water gun he had been given for his birthday. This gun was the size and weight of a medium Sherman tank.
It was larger than most of my cars. It fired both forward out of one barrel and backward out of two.
“You guys, better go after Brandon,”
“GET BRANDON!”
Irene transformed, into General Irene. She mobilized the kids, having them fill and carry buckets, dictating what each bucket was to be used for (one for filling Guns and one for foot washing.) Who could use the buckets (Only the good (her) team.)
The good team consisted of everyone except Brandon, Chris and (by choice) Casey.
Due to the complex mechanism of gun, it was very difficult to make it squirt; also, it weighed almost as much as Brandon.
That poor kid, not only was he out gunned and out numbered, due to his weapon; he was hardly able to move. Soon the tiniest children were lugging buckets of water over to Bandon, hoisting them overhead and emptying them on top of him.
The odd thing was that the kids still viewed THE GUN as a superior weapon, even though it demonstrably was not. I tried to fire it once and during the time it took me to pump it up, I was surrounded by an army of water gunning Lilliputians.
After everyone was chilled and my fingers had turned white and bloodless from filling water balloons, we changed clothes.
Some of the moms arrived with quesadillas, salads of cucumber, carrots and apples marinated in lemon (yum!) nuts, soda and cookies.
Then the children insisted on “doing art,” until I finally made them go home at about 9:00pm
(Arron Glazes his Scuba Diver.)
We have red peppers now. Something I thought would never happen, as till now our peppers have vanished before ripening.
Our Butterfly plants (Milkweed) Salvias, succulents thrive, and our tomatoes ripen.
“Can we have a water fight?” asked Irene
“If you all bring a change of clothes and follow some rules,” I countered, “We can, Monday.”
“Can we bring food?”
“Yes, to be eaten AFTER, the fight.”
Monday & I arrived hot and muggy.
But unlike Monday, I carried with me 8 cheap water guns and some balloons. The early arrivals (Metz & Irene) helped water the garden and engaged in some squirting and chasing. Soon more kids amassed, including Genesis.
Genesis was born without legs & only one thumb. She is a wise child, patient and humorous. She is an inspiration to all who know her. I am always especially touched when this gracious child has an opportunity to join in something fun and physical.
The water balloons were almost impossible to fill and even harder to burst. They bumped off of stomachs and heads into the sidewalk and remained intact!
Then Brandon & Chris showed up
Chris is 2 or 3 and Brandon a very serious 6.
Brandon came armed. He lugged with him the incredibly enormous water gun he had been given for his birthday. This gun was the size and weight of a medium Sherman tank.
It was larger than most of my cars. It fired both forward out of one barrel and backward out of two.
“You guys, better go after Brandon,”
“GET BRANDON!”
Irene transformed, into General Irene. She mobilized the kids, having them fill and carry buckets, dictating what each bucket was to be used for (one for filling Guns and one for foot washing.) Who could use the buckets (Only the good (her) team.)
The good team consisted of everyone except Brandon, Chris and (by choice) Casey.
Due to the complex mechinisum of gun, it was very difficult to make it squirt; also, it weighed almost as much as Brandon.
That poor kid, not only was he out gunned and out numbered, due to his weapon; he was hardly able to move. Soon the tiniest children were lugging buckets of water over to Bandon, hoisting them overhead and emptying them on top of him.
The odd thing was that the kids still viewed THE GUN as a superior weapon, even though it demonsterably was not. I tried to fire it once and during the time it took me to pump it up, I was surrounded by an army of water gunning Lilliputians.
After everyone was chilled and my fingers had turned white and bloodless from filling water balloons, we changed clothes.
Some of the moms arrived with quesadillas, salads of cucumber, carrots and apples marinated in lemon (yum!) nuts, soda and cookies.
Then the children insisted on “doing art,” until I finally made them go home at about 9:00pm
Saturday, August 1, 2009
The Mystery of the Rose in the Garden and other tales from Esperanza
The Mystery of the Rose in the Garden and other tales from Esperanza
I brought in some 4 day old kittens yesterday. The kids were enthralled. They were even delighted when they peed and pooped. Two recalcitrant youth who have always regarded me with suspicion and hostile glances (perchance because I am generally coated in a clashing variety of colors and clays...They are probably aspiring designers and I offend their nascent fashion sense.... yep that must be it.) were lured in to touch (lightly) the kittens. I was rewarded with dazzling smiles and waves. Other species are often the best intermediaries.
"I brought in some 4 day old kittens!" I told the moms.
"Vivos?" (Are they alive?")
"Of course they're alive! What do you think I am?!"
"I meant are they clay," Sandra explained
And speaking of kids (sort of)... there are tons, adults & teens, 11- 4 year olds, painting, modeling greenware ( unfired clay), throwing on the wheel (and if I'm lucky, not on the wall) , glazing & dipping bisque (fired clay), watering the garden, examining the garden, smelling and tasting plants, finding worms.... Last night at about 7:00pm I heard a commotion outside, looking out the classroom window I discovered about 20 people, young and old.I inspected the street, but noticed nothing unusual (except conceivably me, dirtier than normal if possible, encrusted not only with clay glaze and paint as usual, but with soil as well.)
"Is there a problem?" I asked
"Just looking, " one young man answered.
"At the class?" Or at the incredibly grubby woman before you?
"No, at the garden. We are admiring the garden."
"We love the garden."
I could have cried, adding trails of salt to my overall filth. Luckily I'm not a crier.
I noticed a rose in the garden when I arrived, but we have not planted any roses? A mom whose kids have all been in my class said, "I planted a rose, in the garden." How easily,often and beautifully are mysteries solved and miracles explained... I still don't get how they fit an entire tree into that tiny seed case though.
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