Girl Makes Way for Piano

Posted on 2020/11/03 by circuskitchen

Monday, November 2nd 2020

Preparing the new Music Corner!

With encouragement from my trusty crew…

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It’s beginning to look a lot like magic…

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Victory be yours forever!
(Bun and cat approve.)

Special thanks to my sister Amanda for helping make this painting possible! 💕

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Spreading the love…

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Even the animals are full of anticipation…

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And finally, time for the reveal.

[To be continued…]

🎵

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Girl Meets Piano

Posted on 2020/11/02 by circuskitchen

Sunday, November 1st 2020

AT RISE: It is late morning Sunday, the ‘rents are out -sans enfants– for a much anticipated matin a Cheteau CostCo.

A truly like REAL piano, compact and $499.99.

Him: Remember if you feel overwhelmed, it’s okay to pull over into a side aisle and just go ‘phleughhhh.’

Her: That’s good advice for any time; thanks!

[Then.]

Her: Sees piano. Hears piano. Sees price of piano. Knows everything she wants AND doesn’t want in a piano (which heretofore hasn’t existed).

Also Her: Touches piano. Breathes. Tinkles some keys. Breathes again. Dabbles at remembering how to do anything on a piano. Distant parts of psyche crackle. Eyes leak.

Her: [To him.] I’m overjoyed.

Him: Oh?

Her: Because I know what I’m getting for my 50th birthday.

Him: Oh?

Her: That piano.

Him: Oh!

Monday, November 2nd 2020

[One day and one grand dip into savings later]:

Is this a dweam?

To be continued…

🎵

Posted in art, childhood, Corona Quarantine, domestic life, faith, family, fighting Fascism, health, history, learning, love, making art, marriage, mental health, money, music, nature, parenthood, patience, Performing Life, what’s “work-life balance?”, work-life balance | Leave a comment

Say Cheese, Cat

Posted on 2020/11/01 by circuskitchen

Sunday, November 1st 2020

A photo session of a photo session. It’s very high brow art and meta. Don’t worry if you don’t understand it.

2020-11-01 Say Cheese Cat [0:47]:

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Posted in animals, art, cats, childhood, comedy, Corona Quarantine, domestic life, family, health, learning, love, making art, mental health, money, parenthood, patience | Leave a comment

CircusKitchen Halloween 2020

Posted on 2020/10/31 by circuskitchen

Saturday, October 31st 2020

Immaculate Church on Halloween

For a holiday during this pandemic, we could have done worse.

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2020-10-31 CircusKitchen Halloween 2020 [2:14]:

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(L) CJ recruits a Trick or Treat partner; (Top R) North American Wife & Husband
(Bottom R) Candy Chute Monster

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Earlier in the day we even had CJ’s “Greedy Monster” friends over for a little outdoor gathering for which Lucia had chosen a pinata in the shape of a question mark; presumably intended for a gender-reveal party but everyone agreed anything goes in 2020.

Question mark pinata, Halloween festivities and Gavin as the ever convincing Slenderman.

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What a year.

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Posted in animals, art, cats, childhood, comedy, Corona Quarantine, family, health, learning, love, making art, mental health, music, parenthood, parenting, patience, what’s “work-life balance?”, work-life balance | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

AT RISE: Special Delivery

Posted on 2020/10/30 by circuskitchen

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AT RISE: It is snowing outside. BOY is at his desk on the computer with headphones. DAUGHTER is at the table on her computer. WIFE is folding laundry on the couch. The door opens to DaddyLove arriving back home from work, covered in flakes of snow and carrying a box of pizza.

DAUGHTER: Ooooooh!! Pizza! [Jumps up.] Pizzaaaaaaah!!!

DLOVE: [Puts pizza down.]

DAUGHTER: [Reaching up to Daddy.] UP-py! UP-py! UP-py!

DLOVE: Hang on. I’m not ready for that. I have to go to the bathroom! And kiss my wife. [Bends down to kiss wife.]

WIFE: [Kisses husband.]. But not in that order, right?

DLOVE: Not in that order.

DAUGHTER: But!! I might not see you for half an hour, if you’re going to the bathroom! [Hugs Daddy.]

DLOVE: [Hugs back.] Well you might be right. I did have cheese. So… better let me go.

DAUGHTER: [Let’s him go.]

DLOVE: [Goes into bathroom. Closes door.]

SCENE.

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Posted in childhood, CJ Sez, comedy, Corona Quarantine, domestic life, family, food, health, homeschool, love, marriage, mental health, parenthood, parenting, patience, work | Leave a comment

CJ Sez: A Skunk Sat On A Stump

Posted on 2020/10/30 by circuskitchen

Friday, October 30th 2020

2020-10-30 A Skunk Sat On A Stump with CJ [0:46:]:

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Posted in art, cats, childhood, CJ Sez, comedy, Corona Quarantine, health, homeschool, learning, making art, music, patience, Performing Life, school | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Back to School Night – Pandemic Style

Posted on 2020/10/29 by circuskitchen

Thursday, October 28th 2020

I don’t expect this post to be so interesting to others, as hopefully a useful reference for our family. With that, here we go:

https://jamboard.google.com/d/1Rg0YWio03MTE4g1HfANmW8cis7G85K43FsceT5r-5Dg/viewer

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Ways To See Work Assigments (include but are not limited to):

– “Classwork”

– “To Do”

– “Assignments As Given”

– Google Calendar

– Email

(I don’t know what these are but reportedly my child does.)

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CURRICULUM:

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OTHER NOTES:

Under “CLASSLINK” there is Typing Club

Cursive is … idk… maybe coming out in the spring

I should sit down with my child once/week to review assignments etc.

Need to ask the mom of my daughter’s favorite playmate if they would like to *Buddy Up to Study*

Every day they enter a word in the WORD NOTEBOOK.

What’s this mysterious thing called a “PLANNER?!”

Check out daily “TASKS TO DO TODAY”

“Assignments as Given”

GRAMMAR FIX => Language Notebook

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5th GRADERS:

Gavyn, Clio, Edwin, Elise, Gabi, Daniel, Juliette, Ben

4th GRADERS:

Arab, Samantha, ClaraJane, Matthew, Tanwar, Joshua

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WANT MORE!? Voila; VIDEOS!

TOBIN ADMIN BACK TO SCHOOL INFORMATION VIDEO

MEET THE TOBIN SPECIAL EDUCATION TEAM

MEET THE TOBIN INTERVENTIONISTS

MEET THE TOBIN SPECIALISTS

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All I can say is we are overwhelmingly blessed to live in this school district AND to have ended up at this exceptional school with such extraordinary leadership and amazeball teachers.

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Posted in activism, childhood, Corona Quarantine, democratic socialism, domestic life, education, faith, health, history, homeschool, learning, love, mental health, money, parenthood, parenting, patience, school, science, Social Democracy, tragedy, work | 1 Comment

Homeschool Headmistress: Aminalz at Skool n’ Stuf

Posted on 2020/10/29 by circuskitchen

Thursday, October 29th 2020

This school day begins one of my favorite ways:

Aminalz at Skool

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And also:

Pumpkins at Skool

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Also, is there a word for “Going outside in the rain?”

And when she climbs down into my arms I get the loooooongest hug. (Not the only one, but worth mentioning once in a while.)

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There were also plenty of unbeautiful moments in the day to be sure, but those are not what I choose to hang on to.

I mean:

!

💕

Posted in animals, art, cats, childhood, comedy, Corona Quarantine, domestic life, education, family, health, learning, love, mental health, nature, parenthood, parenting, patience, school, what’s “work-life balance?”, work-life balance | Tagged | Leave a comment

Halloween 2020 – Ze Pumpkins

Posted on 2020/10/28 by circuskitchen

Wednesday, October 28th 2020

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🎃

Posted in art, childhood, comedy, Corona Quarantine, health, love, making art, parenthood | 1 Comment

I Break for Animals

Posted on 2020/10/28 by circuskitchen

Wednesday, October 28th 2020

Resting my legs for ONE second between activities, and Mr. Flashcat galumphes right ON, followed immediately by Mr. Romeo (Peter Parker), perturbed at having to wait in LINE.

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Next comes Mr. Personality himself, the self-appointed Chief Inspector of Cats, to push everybody around, and SNIFF them.

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I try distracting him with a treat, crinkling the treat bag, when along comes “The VOID,” Darth Snowflake, our “Kitten” extraodinaire, to inspect what’s on offer.

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(Click video for audio.)

2020-10-28 I Break for Aminals [0:17]:

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What can I say. I have a weakness for super dumb, pointless animals.

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Posted in animals, bunnies, cats, comedy, Corona Quarantine, domestic life, evidence they get along, family, fighting Fascism, Friendship, health, love, mental health, money, nature, parenthood, patience, siblings, spirituality, work-life balance | Leave a comment