Comments on: Summer Internship

By: Who I want them to be | Seagull Fountain

Who I want them to be | Seagull Fountain — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:29:33 +0000

[...] invited to dinner at my grandma’s, with my aunt and her son, my cousin, the one who had the internship at the UN this summer. Apparently we can relate to David and his lovely wife Andrea because we’ve enjoyed living [...]

By: How to decide whether to have another child | Seagull Fountain

How to decide whether to have another child | Seagull Fountain — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:32:32 +0000

[...] three small boys and deciding my own loinfruit are not so bad. Part of it is realizing that some of our goals are becoming habitual (some of the time). Part of it is long naps and helpful basil [...]

By: Kirsty

Kirsty — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:01:52 +0000

How cool to have goals for your summer internship at home with your girls.
How long are the summer holidays, anyway? I thought all Americans sent their kids to camp at summer? That’s what those TV shows and movies like Parent Trap teach us non-Americans.

A part of me looks forward to summer holidays, and another part dreads it. Matilda starts prep (formerly pre-school, but now part of the school system in our state) in 2012, and from then, we will be forced into more regular, school-holiday-timed holidays (vacations). But summer is Christmas time, and New Year’s, and Australia day, and swiming and the beach and going to shopping centres just to be in air conditioning that someone else pays for …

By: Kirsty

Kirsty — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 07:47:57 +0000

It’s not just you. I read this post, and was wistful – for more and older children, for having the time in a (summer) holiday to plan nothing, to be gardening and growing plants, to be content to snuggle in bed reading scriptures in the morning and not manic about getting up and about and doing things. You are not the only one with envy and wistfulness!

By: Tom Johnson

Tom Johnson — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 18:46:49 +0000

I loved this post. I like the way you interweaved David’s internship with your summer goals. Also, that I found the routine you have the kids in impressive is an understatement. I told you it blew me away.

I also like how the seasons factor in to your reflections. A while ago, it was spring, and you wrote about plants and gardens. Now it’s summer and you shift to “light and air and possibility.” The changing seasons provides an engaging transition into your reflections.

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 23:23:25 +0000

I added the book to my to-read list when you mentioned it, but you’ve intrigued me and I am moving it to the top of the list.

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 22:46:37 +0000

I assume my friend (a professor at BYU-I) likes (loves?) the book bec. of the hope, not otherwise. (But I confess I’m not so eager to read a book that some people find sooooo downward-dragging.)

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 22:44:31 +0000

Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever heard people react so strongly (negatively and positively) to a book (I mean, besides Twilight, but I think that’s a different sort of reaction). My friend’s take on it is interesting: http://notdeadwriters.blogspot.com/2009/06/read-this-book-road.html

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 04:37:24 +0000

We’ve been listening to Clive Romney’s cd of the children’s songs for this year, and it’s so funny to hear my 2 yo shout that she wants to “listen to builder” or “the foundation song.” My 8 yo asks for a rock/pop song, and I am happy to oblige .

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 04:35:50 +0000

The soil in Seagull Fountain is awful. It’s clay with an incredibly high amount of salt. So we add humate to break up the clay, but even better is to do container or square foot gardening with all-imported soil consisting of compost, vermiculite, and peat moss. I’ve got three different sections of garden this year (bec. I didn’t know what I was doing to begin with) — one natural amended soil w/ landscape fabric on top, one Mel’s mix w/ landscape fabric below, and one MM w/ landscape fabric on top.

The difference in the same plants, grown from seed or bought as seedlings, in the imported soil versus the native soil is astonishing, even though I highly amended the native soil.

So what I’m saying is, it’s worth 4 bucks per cubic foot to buy good soil. Amen.

By: Sylwia Lipinska Hardman

Sylwia Lipinska Hardman — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 03:11:14 +0000

i know those who live in Utah or Iowa or other fertile parts of our country hate weeds. i on the other hand, would love some weeds. my garden is planted on sand, beach sand. that’s the soil here. the weeds don’t grow, but neither do the vegetables, because there is not enough nutrition in the soil. all I have to say about your weeds, is count your blessings. where weeds thrive, so do other plants. you have the bitter and the sweet. i have neither. except for lots of trips to the store to buy soil, compost, and fertilizer…

By: Renae

Renae — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:15:08 +0000

This post reminds me of summers-gone-by when my boys were young and my expectations were high. Being a naturally unorganized person, I worked as hard as any intern to keep my children busy, happy, and entertained. The schedule usually deterioriated by the end of June, but that didn’t keep me from trying! I loved our “field trip” days – they made the “working and learning” days rewarding.

I read THE ROAD and had a great discussion about it with a couple of friends. I maintain that there IS hope woven into the story via symbols and events, but one friend felt it was devoid of any hope whatsoever. Either way, it was a compelling read!

By: Brittney

Brittney — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:56:50 +0000

I hope you do a post on The Road. I read it last Christmas and have mixed feelings about it. For good or for worse, it stuck with me for weeks and I would love to hear another person’s view on it.

By: Sharla

Sharla — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:49:07 +0000

That sounds absolutely perfect. Someday…..

By: Angie

Angie — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:31:33 +0000

It’s nice to know I am not the only one with goals for my kids (and myself) this summer! I commend you for your scripture-reading…I am making do with the CD being on while I make breakfast. We are also working on getting chores ingrained into the ‘normal’ routine and piano lessons. So much work for Mom, but (hopefully) so much reward for the kids. Have a great summer, and I wish you much luck…

By: Jane

Jane — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:24:05 +0000

ell-oh-ell. I don’t know what they’re doing there. I responded to his email, but maybe he’s been too busy saving the world to reply. When I read it, I thought of (I think it’s an Audrey Hepburn movie? Charade? or North by Northwest w/ Eva Marie Saint?) a 1960s movie where the lady is a simultaneous translator at the UN. That’s the only picture I have in my head of what people do there. So, talking, yeah.

By: Jane

Jane — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:22:01 +0000

Yes, I know. I don’t know if it’s just human nature (or a defect on my part) that even when I’m very content in my chosen role, I still find space in me to be a bit envious, and a lot wistful, when I hear of fun New York-y/world-y occupations. (I hope it’s not just me who does this.)

By: Jane

Jane — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:19:23 +0000

Um, heaven better not have weeds or grass that actually grows.

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:16:03 +0000

I still have 3 weeks of school for my kids, but I am already planning our summer. I love the times I retweek my schedule: beginning of summer, beginning of school year, or beginning of new year. I also find “half the enjoyment is in the planning of the nothing.”

I know what you mean about cleaning. It takes 3 times as long to make the kids do it, but they have to learn so I suffer through. It does get better. A little. Every other weekend and once in a blue moon.

BTW, what does a United Nations internship involve? Learning to talk much and do little?

By: Laura Moncur

Laura Moncur — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:09:40 +0000

I was wondering when you’d talk about this. Remember, as you feel jealous of his internship this summer that there are those out there who are jealous of yours.