School's Out

I'm hoping Molly will write a post about her 8th grade graduation the other night. But for the time being, given that today was the official last day for both Anna and Molly and I finished teaching last Wednesday, we'll let Alice Cooper sing it for us:

Charlie :)

This is a video I made for my Technology Class. The link to the video is here, I think you'll enjoy! :)

Early bday present

Here's what Stephanie bought me for my 40th birthday, which will arrive in a couple months:





















You can find more work by the same artist here. I've been following his career for a while and really wanted a particular painting of his a few years ago but decided I couldn't afford it. We later learned that it sold to the bass player for U2.

Anyway, the most recent show just closed and the artist hand-delivered the work yesterday. Nathan and our friend Jason came over while we hung it.

I really couldn't have asked for a better present. I love the idea that it's something that won't go away: it will be passed down to my children and grandchildren.

Thanks, Stephanie!

Charlie on the Swings

Artwork :)

Hey everybody, I have been working very hard on art recently and I thought I would share it with you. Check it out:

Joy

Do me a solid and love life. Please.

I know I do.

And so does this elephant :)

What we've been up to (plus: RIP Lena Horne)

We're not doing very well keeping up this family blog! We'll see if we can get our act together and come up with a little schedule. Part of the problem has been the end of the semester, which has consumed all my time, and the girls' years are ramping up for the grand finale as well.

Everyone's had a lot going on. Last week we celebrated the publication of The Cambridge Companion to the Literature of New York with a release party at Bowery Poetry Club. Anna performed with her band at her school's Battle of the Bands. Molly has a play coming up this week in which she plays one of the leads. Stephanie and Charlie have started swimming lessons along with their twice weekly yoga classes. No wonder we all feel exhausted!

I was originally logging on to note the passing of Lena Horne. What an amazing performer! And what a terrific life, all 92 years of it. I posted three of my favorite songs by her over at PWHNY. If you only listen to one of them, have it be her performance with Grover from 1973, below. But they're all good!