2014 Pontotoc County Fair

Acting 101

Music Man director Jamie Davis and his team of volunteer actors did an impressive job of leading the River City Kids through an introductory primer in how to take direction. Topics covered included stage right and left; upstage and downstage; dressing rooms; booms; the make-up room; the green room; the dungeon; and staying in the scene. Nina had more fun than anyone, and Pablo got the biggest laughs.

We skipped out before lunch, which didn't sound appetizing: a sandwich made of jelly, apple sauce, apples, nuts, grapes, pine cones, Skittles, eel, kangaroo, and iguana?

Science Hall Staircase Nina

It's an ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Family Affair

Pablo Responds to His Own Ice Chest Challenge

Before we took the Ice Bucket challenge this afternoon, I sat Pablo down to talk to him about what ALS is.
Me: "People who have ALS gradually lose control of their body."
Pablo (who sometimes has a sketchy relationship with gravity): "Do I have ALS?"
Lou Gehrig himself couldn't have asked that question any more bravely.

Ice Chest Challenge

As is usually the case on Saturday afternoons in August, I filmed myself reading the Ada Newspaper to the kids in the backyard while Mari cleaned ice chests. Today was different, though, for today I remembered that Jack Lewis and one of my Honors students had issued an Ice Bucket challenge to me on behalf of ALS research. It all came together quite nicely.

And then I found three sheets of paper on the lawn, each of which featured the name of an ECU English department colleague with young kids who might enjoy getting wet on a hot Saturday afternoon in August. What are the odds?

Nina at Tiger Streak

First Graders

New Year, New Schools

Pablo and Nina are heading to first; Emilio to third.

Meeting Nina's First Grade Teacher

She looks a lot like Emilio's first grade teacher . . .
We are so happy to have a return engagement with Mrs. Hill.

I foresee a lot of reading in Nina's future.

On our way to Mrs. Hill's class, we stopped by next door to say hi to Ms. Jessica, Nina's summer reading teacher at ECU. She'll be student teaching in Pablo's class this fall.

Meeting Pablo's First Grade Teacher

Ms. Clinton is Ms. Hill's next door neighbor. We expect that they will be doing lots of common activities this year.

Blake Shelton's New Album Cover

As seen from the window of my van yesterday.

Skunk

From the north side of the Horace Mann building at ECU.

Opossum

I wanted to bring it into the house so that we could raise it as a pet, but I was overruled.

Pablo Style

Sleeveless shirt and wool cap.

Pablo Approacheth

At the Chickasaw National Recreation Area