Of course I’m thankful for family, and good health, and being back in Seattle instead of down in California. All of that is so obvious I’m not even sure I need to mention it. Here are some less obvious things to be thankful for.
-
Math ‘n’ Stuff. I can’t believe I’ve lived in Seattle for 16 years and just found this store today. I shouldn’t be allowed to enter this store with a credit card, as I have no willpower to resist all of the cool games, puzzles, and books stuffed in their shelves. We walked in looking for a few math workbooks for Alex, and it’s embarrassing how much stuff we walked out with. I had a particular and unexpected blast of nostalgia in the store. Hidden on one of the back shelves, they had a single copy of Calculus the Easy Way. This is one of three books in a series I discovered in Sherwood Hall Public Library back in 7th and 8th grades. I remember them vividly as they use storytelling to explain mathematical concepts, and I used these books to teach myself algebra and trigonometry. (Alas, I wasn’t able to teach myself calculus.) I loved these books and I had no idea they were still in print. I feel like I found a long-lost friend today.
-
Movies on rainy days. The weather’s been epically dreary this week, and there comes a point in any dreary week at home with kids when you’re just looking for ways to fill the time. Luckily, Rise of the Guardians saved our afternoon. As far as kids’ films go, quite enjoyable. I can also imagine Alex looking like Jack Frost when he hits his teenage years. If you’ve got kids and a rainy afternoon, go see it. But for a deliciously snarky British take on the movie, check out The Guardian (newspaper)‘s take here.
Alex in 10 years?
- Pre-made Thanksgiving meals. We had a nice Thanksgiving meal with friends this year… and we made the smart choice to get the pre-made meal from the grocery store. I know everybody gets nostalgic for their favorite foods, and the warmth and bustle and smells of the kitchen… but boy oh boy, Thanksgiving is much more enjoyable without hours of cooking during the day! I even had time to watch a little football, guilt-free. (Go Skins!) The leftovers were good, too! No, this is the way to do Thanksgiving. Save the nostalgia for old math textbooks.