What Was I Thinking?

The children have been a united front for a couple of years on this topic:

• they want a phone.


• they want it now.


• they don't want to hear the (many) logical reasons why their parents think the request is far-fetched to the point of farcical.

So, they waged a siege. And then, they made the compelling case: if we purchase them tracphones, they will buy the minutes.

The proposal had these benefits, they argued:

• no contracts!


• no parental expense!


• child learning opportunity!


• no money = no minutes = not a parent problem!

And, I bought them (first the argument, and then the tracphones).

This weekend, both children received them. In bed last night, Daughter hummed happily: "I have a phone... I have a phone... I have a phone..." And then, "I can't believe I have a phone..." And then: "I can't believe you bought an eight year old a phone..." And then: "I can't believe you fell for it!"

Hmm. I've been duped.

Five (New to You) Blogs to Love!

Hi all,
Thanks to Ali B over at Literary Lunchbox for my second Liebster Blog Award! It is for blogs with fewer than 200 followers, to help spread the love. Here are five random things about me you (probably) don't know, and then five Liebster-worthy blogs to share with you.

1. I did not finish Bleak House the first two times I had to (and did) pass an exam on it. Sorry, Charles Dickens. (But Happy Birthday for yesterday!)
   


2. I have an aversion to sponges, and anything "spongey" looking. Don't know why. Just do.



3. I have the first chocolate of the day about an hour after breakfast.



4. I mucked out a barn for the very first time last Saturday afternoon (and loved it).



5. I went to graduate school in Toronto, Canada (for six years, mind you) because I was a fan of Margaret Atwood. That isn't why I stayed, but it is why I went.

And now for five blogs, different from last time!

1. Another shout out to Ali B from Literary Lunchbox. A new, go-getter blog focused on children's writing and generous sharing of the blogosphere. I read Ali B to remember why we blog at all.
   


2. Fairy Layers, for all-things fairy tale reviewed. All genres of lit, TV serieses, films... astute and conversational both.



3. Lawral the librarian reviews YA (not always favorably--she can't be bought with ARCs!) over at Lucy Was Robbed. She favors sci-fi, fantasy, and books featuring positivie LGBTQ themes and characters. Well-written and even-handed, her reviews are worth the read!



4. Jennifer Lee Young over at Castles in the Sky. She just won her second Liebster award a week ago (and lo, a third!) but she still gets my shout out because her blog is fun, free wheeling, and she has her first picture book coming out!



5. Lizzie Millar, the Shelf Elf, who reviews children's lit, raves about yarn bombing, and pops in a recommendation for Downton Abbey, all of which I love. She is a middle school librarian, a member of the kidlitosphere, and I look forward to getting to know her blog better! I hope you do too.