Tolkien lecture

Dang, I'd love to be able to attend this lecture:

Noted J.R.R. Tolkien scholar Ralph Wood, University Professor of Theology and Literature at Baylor University, will deliver the department of religion's annual lecture at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, in Miller Chapel. Wood's lecture, "Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings: A Book for Our Time of Terror," is free and open to the public. Read more.

Alas, it is in Texas and I'm in Minnesota.

Girls are Not In A Good Place

Fiona had the sniffles last week, and Delia this week. We had teacher conferences last week, and we received unexpectedly bad news about Miss Fiona. It seems that my rabid reader is too busy reading novels in school to bother finishing or turning in her homework assignments or take home tests. She had work missing in every class.

We will be reviewing her planner each day, and I have had her meet with each teacher to go over what she needs to complete to be up-to-date. I also told the teachers that they should confiscate any novels they see her reading in class or free periods that are not assigned. She asked me whether this included lunch. I told her yes, for this week, until her work is caught up. Oceans of tears were the result.

Delia stayed home yesterday with a croupy cough. She wanted to stay home today but she had no fever--just felt punk. I was the firm mommy hard-ass, and so Delia left for school in tears this morning, too.

I think we are all suffering from the winter blahs. I know I am. I have been walking outside, but I am struggling to rise above February, too.