I Ain’t Wearing No Tent
It sure is Monday again.
I finished this book and so want others to read it. So I’m giving it away. Keep reading…
Once I got into it, it was SOOO good. Hugo lives in the walls of the Paris train station. He maintains the clocks. Because that’s what his father did–his father who was tragically killed in a museum fire. And what drew his father to the museum was an automaton. Automatons are actually a little bit creepy to me and would make a great historical suspense or scary book. I will let someone else write that, as fart jokes and boob references are not that well received in scary books.
So young Hugo goes about fixing this automaton, which was pulled from the fire’s ashes. And this, combined with his complicated life as an orphan clock fixer, puts him in the path of a girl and her godfather, Georges, who also has a mystery. This book, though initially sad, gave me that warm fuzzy feeling that I got from reading something like The Polar Express. I loved this book. And after I got over the creepy eyeball drawings (which will make sense, but at first were just big ‘ol eyeballs), the illustrations are amazing and help tell the story. It’s also a great story of taking care of our children without homes. I was shocked to learn today that there are 300 foster kids just in my county and one nearby. That’s crazy. Please remember these kids and their group homes as you buy Christmas gifts.
Speaking of doing good deeds, we have a local radio station that has been blazing a trail of generosity with their Pay It Forward Thursdays. People have been paying it forward all over the place. Everyone around here is doing it and talking about it. So I thought we could try a little of it. You have until Thanksgiving Day to leave a comment with your own “pay it forward.” Please tell me what you did out of the goodness of your little heart. And like I tell my students, it can’t be something you’d do anyway, like, “I didn’t brain my little brother with the frying pan.” The Monday after TG, I will announce the TWO winners, and you will receive The Invention of Hugo Cabret. And I’ll have Amazon ship it, so you will get it before you’re old and gray and ready for adult diapers. (And if you’re already there, I want you to know there is nothing wrong with that.)
One kind deed you can do (in addition to the cool one you come up with) is to pray for the Brio/Brio and Beyond/Breakaway staff at Focus on the Family. This past year I have had the awesome honor of working with them and writing some short stories. (Like the Katie and Maxine one that will be in Brio in the December issue!) These people are so amazing and so dedicated to reaching out to teens and tweens with positive messages. But…Focus has decided that as of January they will not be continuing these particular magazines. So please, please pray for my friends–for the future of the magazines, possibly to find a home elsewhere, and for the employees to find local employment, if carrying on as a magazine is not possible. I’m expecting great things to happen. Let’s pray them through that.
On a totally separate topic, I am having the HARDEST time finding winter clothes. WHAT THE HECK? So I shopped all afternoon Friday and found one measly sweater, and I wasn’t too thrilled with it.
Today I wore it to class, and one of my students scrunches up her face and says, “Ms. Jones…um, you really don’t look like yourself today. You look like….um….like…”    I help her out. “My grandma?” And then as everyone agrees, I proceed to tell the class, “Look, it is freakin’ hard to find clothes these days. Stuff is either made for your elderly family members or teenage prostitutes.” I mean I have looked EVERYWHERE for clothes. It’s like everything is teeny-tiny and tight or it’s this big caftan-tribal-crochet-tent of a thing. Short girls do not wear huge sweaters. I don’t care what you do to it–belt it, cinch it, layer, whatever. You still look like a spool of yarn with a tiny head sticking out. And those sweater dresses are cute, but you can’t exactly hem those things, you know?
I seriously give up. I’ve looked at Gap, Kohls, JCP, Dillards, Belk, Banana Republic (where you have to sell a few organs just to buy a shirt), Old Navy, Ann Taylor Loft, NY and Co, Fossil, even SEARS, people. I got so desperate I looked at Sears! But NOTHING. They say all the retailers are suffering. Well, maybe if you made stuff we could wear, you wouldn’t be! Maybe it’s not the economy. I don’t want to dress like Madonna. Or a Hefner playmate. OR Aunt Bea or Mrs. Roper (though she had lovely jewelry).
Okay. I’m done complaining now.
You have yourselves a really nice day. And don’t forget to pay it forward.
JEN
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Hmm, pay it forward. I paid for a classmate’s dinner a couple days ago at Chipotle. Good luck clothes shopping! It’s such a pain.
Jenny, I feel your angst. Being like sized and like aged, I have a hard time finding clothes I can wear as well.
What’s the age level of that book? It sounds interesting. Just wondering it it’s for me or the kiddo.
Yeahhhhh! Thanks for the Brio mention. We really appreciate the prayers on our behalf. This is a crazy time for us all. Thanks everyone, in advance, for your prayers.
so i read about brio on facebook. and it greatly upsets me. i am 16 and read brio and beyond. and so do a bunch of my friends. and they dont know that its going to be discontinued. but i really hope and pray that its not. it is so great and helpful!! i am going on their mission trip to guatemala this summer and i am so excited.
Hi Ms. Jones~Good to see you again~figuratively speaking, of course. I have tons of homework, so I decided to go into your website! I actually became a quite a Rebbie!! (Regular website-visiter-person thingie) Good luck with your clothes hunting… How come you didn’t sign up for the PJ day in “We Dare You” Contest?
Dunno what it means to “pay it forward”…I don’t have any credit cards…
That’s really nice, Edge.
Danica, the book is a middle grade book, but I loved it. It was well worth my time to read it.
Dani, Brio is not down yet. She will rise again! So keep praying. I totally agree–teen girls need those magazines.
Dan Bee, pay it forward means you do a good deed for someone. Remember when I asked you guys to do that in class? For example, you pay for your order at the drive-thru then someone else’s behind you. Or you bring cookies for a teacher (hint) or write your mom a nice card or something. No credit cards necessary!!!
Does the Good Neighbor Food Drive count as paying it forward? What if you organized it…?
I was looking over your list of stores visited…tried Express? Just throwing that out there.
WHAT??? they’re getting rid of brio?? noooo!!! i was a subscriber for 10 years, from 11-21. what on earth are Christian teen girls going to read now? all the secular magazines are just horrible (17 went totally downhill since i used to read it)
Talbots?
It’s so sweet to see the Brio love on here. I am with you 100% - I think it will rise again. They are so so so good at what they do (I say they because I feel like my little blurb in the back really is just a blurb). I think there is as much a need now as there ever was. I’m excited to see what happens next with it.
I have the same problem with clothes. It is nearly impossible to find trendy clothes that also look mature. Have you tried The Limited? Did you know teachers get like a 15% discount at Anne Taylor Loft and The Limited? I saw a sign advertising that in both stores the other day and it made me want to change jobs. Then I thought teaching might need to come from inspiration other than a store…
Oh! And did you know you can get free alterations at The Limited? I’m not trying to be a walking advertisement for them but I think I remember reading you’re a fellow shortie (I’m only 4′11″). They alter jeans and skirts and what not for free there … which rocks. It’s kind of sad even when you have to get “short” pants altered isn’t it?
I am SO glad that I am not the only one who cannot find clothes—and I live in Florida! (Land of the old grandmas and teen prostitutes! Hmmm…maybe that’s my problem. I’ve gotta move!)
omygosh! Brio is stopping?? that is pretty much the only magazine i read!! what am i ( and heaps of other teens) gonna read now?!?
Im praying for yous
Allie, I would think STARTING a club that does all those good deeds would certainly count!
Heather, I’m afraid moving won’t solve your clothing problems.
Natalie, I forget about the Ltd. It’s about 45 minutes from me, and the only draw in that particular town. I definitely need to check there. No wait, we only have an Express. I get the two confused. but free hemming–yeah. If you have a Buckle, they do that too.
I am loving the Brio love. No news to report just yet. Keep praying!!! We need all the prayer we can get.
i fell your complaints…. i am ONLY foar foot ten and i hate it it is impossible to buy pants so three foarths of my wardrobe is tops…. just keep looking and try mixing and matching….