My Book

I got my first bound copy of Kindergarten Countdown today. It comes out on July 10. Anna Jane Hays wrote it and I drew the pictures. The story takes place over seven days. The most fun part for me was being the interior designer for Lucy's house. Also dressing Lucy every day in seven outfits of my own creation, including seven different pairs of shoes.

Treasure

Good walking weather this evening. Yesterday I had to wear a hooded down jacket and gloves. This evening was downright balmy: I got away with wearing only a long-sleeved shirt, a zip-up thermaLETE top, and a hooded sweatshirt.

Fathers Day

This is a photo I took of my dad while desperately trying to earn my camera badge in Girl Scouts.

Dad loved taking photos so much that he built a darkroom that took up half the space in his and Mom's bedroom.

He made backwards movies that Aggles and I starred in. He filmed us jumping off the tops of swing sets. He filmed us stuffing waffles in our mouths. Things like shuffling cards and throwing them up in the air. Then he would run the movie backwards and it would look like we were flying up to the top of the swing set, vomiting the waffle back out to its picture perfect state, etc.

I drew all over everything. Dad ended up painting one whole wall of my bedroom with dark green paint so I could use the whole wall as a blackboard. Here's my favorite memory about the big drawing space:








One night Dad drew a man's face in profile on the wall for me.
Me: But where's the other eye?
Dad: What?
Me: Where's the other eye? A face has two eyes.
Dad: Well yes, but look! (He turned sideways to show me how when someone is in profile, you see only one eye.) How many eyes do you see?
Me: TWO!

I knew that a face had 2 eyes and at that age I saw two eyes. I love remembering this episode because it's such a clear example of how what you see is so connected to what you think.

Dad died when he was 48 and I was 12.

Linda Davick, Dream Detective

Tom and I saw Paprika, an animated movie that takes place in the near future. In it, a revolutionary new psychotherapy treatment has been invented. Through a device called the DC Mini, one can become a dream detective and view other people's dreams and explore their unconscious thoughts.

Since I don't have a DC Mini yet, I have to find other ways to explore Tom's unconscious thoughts. I try to be subtle, but sometimes I have to prompt him.

Me: Did you have any dreams last night?
Tom: ... Um ... I think so ... Let's see ...
Me: Was I the star?
Tom: ... I think you were in this dream ...
Me: Did I do something really smart? or brave?
Tom: No. You stayed in character.

Code

I emailed Larry's web site to Sally in order for her to figure out the code. She worked magic and was back in a flash with questions. But even her questions seemed like code to me. I fled to the beach.

Everywhere I looked I saw code. In the writing on rocks, in the writing on the wall.

After a mile or two, I started seeing faces in the rocks again and knew I was going to be OK.

p.s. Sally? Can you help me with the code on the rock and the code on the wall? What does it mean?

Windy Day

Bird

© Linda Davick

Contest Winners

runner-up award
Why? has always been my favorite question. An exquisite prize awaits the person who posts the best answer.

The contest ended last night at midnight. The entries are:

1. because we like you!
2. to get to the other side of the road
3. because I said so!
4. why not?
5. Because that rock looks like Martian poop.
6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9v-VMeGW3k&mode=related&search=
7. Because it's your destiny. And the fate of all our kind is depending on it.
8. To Why or Not to Why? That rock looks like the skull in Hamlet:)
9. Follow State Route 85 or 86, and you’ll find it in Pima County, Arizona.
10. because not to is like giving up
11. because others depend on you
12. because choosing not to isn't really living
13. because there may be a wild flower blooming under the rock
14. because life throws curve balls but you just hav'ta keep going
15. because you love
16. because in spite of everything you believe, it DOES make a difference
17. because simply crying doesn't change anything
18. because your mother said so
19. because it may even bring you laughter
20. It will all make sense when you're older.

sample pages from poop writing tablet runner-up award
The runner-up is #5: Because that rock looks like Martian poop.

Why did Marie win the runner-up prize? Because she did not hesitate. Her answer splurted out unfettered from her keypad.

The grand prize winner is #15: because you love

Why did Dee win the grand prize?
Because her reply reminds me of the poem about being only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal without love.
the grand prize (below): a klog (book log)
Personal note to Dee: If this prize isn't as exquisite as you expected,
you can choose to have a bottle of Method dish detergent instead.

Birthday Detergent

Has anyone ever given you dish washing detergent for your birthday? Today I got a birthday present from Barbara & Larry. Inside were two of my favorite things: two of the old bowling pin-type bottles of Method dish detergent. They aren't easy to find these days. In fact, these were special ordered just for me, and came wrapped up like they were some kind of Royal Bayreuth Tapestry Vases. Aren't they lovely? I cannot stress how one of these bottles can transform any kitchen.

(Also included in the package: a Chewing Gum Kit, a pound of Baby's Coffee, a corkscrew, an Inspector Van Veeteren mystery, a martini shaker that you can sip from, a green monkey keychain, well ... the list goes on and on, as you can see.)

Red Head

Linda Davick

Contest

© Linda Davick
Why? has always been my favorite question. An exquisite prize awaits the person who posts the best answer. Contest ends midnight Wednesday, June 6, 2007. Must be 2 years of age or older to participate.

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Linda Davick