Carving Pumpkins & Earthquake Drills

For the past 3 weeks, I have been planning Halloween-based crafts for my kids to do when they finish their homework and “enrichment” activities.  I realize that this year, I will be a loyal Michael’s customer and learn more about the arts and crafts industry than ever in my past. My kids LOVE foam. They love  gluing googely eyes, pipe cleaners, and paper onto pre-cut foam shapes (stars, bookmarks, pumpkins, ghosts, etc).  They also love popsicle sticks; in fact I’ve caught a handful of students trying to hoard a hundred or so extra popsicle sticks in their backpacks so they can take them home. While, naturally, I don’t advocate stealing and do get pretty angry with them, I step back and realize most of them don’t have the basic crafts supplies at home that I grew up with: no crayons or markers or construction paper or perler beads or hot glue guns.  I can’t let them take too much stuff home, though, because then they’ll have nothing to do the next day at Urban Compass.  Unfortunately, that logic doesn’t work on most 8-year olds.

This week, my craft bug followed me home.  We invited all the LA JVs over on Wednesday night to carve pumpkins with us.  It was so much fun! Everyone came up with their own really creative ideas.  Here are some pictures:

carving with some of Ita Ford

Casa JD + Andrew show off their pumpkins

DK's pumpkins proudly on the mantle

 Unfortunately, we came home on Saturday afternoon to find this...

3 days later, mold attacks
(the one still standing is mine! but it too is fatally mold infested and now in pumpkin heaven)

 During the Verb school day this week, I experienced two “Wow, I DO live in So Cal” moments.  The first was on Monday when the Dean came over the intercom to announce that we would be operating on a “Rainy Day Schedule.” Rainy days (with real rain, not just the fog and mist that hang around quite often) are so rare and so confusing that the school day gets a little changed up. The biggest implication is that students have to stay in their classrooms during lunch instead of being free to roam the (outdoor) corridors and hang out at the plethora of picnic tables on campus.  The second was Wednesday, when we participated in “The Great California Shake Out,” a state-wide Earthquake Drill.  Everyone at the school practiced the “Drop, Cover, and Hold On!” and reviewed what not to do when an Earthquake strikes (apparently it’s a myth that standing in a doorway is the safest thing to do!). Many scientists are predicting a rather powerful Earthquake to hit So Cal in the next few months, so it’s good to be prepared!  

For Spirituality night this week, Julie led us through the Rosary as a group. She did a great job explaining the history and intention of the Rosary, and made it really easy for us to do as a group by preparing handouts with all the prayers and mysteries written out and explained.  I had never said the Rosary in a group before, and it was pretty powerful.  I have seen more rosaries here in LA than I have ever seen in one place (except maybe the Vatican?) because many students at the Verb wear enormous wooden rosaries around their necks each day. I’m not sure if this is a fashion statement or religious statement, but they are pretty neat either way.

USC Rose Garden

Weekend recap: Friday night was Theresa’s 30^th birthday party at a bar in Venice. We went and hung out with some Verb staff and got to see some pretty eclectic people on the dance floor. On Saturday, I took a walk to USC’s Rose Garden, a beautiful little sanctuary in the middle of the city.  I spent a couple hours there eating lunch, reading, and enjoying being “away” from the city, even though I was smack dab in the middle of it.  It’s so lovely to have roses in full bloom in October!  Last night we watched the Phillies lose (so sad) at the ESPN Zone at LA Live downtown.  And today, we’re off to a mass at Dolores Mission, where all the Jesuit missions in the California Province are gathering to pray and lobby for immigration reform. The expectation is for over 500 people!