(no subject)
Elliot is still in school, so Gillian and I spent her first day of summer vacation sharing some Mommy-Gilly time. First we dropped off her brother, and she got to say hi to some of her preschool teachers, who were appropriately admiring and nostalgic. The we headed downtown to the main library.
While we drove, NPR was reporting on the forceable clean-out of homeless people from the World Cup host cities. Gillian, hearing the word "clean," thought the newscaster was talking about the oil spill again. I explained that the South African authorities didn't want the homeless people around during the World Cup, and she said, "Why, so they don't get hit by cars or something?"
That question melted my cynicism. I told her I was proud of her for seeing that news in such a positive light.
We had fun wandering around downtown Orlando, looking for the library. The city is so small it's impossible to get lost for long. We found a nice, shady parking spot and hit the library, only to find that they didn't have what we were looking for, although we certainly didn't leave empty-handed. We also turned up at the right time to see a magic show. Since we will be staying in Florida this summer, methinks we will be visiting the main branch often.
Next we went across the street to Lake Eola. I wasn't up for paddling one of the swan boats as I was fighting off a migraine, so we walked around the lake, admiring the fountain and bandshell, and being warily approached by black swans. We didn't make it to the pagoda, but did go over the bridge and through the Chinese garden.
Then it was time to pick up some lunch and a brother. When we got home there were packages waiting, containing ice skates for lessons this summer. Gillian's fit, Elliot's didn't. Ah well.
Voice lesson for Gillian tomorrow, and then perhaps Splash Park.
While we drove, NPR was reporting on the forceable clean-out of homeless people from the World Cup host cities. Gillian, hearing the word "clean," thought the newscaster was talking about the oil spill again. I explained that the South African authorities didn't want the homeless people around during the World Cup, and she said, "Why, so they don't get hit by cars or something?"
That question melted my cynicism. I told her I was proud of her for seeing that news in such a positive light.
We had fun wandering around downtown Orlando, looking for the library. The city is so small it's impossible to get lost for long. We found a nice, shady parking spot and hit the library, only to find that they didn't have what we were looking for, although we certainly didn't leave empty-handed. We also turned up at the right time to see a magic show. Since we will be staying in Florida this summer, methinks we will be visiting the main branch often.
Next we went across the street to Lake Eola. I wasn't up for paddling one of the swan boats as I was fighting off a migraine, so we walked around the lake, admiring the fountain and bandshell, and being warily approached by black swans. We didn't make it to the pagoda, but did go over the bridge and through the Chinese garden.
Then it was time to pick up some lunch and a brother. When we got home there were packages waiting, containing ice skates for lessons this summer. Gillian's fit, Elliot's didn't. Ah well.
Voice lesson for Gillian tomorrow, and then perhaps Splash Park.