Some days you have to wonder

if you have chosen the right path. Everyone has those days, right? Help me out here and play along.

It all started innocently enough. James was missing his art class, a very informal affair, moms, kids, supplies, a park, because of his cough (the park means a great deal of playing in addition to art). So, I decided to do a brief art lesson along with the normal coloring, painting, projects, we normal do. Nothing fancy, five minutes on the different kinds of lines. Simple. Easy. And here is where it all went wrong.

“In the first box, draw a diagonal line, then vertical, then horizontal.”

“Oops, you confused horizontal and vertical. No big deal. I’ll get you another paper.”

“Why did you draw a circle? O.k. wait for me to give you instructions before drawing. No big deal. I’ll get you another paper.”

“Umm. You confused horizontal and vertical again. Here you go.”

“O.k. Now, draw another line parallel to each of those lines. You remember what parallel is? Right, o.k.”

“Now, shade in between those lines (which he does, in classic James style, in rainbow colors).”

“O.k., now add dotted lines.”

“Why are there rainbow circles all over your paper?”

“Right. Dotted line. Of course those are dotted lines. Just like I asked. Awesome. Beautiful. Yeah, we’re done. I love it. Halloween decoration? I’d love to.”

Note to self: dashed lines.

And, the winners are:

Chelle: Pooh Book (stiff competition there)

Laurie: Newberry: Life and Times of a Maine Clam

Topsy: Canterbury Tales

Runners Up (i.e. you didn’t ask for these books, but nobody else did either, so I’ll send them to you if you like):

Mom #1: McBroom and the Big Wind

Bobbi: Sprout and the Helicopter

If I don’t have your address, e-mail my at holly . dong @ mail . com so I can send you your fabulous prize. Or, your prize. However you see it.