Faking It.

I am not tall and thin and gorgeous.
I am not a super model.
Men will never fight wars or launch a thousand ships in my name.

But sometimes, with the right pair of heels and new lace-edged stockings and sweet little flowered garter, with a pencil skirt to hide it all, I can fake it pretty well.
And then, post stride I look down.
Static Cling sort of ruins the effect, doesn't it?

Dashing Dreams

"Find the 10 things that are i- ima- imaginary on this page and circle them..."
Isabelle sounds out the directions on her last page of homework for the evening.

I waffle from room to room, cleaning up dinner dishes and wiping down the dining room table where she sits, wiggling her little body back and forth, sitting on her knees, bum propped on her heels. I check her spelling and secretly double check her math on my fingers & toes...

I rinse dinner plates and file them away in waiting racks of the dishwasher. I clink glasses accidentally (having only recently even entertained the thought of letting the kids use anything other than plastic-kid-ware for dinner... I click and clack along until isabelle calls for me uncertainly.

"Mooooommmm, I need help," she calls plaintively

"Yeah, sweets?"

"I'm supposed to find 10 imaginaries here and I can only find niiiiiine" she admits worriedly.

At six-years-old she stresses about odd things like her homework and the color of her headbands and the order of her colored pencils in the box. I'm half afraid I'm raising a little OCD child, but not so worried that I'd do anything about it.

I wander over to the table and look over her left shoulder.

She's circled a leprecahuan, a fairy, a face in the tree trunk, a dish & a spoon running hand-in-hand, a pegasus, a dragon and a few other odds and ends.

Standing, dead center in the page is a unicorn. Uncircled.

"Sweetie, what about the unicorn?" I ask her and gesture vaguely toward the page.
"No, Mom, it's imaginary things I'm supposed to circle" she retorts
"But, Isabelle..."
She looks up at me slowly, the very image of her father at that moment, blue-purple eyes bright in concern, little forehead furrowed up.
"But I thought, I mean, but" she stutters. and my heart slows to a pulsing thud. At that moment I hate her homework. I hate the teacher that assigned the homework and the school that hired the teacher and the superintendant in charge of it all. I hate them for making me kill this for her.
"Aren't unicorns....?" she starts and doesn't finish.
I shake my head, once. "No, sweets" I murmur

She swivels back to her homework, grips her pencil and puts a hard, dark lead circle around the unicorn.

A big fat teardrop splashes down on her page.

I pat her awkwardly on the back, but she shrugs me off and hunches her shoulders, stuffing the page back in her red folder.

I feel like the worst parent in the world.

Summer Nights: 2010

It's out! It's Out! The IMA has announced it's 2010 Summer Nights Schedule!

Check it!

From June 4 to August 27, the IMA will be screening films every Friday in its outdoor amphitheater, located on the west side of the Museum. Since the series debut in 1976, the IMA has hosted more than 270 screenings of films ranging from black-and-white classics to modern hits. The 2010 series includes films from six different decades.

SCHEDULE
June 4 Across the Universe / 2007
June 11 Rebel Without A Cause / 1955
June 18 The Usual Suspects / 1995
June 25 Pee-wee's Big Adventure / 1985
July 2 Stella Dallas / 1937
July 9 North by Northwest / 1959
July 16 The Rocky Horror Picture Show / 1975 (midnight showing; gates open at 10pm)
July 23 Monty Python: The Holy Grail / 1975 (midnight showing; gates open at 10pm)
July 30 The Muppets Take Manhattan / 1984
August 6 A Fish Called Wanda / 1988
August 13 Stand By Me / 1986
August 20 L.A. Confidential / 1997
August 27 O Brother, Where Art Thou? / 2000

How much are tickets and where can I get them?
$10 Public
$5 Members (Must present current membership card for discount)
Free to children six and under
Tickets are purchased at the gates, which open at 6:30 pm to the public.

Where are the movies shown?
The IMA's outdoor amphitheatre, located on the west side of the Museum, facing the canal and 100 Acres Art and Nature Park.

What time do the movies start?
The gates open at 6pm for picnicking; films begin at dusk. On July 16 and 23, the gates will open at 10pm and the film will begin at midnight.

What should I bring?
Picnic materials, lawn chairs, candles, food, non-alcoholic beverages, blankets, bug repellent, citronella candles, and your friends are our suggestions!

Do you sell food & beverages?
Concessions are avilable from Nourish Cafe. A full barbecue buffet and cash bar is also available from 5:30pm – 8 pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

What is not allowed?
You may not bring pets, candles taller than 12 inches, grills, or alcoholic beverages. This is also a non-smoking venue. Concessions, including alcoholic beverages, are available on-site for purchase.

What is there to do before the movie begins?
* Patrons may visit the museum galleries, which are open until 9pm and free.
* Enjoy a full barbecue buffet and cash bar before the movie beginning at 6:00pm.
* Have a picnic with friends and/or family.
* Have a cocktail or snack in Nourish Café.
* Shop in the IMA store

What happens in the case of rain or inclement weather?
The movie will be screened indoors in The Toby. Film status can be confirmed after 4pm on the day of the film. Call 317-923-1331 or check the online calendar to confirm.

For more information, visit the Summer Nights Film Series website.