Princess Idleways and Boredom

The other week I read The Princess Idleways: A Fairy Story (1879) by Mrs. W. J. Hayes. It is one of the classic stories that is available for a free Kindle download on Amazon. The story itself was entertaining enough, although I don't know that I would read the book over and over. The plot tended to meander quite a bit.

I have, though, been thinking about a point mentioned in the book. The story starts by explaining how the princess, Laura Idleways, is a selfish and lazy creature. I was particularly struck at the discussion of how the princess was "always depending upon others for entertainment, too lazy to amuse herself, and much less inclined to study or to find happiness in being useful." I had never thought about boredom as being connected to laziness before, and I appreciated this insight. When someone is bored, it is because they are too lazy to entertain or amuse themselves.

I can remember complaining to my mom at times when I was bored. She would give me suggestions of things to do, and I usually would reject each one as being too boring or unappealing. Now that I'm a mom, I am the one who offers Sam suggestions of things to do when he is bored, and he usually dismisses each idea for one reason or another. The other day, though, I was able to tell Sam about Princess Idleways and how her boredom was a result of being lazy. Sam seemed to really understand this idea; he could tell that at that moment he was depending on me to entertain him or find something to entertain him. Although, obviously, there are times when I want to play with Sam and be with him, I also want him to better cultivate the ability to entertain himself.

I'm happy to say that I never find myself bored as an adult. There are always more things to do than I have time for!

S Family Nicknames

Lucy's nicknames still continue to be "Snuggle Buggle," "Buggle," "Buggle Boo," and "Bug." I also call her "Lovey Lu" and "Lu." Sometimes I call her "Buh-Buh," because that is one of the sounds she makes right now.

Lucy's nicknames have made me think about some of the creative nicknames, silly titles, and silly phrases that my siblings had. Here are ones that I can remember:

• Viv
• Vivi
• Vivi Voo
• Vivi the Fusser
• Mah-da-ca
• Mah-ca-ca
• Mahn-ca
• Chef Boy Aldee
• Aldee Baldee Boo
• Alden Balden
• Aldoo
• John
• Milly (Mom said she thought of this one when she was reading Hamlet's Mill and thinking about Millstones)
• Milly Willy Huggy Hilly Lovey Lilly Silly Gilly
• Milly Moo
• My Little Angel (V would call my sister C this, which made my brother A upset. He would say, "She's not an angel. She's just C!"
• Liza
• Liza Bean
• Snugglebean
• Bean-A-Rama
• Liza Loo
• Looper Doo
• Looper
• Liza Looper
• Loopey Doo (a variant of Lovey Loo, which we also used)
• Favorite Sister of the Universe 
• Lize
• Eliza Lies a Lot (Not that this is true! We just liked to say it because "Lize" and "Lies" are homophones)
• Cal Pal
• Cal-Pal-A-Rama
• Pal
• Wernk
• Wernk-A-Chunk
• Wernky Wernk 
• Wernkalicious
• Schmoshem
• Schmosh
• Schmoosh
• Schmooshroom
• Schmoshy Schmoosh
• Snugglebum
• Pardner
• Lydia the Prettia
• Lyddie Loo 
• Lover Dove
• Snugglebug
• Lyddiebug
• Sweet Pea (I think just Dad used this)
• Peanut (just Dad used this one too)

If L grows up to be a grouchy old lady, maybe we will call her Lyddie the Old Biddie as a joke!

Lucy Laughs!

May this be the beginning of a long era in which Lucy finds entertainment and Sam has someone who constantly laughs at his silly antics.

What I Would Do

If I had a day or two to myself right now, I don't think I would spend it on a museum visit or anything else so frivolous. Right now I feel like life is manageable, but packed full of constant needs and activities. It would be nice to get caught up on things like, say, vacuuming. Sometimes I feel like folding one basket of laundry is a big triumph for the day. If I do have free time, this is what I will do over the next few weeks:

- Write my six-object tour for my docent class
- Finish reading "What Are You Looking At?" for my docent class
- Cut down the dead flowers and weed in the garden
- Mow the lawn one more time
- Go through Lucy's clothes and donate the ones that she has outgrown
- Memorize my Christmas choir music
- Transcribe my silly musical jingles into actual notation (this is a frivolity, but something I want to do soon)

I know that many of these things will happen at some point, because they have to happen. But I have higher priorities than what is on this list anyway, like helping my friend Meka with her soon-to-be-born baby (which will be so fun!). I know that in just a little over a month, this constantly-busy schedule will die down. I'm looking forward to some luxury time.