Have a seat in this chair,
with the head of a bear.
A wolf’s head’s there too,
Too scary for you?
PPP #3
0
Lizard Drool
So we’re going to start posting some pictures that tell a little story with a poem. Let us know what you think. The best ones are going to end up in a book (the book will definitely have a better title than Picklesoda Poetry Project). And of course it is understood at Picklesoda that all poems rhyme (we are very close minded that way unless you don’t think we should be). So here’s the first one.
Elephant’s love chocolate
This elephant with the sinister look on her face
is not contemplating robbery or cheating in a race
no her thoughts are less sinister by far
she just doesn’t want to share her candy bar
Sometimes Dr. Seuss makes me question my sanity. This week the girls have read One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish several times and can’t get enough of it. I assumed the book would involve counting, colors and fish. I was clearly mistaken. Dr. Seuss took me for a wild ride that makes even this video seem to make sense. As always the girls share their thoughts below.
Else (she’s learning to roll over, kind of like a puppy)
Someone needs to sit the Nook down and teach him how to read.
Mabel (she’s into wearing jean shorts now)
If I had Ish’s wish dish I probably wouldn’t just wish for fish. Ish really needs to take advantage of the wish dish and get something cooler like jean shorts.
Honeybear (she’s good on her tummy)
So in the book Ned has a difficult time with the size of his bed. Either his head is sticking out or his feet are sticking out. Despite my small size I fully understand this issue. Just today I woke up with legs sticking out of my crib. What’s that all about? Anyway I think what Dr. Seuss has done here is reworked James Joyce’s Ulysses in such a way that it is not only accessible but enjoyable. The same detailed stream of consciousness writing is happening here. From one page to the next I can’t say that there is a cohesive story. On one page two guys are talking on a broken phone and then the next one features children finding a “Clark” somewhere. Yet somehow it sticks together and I found myself going back to it again and again throughout the last week. The main difference between the two works is that one is a highly enjoyable work of children’s literature and the other is an incomprehensible 700 page book. What I’d suggest is on June 16th rather than celebrate Bloomsday just read One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.
One thing I love about the internet is that it gives you the chance to meet so many talented people all over the world. One of these talented people happens to be a friend of Pickle Soda who is trying to raise funds on Kickstarter to fund her first EP of brand new, all original music. She is so close to reaching her goal!
So, if you like new music and want to support independent artists (like Pickle Soda) click on the link and check out Riot Upstairs.
The Pickle Soda triplets have continued their weekly trips to the library. They’ve become fans of Mo Willems, Dr. Seus, and of course Peggy Rathman. This week we’ve returned to the joy of Sandra Boynton. Blue Hat, Green Hat. The elephant, bear and moose know how to get dressed but the turkey never really gets it. In our house we always say, “What a turkey!” everytime the turkey messes up.
Elsie Sunshine (she has a chin, it’s just very small)
That turkey just can’t get dressed. Everybody knows that you put the shirt on over your head and then fasten the buttons under your bum. That way the shirt stays in place and helps keep your diaper secure. What a turkey.
Mabel (she’s a tiger)
From what I understand shoes are meant to just be immediately kicked off your feet not put on your head. What a turkey.
Honeybear (pronounced “Juniper”)
The turkey clearly isn’t the brightest animal out there but should we really find humor in the turkey’s foolishness. Is it appropriate to laugh at someone for being unintelligent? It’s like watching those American Idol try-outs just to laugh at the worst ones. Of course we all enjoyed William Hung but should we have? Finally why do we have to consider the turkey to be foolish for not knowing how to put on pants. Turkeys don’t wear pants. I wear pants and have no idea how to put them on. Should I be laughed at? Honestly I don’t know because when that turkey dives into a pool full of water with all her clothes on it is hilarious and I can’t help but to laugh. What a turkey.
Answer: A goblin
This picture hangs over my toilet (i painted it). I’m not really sure why but it has found it’s place there. I just saw Lincoln the other day where Abe shares an anecdote about an American using a bathroom in England shortly after the revolutionary war. The American’s hosts hung a picture of George Washington by the toilet. When the American comes back to the party from using the toilet the hosts wait and wait for him to respond and then they finally ask, “What do you think of the location of the portrait?” The American then said, “I think its very appropriate. Everybody knows that nothing makes an Englishman poop faster then the sight of George Washington.” Abe used a different word then poop.
This of course brings up the question of what makes good bathroom art? To me the art needs a little mystery. Something to contemplate while taking care of business.
So one of my favorite bands is Clem Snide. Recently I was on the site for the band and the lead singer has put up a number of interesting options in the store. For $200 Eef (the lead singer) will write a personalized song for you or someone you love (some of those songs are here). For $1000 Eef will come to your house or anywhere you want and play a show for you (you have to cover travel costs as well). He also used to cover any song you wanted for a certain price and record it for you. I don’t think that option is available anymore. I love his music. I love his voice but I’m not sure I love this idea.
this is Eef
It leads to the question being paid for your creativity. Obviously I would like people to buy the children’s books I draw but that feels different from someone telling me what to draw. Would I draw or paint a picture of a subject someone wanted for $100? I guess I probably would. I definitely would for $1000. Is it just wonderful to be paid for what you want to do or at some point does it get a little sad? I’m not sure. I would like to be able to be successful drawing pictures but how far should I go. Right now I’m just trying to get $1000 together so that Eef will play a show in my living room.
The girls have still been reading and have quite defined tastes now. Not just any book can satisfy them and their critiques can sometimes be harsh. In an effort to spare the feelings of some authors the girls are going to just continue to recommend and review books they like. One such book is Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems. Basically Leonardo isn’t very good at scaring people due to his terribleness at being a monster. As always each girl shares her thoughts below.
Elsie Sunshine
I like the monster with all the teeth. I could use some of those.
Mabey
I’m pretty sure I could do a better job of scaring than that monster can. I’m a tiger.
Honeybear
In the end it’s our relationships in life that really determine if we’re happy or not. Other monsters may have more teeth, be weirder or be just plain scarier but not every monster can claim a real friendship. Leonardo discovered the truth that so many of us fail to see, sometimes our priorities are much less important than just befriending those around us. Thank you Leonardo. I applaud your actions.
jordanfaux.com 