Davy and the Underworld

So we're working along at Dialectic level quizzes, and I come up with the bright idea of having Davy do a graphic of the Underworld, with explanations that have blanks in them for the students (we never call them "kids"--it would be unprofessional to do so) to label. You know, stuff like Hermes, Cerberus, the Elysian Fields, etc.

Davy gets started, and it quickly becomes apparent that we have different ideas about what the graphic should look like.

I wanted something like this... more clothes of course, but, you know, something that looks classical.

Davy, on the other hand...

"Um, Davy. He looks like a GI Joe with chicken legs stuck up on his head! And that nose is definitely not classical!" - Christy

“That’s what he is! Hermes is a GI Joe with chicken legs stuck up on his head! If you can’t deal with that, stop studying mythology!” - Davy

And it went on, with much laughter...

“Simple. Stylized. Not spatula!” – Christy to Davy about wings on the Hermes helmet.

Two days later, I am happy to report that the Underworld graphic is finished. We had skeptical-looking judges to represent the Three Judges of the Underworld.

We have the Asphodel Fields and Tartarus, complete with souls in torment (not explicit, of course). We have the Elysian Fields, which originally included a figure doing a somersault, but, after I vetoed that on the grounds that he just looked like he was falling over, Davy reciprocated with a figure lying on the grass and dangling a bunch of grapes over his mouth. It made me laugh.

There was a battle royal over whether or not the Pool of Lethe and the Pool of Memory, which are beside Erebus (Hades' palace) should have their respective trees reflected in their limpid surfaces. I said no, because we had already spent enough time on the graphic. Davy said yes, because it would be pretty. After an appeal to Mom, pretty won over efficient. I'm glad; the result is much more realistic.

This morning I leaned over Davy's computer for the last time.

"Ya done good, kid."

"Aw, shucks."

Or words to that effect. I kissed the top of his head and pushed on to my next duty: rewriting the Dialectic level spine book pages. Don't ask. We are all happy and a little punchy around here--after all, it's Friday. :-) Can't you tell?

“I dunno, I just… I feel like I deserve myself today!” – Mom, whose comment could be taken one of several ways. She meant that she’s been good lately. We decided that her statement is still theologically accurate, if diametrically opposed to her intended meaning.

“Okay, that’s it. I’m deleting the Amorites!” – Christy, happily, after prolonged conference with Mom and consultation of maps.
“Farewell, Amorites! May the wind be always at your back!” – Davy

“We’re getting married?” – Davy
“No! We’re planning the company picnic.” – Christy

“Not for you! You can just stay married to Dad. I will let you.” – Davy to Mom

Chocolate Pleas…
“Two sparkles please, Naphie.” – Mom to Nathan
“Me too me too please, Naphie!” – Christy
“The babytalk that goes on around here is astounding… and appalling.” – Davy
“That’s just ‘cause you’re male.” – Mom
“Yeah…well…we’re gonna have a rule.” – Davy
::pause while Davy realizes that he has absolutely no authority to make any rules, not with Dad, Mom, and Nate ahead of him in succession for the throne of Tapestry::
::Mom, watching the process, bursts out laughing::

“I’m happy with myself today, so I can be happy with other people too.” – Mom

“You aren’t worthy to be a slave. You can be Gwendolyn the Coffee Pig.” – Nate to Christy

Tribal Rituals…
“Hey Nate, old bean…”
“Christy, young prune?”

“Let joy be unconfined!” – Nate, restarting the internet
“Um… Nate… joy isn’t unconfined yet.” – Christy, whose computer is failing to read the network.
::Pause::
“Ah! Now it’s unconfined!” – Christy

“Wheee! We’re both wrong!” – Mommy to Christy

What icecream sundaes can do to people…
“I just want you to observe that this is what I meant when I said that, in my experience, you being in a ‘I want to be pampered’ mood generally winds up with you being bad. You said it didn’t.” – Christy to Mommy, about whether or not Mommy should have an icecream sundae.
“I can be right, or I can be bad.” – Mommy, thinking.
::pause::
“I think I’d rather be bad.” – Mommy

The quote was, with respect to time-travel, from Kate and Leopold: “It’s more like a pretzel of kinetic inevitability.”
“So I am kinetically, inevitably destined to do this project today.” – Christy
“Right. And it’s a mental pretzel.” – Mom

“Well, I’m glad our feelings are so in tune Mother.” – Christy joking with Mom

“I think I can, I think I can—I’m really deluded—but I think I can!” – Mom

“I can do anything! It’s my company!” – Mom

PS: She really can do anything, including copyrighting those pictures, 'cause Davy made them for Tapestry. So don't snitch. ;-)