katie allison granju

My daughter Jane and I went to Jr Day with the Te… November 25, 2002

My daughter Jane and I went to Jr Day with the Tennessee Valley (Fox) Hunt on Saturday. It was gorgeous Tennessee fall weather and there were about 50 or more kids there. Instead of a real fox, they had a person dressed as a fox riding ahead and laying down a popcorn trail for the kids to follow over about 200 acres. Then they divided the kids into 3 groups (”Can gallop and jump”; “can trot and may jump”; and “very small people on very small, fat ponies that amble”).

They divided each group into “hounds” and “whips” and then the kids who were hounds would ride on ahead and howl at the fox (who was usually out of sight) and the whip riders would keep the hounds in a pack. It was so adorable. Jane and her pony, Dickens, were in the galloping group and were designated whips.

All the parents who weren’t on horses could ride around on a haywagon and catch glimpses of the riders as they zipped over hills and ridges. The cutest thing was this one 4 year old kid who was being led on his teensy pony by his father on a horse. He actually fell asleep on his pony! So his first foxhunt ended with him nodding off

I have a new essay up HERE. It’s about my daughter…

I have a new essay up HERE. It’s about my daughter Jane’s penchant for Jodie-Foster-in-Taxi-Driver type clothes and how I am dealing with it. Let me know what you think.

I need to find a home for an absolutely gorgeous, … November 17, 2002

I need to find a home for an absolutely gorgeous, incredibly sweet, purebred male rottweiler puppy. He is a rescue puppy with an interesting history. I wish I could keep him, but we already have 2 dogs.

His name is Murray and he is 4 months old. He is available for free to a really great home. That will include a fenced yard, good references, and dog experience. He needs to be a family dog who spends most of his time indoors with people, not living in the backyard. He is already crate trained, is great with kids and cats, and will make someone a truly terrific dog.

I am located in Knoxville, TN. Prospective adopter must come to my home in person to meet me and Murray. If you are interested, email me at Henjanelli@yahoo.com.

Katie

Someone pointed out to me the other day that I hav… November 16, 2002

Someone pointed out to me the other day that I have been credited with creating a new word. Actually, I did not coin the word “lactivist” (”one who promotes breastfeeding on a societal level” — that’s my definition anyway.) I first heard the word from Rachael Hamlet on her wonderful Breastfeeding Advocacy Page in about 1995.

I’ve updated my essays page with some of my newer …

I’ve updated my essays page with some of my newer columns. Let me know what you think.

Although this article is quite dated, it’s the fir…

Although this article is quite dated, it’s the first I’ve seen of it until a reader sent it to me today. It’s by Susan Wise Bauer (can anyone tell me if Ms. Bauer is kin to Gary Bauer of the infamous Dan Savage presidential campaign office licking dust-up from ‘00?), and it critiques my critique of the Gary Ezzo written series of parenting books.

After a hiatus of several years, I am returning to… November 15, 2002

After a hiatus of several years, I am returning to law school after Christmas to finish up my last 3 semesters. I finished pre-registering for classes today and to the envy of all you Blogger-groupies out there, I will have Mr. InstaPundit himself, the undisputed Sun God of Bloggers - Glenn Reynolds - for Constitutional Law

Since I live in Tennessee, the tornadoes that slam… November 12, 2002

Since I live in Tennessee, the tornadoes that slammed the state are big news here today. Apparently they are big news in Quebec as well, because today the Quebecois equivalent of CNN called my in-laws’ house here in Knoxville looking for news of the weather. My father in law is French and my mother in law is American but she speaks French like a native. (I guess the French consulate helped the station find French people in Tennessee.)

Anyway, so this reporter calls their house and asks to speak to my father in law, Jean Pierre. My mother in law told him that he wasn’t home and asked if she could take a message. The reporter explained that they wanted someone to explain to their viewers in French via a television interview what weather damage they could see from their own home. My mother in law explained that there was no weather damage that she could see. The reporter persisted, apparently believing that Tennessee is so small that everyone who lives within the state’s borders should be seeing destruction out their kitchen windows.

This reminds me of the time I traveled to Egypt and everyone I met, upon learning that I was American, would ask me whether I was from “New York or California.”

Maybe this is why so many of my artsy pals dress i… November 10, 2002

Maybe this is why so many of my artsy pals dress in baggy black clothes and look glum much of the time.