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Post by booboobrewer on Sept 21, 2012 23:22:26 GMT -5
^I remember a mention of Vanessa wearing a leotard and tights in one book.
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oldhickory
Sitting For The Arnolds
Heather Loves Boys and Gym
Posts: 3,258
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Post by oldhickory on Sept 22, 2012 1:29:46 GMT -5
i don't remember any mentions of vanessa taking ballet, but i think it fits her personality perfectly. but heaven forbid anyone have more than one interest.
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Post by zoar3 on Oct 12, 2012 10:39:13 GMT -5
I was hoping Jackie would have at least said something to his parents. Instead it appears like the Rodowskys fell into the same trap of way too many Stoneybrook parents of being completely oblivious to what is going on with their child. I wonder if Mrs. R truly meant for Jessi to be Jackie's only source of help with the project. That was a good idea to get him started, to pick a topic, but it sounded like they (his parents--other than his dad building the glass case) did zip. I hope I'm wrong. I really do. I am almost positive in this book or another one instead of Jackie merely saying "I have bad luck," He said, "I AM Bad luck." If he did, say the latter, I mean, I really am angry with Jessi for basically agreeing with that as she took over.
Aunt C I loved when she suggested Jessi's parents go to brunch by themselves. In that moment, she was trying to give everyone a break, especially when she later told Jessi not to worry about cleaning up Squirt. If Jessi hadn't been so resentful or caught up in how "Aunt Dictator was ruining her life," she might have *gasp* enjoyed herself for a few, taking a break. I know that never would have happened because Jessi is a full-time sitter and expects to always work as such.
Only other thing I wondered about, this is one of the few books where 3, seven-year old characters are semi center stage. Jackie, David Michael, and Margo. I know DM and Margo were not in the same class from one of the very early books. I wonder if any of them were, especially the boys. If so, maybe they could have worked together. That would have been more interesting than Jessi playing dictator.
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Post by wiggir13 on Oct 13, 2012 7:42:35 GMT -5
I do wonder if Beca hadn't been stranded on an island if aunt c would have come to stay. It says in the book that b/c of that incident she thought something was really wrong with their family. Maybe that made her suggest she come help take care of the kids.
I agree with an earlier post about the race stuff at the end and how black people need to try harder. Why do they always have to include some sort of racial angle when it is just not necessary.
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Post by zoar3 on Oct 13, 2012 10:50:26 GMT -5
^For the first time in forever, I read some of Aunt C's letter at the end of I.A. I was surprised to learn that in it she said "I might be moving to Stoneybrook soon." Of course we have no idea when Uncle Steven (her husband) died just that the two of them DID live in Oakley with all the relatives. We'll also probably never know when after his death, Aunt C moved to Queenstown. It's possible she had never felt quite right living there and/or alone. So when she saw that her brother's family needed "help," she used that as an "excuse" to move in.
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Post by candykane on Oct 13, 2012 10:59:53 GMT -5
^ I didn't remember her mentioning a possible move; good catch. Sounds like she'd been thinking about it for awhile. Mrs. Ramsey getting the job and needing help with Squirt really did present the perfect opportunity.
What would they have done with Squirt if Aunt C didn't move in? Send him to - gasp - daycare? Practically unheard of in BSC-land.
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starrynight
Sitting For The Kuhns
The Royal Diner of Pizza Express
Posts: 4,004
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Post by starrynight on Oct 13, 2012 11:20:36 GMT -5
Sounds like Aunt C was probably just lonely. That thought makes me like her a little bit more. Not that I ever disliked her particularly...maybe it's more accurate to say that I understand her better.
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Post by zoar3 on Oct 13, 2012 16:22:43 GMT -5
"I am still thinking of returning to Stoneybrook permanently." That's her exact words on the very last page. That makes it sound like she had been toying with the idea for a while. I wish we had heard about it. Candykane, from a while back, I'd still laugh so hard to see Aunt C chasing Jessi down the street. Starrynight, I think Aunt C was a whole lot lonelier than say Nannie. Of course, we never heard what the other Ramsey relatives thought of her or how much time and with or without her husband spent with them. Maybe she just needed to befriend Nannie and go bowling! On the cover she looks like a mannish 40's, not very old at all.
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supprazz
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,106
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Post by supprazz on Oct 14, 2012 7:52:17 GMT -5
I'm guessing she was in her 50's if not 40's. I do think she was too strict with Jessi in the book, but also agree that Jessi didn't have to take on caring for Squirt 24-7 and should have enjoyed being a kid when not baby sitting for the club and going to meetings
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celaeno
Sitting For The Papadakis's
I have to share a room with Vanessa
Posts: 1,514
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Post by celaeno on Nov 1, 2012 21:56:24 GMT -5
It's funny reading this one now, because as a kid someone who is around 50 (as they say Cecelia is) seems soooo old, so it seemed fitting that she acted like such a crotchety old lady. But rereading it now...50 doesn't seem that old, and it seems odd for her to be acting like a cranky old grandmother. I'm sure it's great she's providing childcare for Squirt, but part of me feels like she really should have a job.
It's also weird to think that, if she is around 50, then she's a little younger than my parents. Which is weird, since she seems so much older.
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Post by booboobrewer on Mar 12, 2013 19:29:26 GMT -5
I thought that was a really funny moment, especially when Jessi said she knew that sort of thing "appealed" to Kristy ;D I also thought it was funny when Jessi was wondering if the Ramseys had won the lottery, or were taking a trip to Disney World or Texas. The club does all three of those things in the series. Keep in mind that when Mary Anne's sitter in Baby-sitters Remember told her she couldn't have sweets after school, she went to Kristy's house and told Kristy she couldn't eat any THERE when Kristy offered her cookies. These girls are goody-goodies I didn't think it was unnecessary; it was her point of view. She didn't want the way Jessi and Becca, the children, dressed, acted, etc. to be a bad reflection on her, the adult, and how she looks. Sometimes older people just think that way...as a kid, I certainly knew some who did. As for the science fair, I would have loved to have just done a project in school where I "made" something and that was it. We always had to chart and graph and post detailed results and it was always a lot of work.
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Post by zoar3 on Mar 12, 2013 19:50:08 GMT -5
^I remember that MA/Kristy interaction, also that MA claimed to be starving. I don't think her dad would have begrudged her a few cookies. Being the cookie monster that I was at a younger age, I probably would have eaten them, especially since MA originally wanted a brownie, didn't she? I do believe in being honest to a fault but in that case...
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Post by zoar3 on Apr 27, 2014 11:22:32 GMT -5
After finishing Island Adventure, I decided to give this one another try. I had completely forgotten about the Pikes Library and really enjoyed that chapter. Loved that Vanessa was unanimously voted librarian and that this was a project all the younger Pikes worked on together. I still wish Jackie and David Michael had teamed up to work on a science fair project. I was thinking last night that when it comes to playing softball DM often feel klutzy or disappointed at not being too good a player. A friendship between him and Jackie might have been sweet and good for them both. It was a DM moment near the very end that brightened this book right up for me. In "Kristy's Big Day," near the beginning, DM comes home from the last day of first grade with his citizenship award. His class had voted him citizen of the year and he is so excited about having won. In this book, winning honorable mention in the science fair means a whole lot to him and he even sleeps with the ribbon and Watson had it mounted to hang on DM's wall. Nice to read about a positive moment for DM.
Jessi vs. Aunt C? I can do without. This time around I did realize that when Jessi was 10 minutes later coming home from the Rodowskys, Aunt C may very well have been justified in her worry, not extreme anger. Aunt C did know Jessi was at the Rodowskys but she probably had no idea who they were or how they could be reached, so I could understand her being upset about that. She really was very overbearing with Jessi and I agree with a lot of you that I never really cared for her character. I still wonder how old she is, too. I imagine Jessi's parents as being mid to late 30's. Aunt C (I think) is supposed to be much older than her brother so she could be mid to late 40's or even a little older. I sometimes get the impression we were supposed to think she was MUCH older. Does anyone else see that? I was glad there was some understanding at the end of the book.
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Post by virgoscorpio on Apr 27, 2014 16:06:35 GMT -5
I would have enjoyed going to the Pike library. I also thought that was a very cute and sweet idea.
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Post by zoar3 on Apr 27, 2014 16:34:40 GMT -5
Sorry for this additional post, I did just think of one question. In Ann's note at the back of this book she shares that two of her baby-sitters as a kid were named Johnny. Maybe some of the many John's in Stoneybrook are tribute to them and the real John Perkins. One of the John's "invented bowling on the stairs." Ann tells us she wrote about that in a LS book. What LS books? I remember in a very early BSC book, possibly even #4, David Michael asking Mary Anne when she would be baby-sitting for him again because of how much fun bowling paper cups down the stairs was the last time she was over. I don't ever remember reading about that either. When I was growing up and even every now and then with a friend in college I did enjoy going bowling. I wasn't too good, definitely not in Nannie's league, but it could be fun. Speaking of Nannie, I quickly skimmed some of Karen's two Families the other day this is one of my least favorite LS so I don't read it often. It mentioned several times Karen accompanying Nannie to practice bowling. We never got to read about the actual practice or games just Karen sharing that she enjoyed going.
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