Sunday, April 20, 2008
Coming up for air!
This week we've been getting ready for a new co-op session (there were over 70 classes offered this time, which is incredible!) and finishing up with the last session.
In our group, co-op works like an education potluck. Everyone brings something to the table, a class, field trip, party, etc, and then they all get to join in the feast. So, there's a ton of opportunities out there for my kids that aren't necessarily something I could teach them or do for them myself.
For instance, tomorrow, there will be 15 kids dressed as famous people throughout the ages. They will give us a speech as their person, so there's a lot to prepare for. I had to get 3 of mine ready to talk. I now know more than I ever expected to know about Cleopatra, Joan of Arc and Susan B. Anthony! I'll post pictures after it's all over.
So tonight, I have to read through the zillion classes, compare them with my needs and my schedule, and get ready to sign up tomorrow. Whew!
Hopefully I'll be back in here in Tuesday with a little more time on my hands!
.*.*.
In our group, co-op works like an education potluck. Everyone brings something to the table, a class, field trip, party, etc, and then they all get to join in the feast. So, there's a ton of opportunities out there for my kids that aren't necessarily something I could teach them or do for them myself.
For instance, tomorrow, there will be 15 kids dressed as famous people throughout the ages. They will give us a speech as their person, so there's a lot to prepare for. I had to get 3 of mine ready to talk. I now know more than I ever expected to know about Cleopatra, Joan of Arc and Susan B. Anthony! I'll post pictures after it's all over.
So tonight, I have to read through the zillion classes, compare them with my needs and my schedule, and get ready to sign up tomorrow. Whew!
Hopefully I'll be back in here in Tuesday with a little more time on my hands!
Labels: homeschooling, kids
.*.*.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Those Were the Days
What does this make you think of?
This reminds me of my crazy friends from high school. We were never as co-ordinated as these girls, but we used to do goofy stuff like this all the time.
Did you have friends like that, friends you'd go anywhere or do anything with? Once, we drove around downtown stripped down to our bras and underwear with our phone numbers written on the back windows of the car. We broke into an acquaintance's house at night to hide Easter Eggs, and into another's to wish her a happy birthday at midnight (we wanted to be the first!) And more. Nothing was too far, too loud, or too wild when we were together.
My only excuse for this behavior is, "Seemed like a good idea at the time."
I don't do stuff like that any more. Part of my problem is that I'm 37 now, and far too practical. Also, I wouldn't be caught dead in public in my bra and underwear (and not just for modesty reasons, ugh I gotta keep the works covered up these days!) I still have a ton of friends and a ton of fun, just not the same way I used to.
I don't know who these girls are (here's their myspace), but I'm glad for this excuse to meander down memory lane!
.*.*.
Monday, April 14, 2008
70 miles!
I've walked *~*70 miles*~* so far in preparation for my MS Challenge Walk in October. Woohoo!
I'm 34% of the way to the my financial goal of $1500. A big thanks to everyone who's donated! If you want to join them, you can click here and lend a hand. As you all know, my mom has MS, and it's a horrible disease. Hopefully, if we all work together, we can find a cure!
I still have six months to get ready, and it's starting to feel real. I think I'm gonna make it!
Still looking for recommendations for books on tape. Right now I'm walking my way through Stephen King's Bag of Bones. I've been downloading books from Audible.com, which is a pretty good deal. My membership allows a new one every month, which is right about my speed for going through them, given that I listen to music some of the time, too.
Wow, 70 miles. That seems really far to me!
.*.*.
I'm 34% of the way to the my financial goal of $1500. A big thanks to everyone who's donated! If you want to join them, you can click here and lend a hand. As you all know, my mom has MS, and it's a horrible disease. Hopefully, if we all work together, we can find a cure!
I still have six months to get ready, and it's starting to feel real. I think I'm gonna make it!
Still looking for recommendations for books on tape. Right now I'm walking my way through Stephen King's Bag of Bones. I've been downloading books from Audible.com, which is a pretty good deal. My membership allows a new one every month, which is right about my speed for going through them, given that I listen to music some of the time, too.
Wow, 70 miles. That seems really far to me!
Labels: books, MS Walk, stephen king
.*.*.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Loosy Goosy
You may recall that all of my kids have loose valves in their digestive system. This means that they throw up shockingly easily. Not just when they're sick or confronted with something disgusting, you sort of expect that. We get involuntary uploads if they're running around too much, crying hard, or even if they get excited about something.
"Hey kids, we're going to Disneyland!" we might say.
"Really?" they'd answer, "Wheeeeeee-yarkle YARP YARP!"
Here's an example from last night at the dinner table. We were eating spaghetti and goofing around, and we all got to laughing. Suddenly, Tiernan started to sputter between giggles. That's no problem at Casa de Horde!
He simply excused himself from the table saying, "Uh oh, I'd better go laugh over the toilet."
I wonder when the fraternities will start calling to recruit him?
.*.*.
"Hey kids, we're going to Disneyland!" we might say.
"Really?" they'd answer, "Wheeeeeee-yarkle YARP YARP!"
Here's an example from last night at the dinner table. We were eating spaghetti and goofing around, and we all got to laughing. Suddenly, Tiernan started to sputter between giggles. That's no problem at Casa de Horde!
He simply excused himself from the table saying, "Uh oh, I'd better go laugh over the toilet."
I wonder when the fraternities will start calling to recruit him?
.*.*.
Friday, April 11, 2008
I'm Psychic! And it doesn't matter!
Tonight, I was sitting at dinner, and this random thought just popped into my head: "You know who we never hear about any more? The Harlem Globetrotters."
Can't you just hear that theme song being whistled in your head, right now as you read this?
Anyways.
So, we come home, I flip on the TV, and guess who's out on tour? Of course, the Harlem Globetrotters! They must have been beaming signals straight into my head, just so I'd be ready when the tickets went on sale.
Fat lot of good it did them, all that direct brain contact with me, because the closest they're coming to my house is OKLAHOMA CITY! That's a long way to drive considering I bet Meadowlark Lemon isn't even still on the team.
(He's not, I checked. He's 75 now.)
My point? Don't really have one. But, I'm not wearing my aluminum foil headgear (or saran wrap bra) right at the moment, so if you want to beam something into my head, feel free. But it darn well better be information I can use, and not about an event going on 700 miles from my house.
.*.*.
Can't you just hear that theme song being whistled in your head, right now as you read this?
Anyways.
So, we come home, I flip on the TV, and guess who's out on tour? Of course, the Harlem Globetrotters! They must have been beaming signals straight into my head, just so I'd be ready when the tickets went on sale.
Fat lot of good it did them, all that direct brain contact with me, because the closest they're coming to my house is OKLAHOMA CITY! That's a long way to drive considering I bet Meadowlark Lemon isn't even still on the team.
(He's not, I checked. He's 75 now.)
My point? Don't really have one. But, I'm not wearing my aluminum foil headgear (or saran wrap bra) right at the moment, so if you want to beam something into my head, feel free. But it darn well better be information I can use, and not about an event going on 700 miles from my house.
.*.*.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
I love the smell of fear in the morning!
You probably wonder what I'm doing up at 3:30 in the morning. Actually, if you've been reading here long, you probably don't.
But, today is different. I was well on my way to a full night's sleep not long ago. I'd even taken one of my Rozerems, an awesome sleeping pill that I'd misplaced until recently (Only Users Lose Drugs). I was tucked in good and proper and nearly comatose when I was scared more than half to death. Probably closer to three-quarters or seven-eighths to death.
Why?
Because, quietly at first, then growing louder, our piano started to play itself. Up and down the scale, over and over.
My reaction will show how truly unliberated I am, and that I'm a coward to boot. I whacked Davin and demanded that he get up and investigate.
Davin found his glasses, and bravely ran off to confront the burglar or ghost or whatever it was. I mostly laid in bed hyperventilating, trying hard not to pee while listening for him to be killed.
He sorted out the problem right away. It was Maya's cat Tigger, walking up and down the keys. He has no doubt been saving up this bit of revenge ever since the hat incident. Serves me right.
Long story short (too late) I'm up now, fully awake and ready for the day. Nothing gets the blood pumping like an early morning freak out, good grief!
.*.*.
But, today is different. I was well on my way to a full night's sleep not long ago. I'd even taken one of my Rozerems, an awesome sleeping pill that I'd misplaced until recently (Only Users Lose Drugs). I was tucked in good and proper and nearly comatose when I was scared more than half to death. Probably closer to three-quarters or seven-eighths to death.
Why?
Because, quietly at first, then growing louder, our piano started to play itself. Up and down the scale, over and over.
My reaction will show how truly unliberated I am, and that I'm a coward to boot. I whacked Davin and demanded that he get up and investigate.
Davin found his glasses, and bravely ran off to confront the burglar or ghost or whatever it was. I mostly laid in bed hyperventilating, trying hard not to pee while listening for him to be killed.
He sorted out the problem right away. It was Maya's cat Tigger, walking up and down the keys. He has no doubt been saving up this bit of revenge ever since the hat incident. Serves me right.
Long story short (too late) I'm up now, fully awake and ready for the day. Nothing gets the blood pumping like an early morning freak out, good grief!
.*.*.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Old Guys on the Block
Weird, I can see *some* of the guys wanting to get back together, but doesn't Donnie Wahlberg have enough to do these days?
Boy band New Kids on the Block to reunite
It seemed like this song was always playing in the background during high school.
I gotta stop, this is just making me feel old.
.*.*.
Boy band New Kids on the Block to reunite
They may be pushing 40, but the New Kids are returning to the block.Maybe their lives just aren't the same without 12 year old girls screeching at them day and night?
The boy band New Kids on the Block, which sold 70 million albums in the 1980s and early ’90s, has reunited and plans to release a new album and go on tour. The reunion comes 20 years after the release of the group’s multiplatinum album, "Hanging Tough."
It seemed like this song was always playing in the background during high school.
I gotta stop, this is just making me feel old.
Labels: newsworthy, video
.*.*.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Can't blog...
waiting for Battlestar Galactica to start.
To help you pass the time today, I refer you to this article that speculates on who the 12th Cylon could be: We're checking our toaster list, we're checking it twice... I must confess that I have no frakking idea. After last season's "All Along the Watchtower" finale, I can't imagine what's coming next.
Also, if you haven't already, you can scroll down and take my art history quiz!
.*.*.
To help you pass the time today, I refer you to this article that speculates on who the 12th Cylon could be: We're checking our toaster list, we're checking it twice... I must confess that I have no frakking idea. After last season's "All Along the Watchtower" finale, I can't imagine what's coming next.
Also, if you haven't already, you can scroll down and take my art history quiz!
Labels: can't blog, sci fi
.*.*.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Art Deco, Art Nouveau, or Cheese?
Today, we went with our homeschool group to see the Art Deco exhibit at the Aurora History Museum. Before hand, I showed them many examples of Art Deco pieces, and used Art Nouveau work to contrast it.
When we got home, I put together a photo quiz for them, and I thought you all might like to see it, too.
Get your #2 pencils, grab some paper, and click here to take the quiz Art Deco, Art Nouveau, or Cheese?
For those of you who need a review, here are some definitions from Wikipedia:
Art Deco: The structure of art deco is based on mathematical geometric shapes. It was widely considered to be an eclectic form of elegant and stylish modernism, being influenced by a variety of sources. Among them were the, so called, "primitive" arts of Africa, Ancient Egypt, and Aztec Mexico, as well as Machine Age or streamline technology such as modern aviation, electric lighting, the radio, the ocean liner and the skyscraper...Other popular themes in art deco were trapezoidal, zigzagged, geometric, and jumbled shapes, which can be seen in many early pieces.
Art Nouveau: Dynamic, undulating, and flowing, with curved 'whiplash' lines of syncopated rhythm, characterized much of Art Nouveau. Another feature is the use of hyperbolas and parabolas in windows, arches, and doors. Conventional moldings seem to spring to life and 'grow' into plant-derived forms. Like most design styles, Art Nouveau sought to harmonize its forms.
Cheese: Cheese is a food made from the milk of cows, goats, sheep and other mammals, by coagulating the milk. This is accomplished by first acidifying it with a bacterial culture and then employing the enzyme rennet (or rennet substitutes) to coagulate the milk to "curds and whey."[1] The precise bacteria and processing of the curds play a role in defining the texture and flavor of most cheeses. Some cheeses also feature molds, either on the outer rind (similar to a fruit peel) or throughout.
Or, here's a quick way to cheat. If a piece is linear, geometric, and dramatic, or reminds you of flappers or ancient Egypt, it's a good bet it's Art Deco. If it's organic, flowing, flowery and looks like something you might find at Rivendell, it's probably Art Nouveau. If you look at it and think, "Mmmm, that would be good with crackers!" put down Cheese.
The answers will be in the comments, so you can check your own papers. Let me know how you did!
.*.*.
When we got home, I put together a photo quiz for them, and I thought you all might like to see it, too.
Get your #2 pencils, grab some paper, and click here to take the quiz Art Deco, Art Nouveau, or Cheese?
For those of you who need a review, here are some definitions from Wikipedia:
Art Deco: The structure of art deco is based on mathematical geometric shapes. It was widely considered to be an eclectic form of elegant and stylish modernism, being influenced by a variety of sources. Among them were the, so called, "primitive" arts of Africa, Ancient Egypt, and Aztec Mexico, as well as Machine Age or streamline technology such as modern aviation, electric lighting, the radio, the ocean liner and the skyscraper...Other popular themes in art deco were trapezoidal, zigzagged, geometric, and jumbled shapes, which can be seen in many early pieces.
Art Nouveau: Dynamic, undulating, and flowing, with curved 'whiplash' lines of syncopated rhythm, characterized much of Art Nouveau. Another feature is the use of hyperbolas and parabolas in windows, arches, and doors. Conventional moldings seem to spring to life and 'grow' into plant-derived forms. Like most design styles, Art Nouveau sought to harmonize its forms.
Cheese: Cheese is a food made from the milk of cows, goats, sheep and other mammals, by coagulating the milk. This is accomplished by first acidifying it with a bacterial culture and then employing the enzyme rennet (or rennet substitutes) to coagulate the milk to "curds and whey."[1] The precise bacteria and processing of the curds play a role in defining the texture and flavor of most cheeses. Some cheeses also feature molds, either on the outer rind (similar to a fruit peel) or throughout.
Or, here's a quick way to cheat. If a piece is linear, geometric, and dramatic, or reminds you of flappers or ancient Egypt, it's a good bet it's Art Deco. If it's organic, flowing, flowery and looks like something you might find at Rivendell, it's probably Art Nouveau. If you look at it and think, "Mmmm, that would be good with crackers!" put down Cheese.
The answers will be in the comments, so you can check your own papers. Let me know how you did!
Labels: art, homeschooling, quiz
.*.*.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Extreme Ironing
Who knew ironing was so thrilling? Maybe if someone advocates Extreme Kitchen Cleaning, I'll get my dishes under control.
Labels: video
.*.*.
