Thursday

Okay so the day started off with more testing and sitting but did not stay quiet long. Yesterday afternoon while the kids were riding bikes when a car hit my daughter. She is okay but the driver left the accident after asking if my kid was okay. Like a kids is going to say they are really hurt after being hit, they are scared and just want it to be over with. So I called the Little Rock 911 before 6:00 pm last night. They finally showed up at almost 8:00 pm. I had gotten tired of waiting for the police to get there and took her to the hospital.
Now here is my major complaint, one when you call into 911 and tell them it is a hit and run involving a child on a bike and a car, the first question should not be where is the truck sitting. I didn't say anything about a truck. Second, the police should actually show up within minutes not hours.
And although the hospital was great about it, why does it take so long to see a child. And another thing if you have a fever and are an adult go to your doctor the next day. I seen more than one person in the waiting room that I could not see anything wrong with. You know they have after-hour pediatric clinics why don't they have them for adults? Since the ER's are always full of people during the night I was thinking it might be a good idea.
But that is just my thought

Anyway, my daughter is doing fine. She complained about being sore this morning but was playing and running around the ball pit.

So signing off today. See you all later

It's Hump Day

Okay so it is Wednesday also known as Hump Day. YAY!!!!!

I am still here at my kids testing for the Benchmark exams. This year is not so bad, at least I do get internet access. Not that I expect it, but it is nice. I can get work done while they are testing. I mean I could leave and go somewhere but it is just easier to stay at the testing site.

So my son told me a few weeks ago that with his ASVAB scores in the range that they were, they were told that they were not expected to pass the entire course. Now that is a crappy thing to say to someone. It can either be a great motivator or set one up for failure. I see where they would want to do just that. Weed out the weak. I know that sounds bad, but this is tech school for the military and I am not sure I want someone that only half passes to be working on sensitive mechanical parts. But so far he has had two test in which he has scored 90% on. So as long as he keeps it up he has nothing to worry about. I have all the faith in world that he will do great.

Okay so I am addicted to the App store on my Mac. I am in there almost daily and I really try not downloading all these apps. But every once in a while I find one that is great. There is a Math one that I downloaded, we still haven't tried it. I did the flashbox one but I think I am going to like the new one better for spelling. It's Spellboard which lets me make quizzes with their spelling words. I enter the word and it will pronounce for the kids. Which will also help with knowing words and it will give a definition which is even better. We are going to start working on this later today after the test. I can get work out of them and they think they are playing a game.

So I just sit here for 5 hours trying to figure out what to do to keep me entertained and keep me awake. I am blogging to keep me awake and it is something I really need to do more often.

Well I am out for now. I need to work on the calendar, but will let you all know what I think of the two new apps that we got in the next few weeks. I want to see how well they work.

My Son's Graduation

I know this is a little late to be posting since it has been almost a month since he graduated from basic, but better late than never.

AB McEntire
Graduated on March 18, 2010 from Lackland AFB in San Antonio TX. I have created a movie of the Airman's run that happened on March 17, 2011 and the Graduation Parade on March 18, 2011. I have added music to the movie, it just seemed nice to add.

Hope you all like it. I have in the process of creating a photo journal of him to later put on the blog. I will be creating the other two kids one just the same. We are currently in the works to make a kids organization for volunteer work. There are very few that get kids involved. I just hope that kids will stick with it.

So here is the link to the movie gallery:
http://gallery.me.com/deanans#100000

Veteran's Day 2010

It's a day that is so often forgotten. We wonder why our mail is not delivered, why we can't contact a federal office and why there are parades in our capitals, but do most people know the meaning of Veteran's Day?

I will share with you all what today is:

The U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed an Armistice Day for November 11, 1919. In proclaiming the holiday, he said

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with lots of pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations."

Want to know more?

History of Veterans Day

New School Year....

As we start the new school year we sometimes reflect on the year that has past. Okay, reflect might not be the word that you would use. We sit back and think about where the time has gone and OMG christmas is right around the corner. My "reflection" is a bit different. Since I home school using a virtual school online it is a bit different. Questions fill my mind: "Did they learn that last year?", "How much refreshing am I going to have to do?" and "What was I thinking?"
All I can say to you all is that if you really think things are spinning out of control, make a chart. I am a chart, list, and note maker. I think I personally keep Post-It in business. I have so many sticky notes all over my desk, both written on and unused, that it is not funny.
Yes, I waste paper. Should I use an online calendar or to do list? Probably, however, over the course of the kids academic career I have accumulated a large sum of paper and notebooks. So instead of wasting all that paper I make list on them. And lets not even talk about the pens I have. I am not a pen thief, but I had to buy pens all the time. Colored ones, fine point, artistic ones and even cute ones. Now I have them all separated by types. Dry erase markers, highlighters, ball point pens, felt tip pens, gel writers, and pencils all have their own homes. With all this paper and writing instruments I make list.
Okay I am just justifying one habit with another. I am a list maker and for any of you that know me or have read my other blogs you know this about me. I make all kinds of list and to be honest it is very annoying to myself as well as others. I know it is an almost compulsive thing. But we all do have a little OCD about us. Take a look at everything you do in a day that constantly repeats in an order that is probably your OCD. But only if in the event that you don't complete that task it actually causes problems, such as making you feel lost all day, you can't get your mind off it, etc. I guess you could say I have a few OCD's. I have to have all my clothes hanging the same direction that even applies to my husbands. And would prefer to have them in color order, but my closet is small and it is hard to get that done all the time. But it does bother me.
I have to wash my hands prior to washing my body. No point in trying to clean you body if your hands are dirty. I know I would be washing them while washing my body, but what about the back of the hands or in between my fingers? I know. I know.
There are other things that I am compulsive about, but we are getting off subject.

Back to talking about school. You know I have noticed that in the last few years that kids are required to do more work and faster than before. Are the kids smarter now than they were 20 years ago? Or is it just a simple case of they thing they are? With all the technology I actually think they are dumber. Let's be honest about it. They cannot write a report, much less a letter. We could blame texting on that. The shortest form of writing to convey a message. But only if the reader knows the acronyms. We all have come to accept "lol" as laugh out loud. It is a standard form of expression. But do we really need "idk". Well I don't know. Kids have no idea about adjective to express anything. They don't have to really know how to spell there is always spell check and with the right program you can have your grammar checked (the ones inside of document software is not all that great). But it will not tell you that you put "were" in the place of "where". One reason "were" is the correct spelling for that word. And they are in too much of a hurry to actually proof read their papers. But it is up to us as parents to do that part. My oldest son hated the fact that I actually did know how to proof read and knew grammar very well. I even type out most words in Instant Messages (IM) and in text messages. And yes I use punctuation in as well.
Call me old fashion but I still love to put pen to paper and write a letter, although I do send emails. Faster, easier, and you can be a little more sure they are going to get it (unless you return receipt then you would know). It's an art, one which I really do love. Don't get me wrong I like to stay in touch and actually read news online rather than getting a newspaper. One of those reason is by the time the newspaper hits my door the news is already old. I have read about it online. And it saves a tree, which helps from the fact that I have bought so much of it in being prepared.

Needless to say, my days now are broken into two parts: Personal time and being a teacher. And the weekends are shaping up to be the same way. Science is easier to do on the weekend because they have so many projects that have to be completed for each unit. So it just makes it easier to do on the weekends. And in some cases we can incorporate them in to activities that we were doing. The farmers market is a great place to learn about growing plants.

As far as the art lessons, to be honest it is a personal choice. My daughter loves to draw but my son doesn't care too much for it. And appreciating are, that will come if they choose too. My oldest son loves to draw but hates looking at art in a museum. Me I actually like both. I have a collection of Patrick Nagel that is growing. And one of these days I will have a real Dali in my house. Not that the framed reprints aren't great. That way I can have more of his art and not break the bank doing it. But my Nagel's are very much real I am picky about the picture and what style it is. I do have a couple that are not signed, but that was more because I loved the subject of the picture. I have my eye on a few of the pencil drawings and a couple that were in Playboy. But I really want the Rio cover that was done for Duran Duran. I have thought about getting an original album cover with the record and having it framed. You know the ones were the record is half out of the sleeve. But first things first, finding the original album in great condition.

I will sign off for today as I really need to get to work on part of that list, you know the one that is on the blue sticky note on my desk.....lol.
Until next time I will leave you with one thought. If your list keeps growing you are either not getting things completed or you need help.

Just things in Life

You know those little things in life that just jump right up on some ordinary Tuesday and knock you for a loop? Well, the past few months have been that way for me. I can't seem to get anything organized, my life, the kid's life, or anything else for the matter. Things just seem to be half done, started and not finished. So I have decided to make a list (one I will finish making) and just take on one task at a time or one job as the case maybe. The laundry seems to be this never ending cycle of things that should be done, needs to be done, and yet not quite ever finished. I wash a few loads a day and when I can almost see an end in sight, there is another load at the bottom. So that is my task for this week. Doing the laundry.

I thought maybe I should let it be out there what I was doing so I could get motivation to complete it. But just as most blogs that are put out there on the internet, the blogger is the only one to see it. In any case I have still decided to put it out there anyway. If for no other reason than to see it get done. And maybe blogging about it will help me mentally get it out there and complain about it each step of the way. And when it is all done, I can go back as look at all the things I have completed.

And just a funny side of this posting. While I sit here typing away, my cat is asleep on my desk. Not disturbed by the pecking of the keys. Oh what a life a cat has.

So I am off to start this task of doing laundry for the day. I figure this will be an every week process in my life until the kids are out of the house. They had been not bring it all home when they visit....lol.

Have a great Tuesday, I will return with another blog and the list of things I need to get done this month.

Wow I missed post....

Well I know that we get busy and forget to do things but WOW, I haven't posted for 2 months. Well I am back....sort of. Not a daily post as I will never get the time for that. But I will try to post more. It's strange how somedays you can just find days to write and others you don't, I often think it is because I don't have anything to say. Which that in itself is truly strange. I am one of those people that can talk about just about any topic. No I am not one of those ones that will be at a party and quote lines from Shakespeare or Keets, that is just boring. I like knowing about things in the world. But when you spend so much time with kids you don't always get a chance to talk about world events. Not that I don't share the information with my kids it is just not as easy to have a discussion with them as they have not learned history well enough to know if it is repeating or to say "you know that sounds just like ....". It's not that they don't try, but as any adult you want to have conversation with other adults and that is something that people with kids don't always get. You spend so much time with them (and not saying that is a bad thing) that you need that outlet from time to time. I get mine with I invite my parents over for dinner. But we have different political views and not always the same like minds. That is not always a bad thing, makes me thing about my position on issues. And so the big topic right now is that health care bill. I hope people have really taken the time to listen and learn about this bill. It would not help anyone in the short or long run. They have reworded and moved things so much that is does not even resemble anything useable. It has totally gotten out of hand. Health care should not be this hard. It really is simple. First you have to start with tort reform. These people suing over things that it partly their fault. Yes, I understand that there is real medical malpractice but lets me honest, it is really gross negligence? Things happen and we are all humans. And did you know that there is a formula for valuing a human life, yes a formula. Is that not the craziest thing? You can not replace a life but if you give them enough money it will make up for it? That is like saying everyone has a price and let's be honest we all do. We may grieve but if you give us a million dollars we can grieve in France. I am not saying that we should give more money to them I am just saying if they died because they did not get treatment because they had to wait for a doctor or treatment for weeks would they have been able to do anything then? I have done some research in Universal Healthcare and I don't think I really care for it. Need a surgery, it could take weeks. The government already has too much say in our medical treatment now. We need a good form of health care that helps those without jobs or those that can not afford to have group insurance. But this new plan is not it. Does the politician is in congress not think that us as individual know what is best for us? Okay, so for the vast majority we are not lawyers, but do we really need to know law to know if a health care plan is right for us or not? Do we have to have an office in Washington DC to understand that health care cost continue to rise and yet patient care has decreased? Anyone that has been in the hospital, had someone they know in the hospital or even been to the hospital knows that. They are suppose to be representing "We the people" but it seem more like "Those special interest groups." We teach kids about the beginning of the constitution and the bill of rights and yet it is amazing that since we teach this we have to turn around and change it. Our founding fathers wrote "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness...." read the constitution now you will find "Life, liberty and the reasonable pursuit of happiness..." Does this mean that we can only pursue happiness as long as no one else objects or does not offend people? "

Reasonable" by definition not extreme or excessive. Now to me, that says that it is unconstitutional to have too much money or even too little money. See to me "not extreme" means that if you have too much money that is one end of the extreme, to have too little money would be the other end of the extreme. Those very successful would be another extreme and those not so successful would be other. So if we dissect this whole change what does "reasonable" mean to those in congress? Because as it seems they are the only ones that matter with our thoughts. They have our best interest in mind each time they vote (and if you check your congressmen to see how they vote and if they even do) for one of the new bills, changes to the constitution, some change in something. We have the right to question what they are doing. We have the right to remove them from office. We even have the right to not vote for them at all.

But let's not put all the blame on the congressmen, we are the ones that put them there. But it is our job to make sure that they are doing their job. If each of us that seen something they were doing wrong and took the time to tell them things might change. But it takes everyone to make them accountable for their decisions.

So my challenge to anyone is to learn about the congressmen in your area, know how they are voting and don't be afraid to speak out against them.