Weblog
Monday, 08 September 2008
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We started taking attendance for the state this past week, so I guess you could say school is in session. I've decided to let the boys go with interest led learning for the time being. I've seen this work so well with other kids. I've found that in teaching my youngest, far too often I'm getting in the way of his learning. He goes further and faster when I get out of the way. My teen, on the other hand, has always felt more comfortable with a routine.
So we compromised. I took both boys to Barnes and Noble (where I can use my educator's discount) and let them choose whatever they wanted. The youngest came back with several fantasy/sci-fi books. My teen, however, chose books from numerous sections. He got books on statistics, probability, comparative religions, warfare and weaponry, The Tibetan Book of the Dead, and books by Hesse and H. P. Lovecraft. He has appropriated a text I got for myself on political science, though I'll keep swapping it with him until I'm done with it. The teen is also interested in learning to play the keyboard, so I need to help that happen.
My teen may or may not choose to take classes at the junior college again this year. Honestly, I'm not in a big hurry for him to graduate - he's barely 15. He should have some time to still be a kid in my book. My husband, on the other hand, is anxious for him to take as many hours as he can at the community college, so he can get his AA and take the CHSPE at the same time. It causes some friction, as you might imagine. I figure we'll take things 6 weeks at a time. We can always change things if they aren't working.
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
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Look who has a birthday today!
I'd be happy to look half that good at 75. Happy Birthday, Mama!
Monday, 28 July 2008
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They tied the knot, on the beach in San Jose del Cabo...
and we couldn't be happier for them.
photos by Bradley Fraser http://www.cabophotography.com/
Wednesday, 02 July 2008
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Parenting doesn't get easier once your children are grown and gone.
My daughter called me this afternoon in tears. They're going to have to put their beloved dog, Zeus, down. He's obviously in pain, not sleeping well, and trying to find a place to hide and die. I wanted to hop a plane so I could hug her and dry her tears.
The upcoming loss of Zeus isn't the only disappointment she's faced this week. She found out that her nieces aren't going to be coming to the wedding. She and her fiance adore the girls. They were looking forward to having them there. The girlchild was making up special bags of goodies especially for them. From the standpoint of a parent, I know that their mother will have a more relaxing trip without them. When you travel with children, you have to be responsible for their care, feeding and entertainment - not an easy trick when you are in the wedding, doing the flowers and serving as the wedding day coordinator. At the same time, I know how much being at the wedding meant to the girls and to the girlchild and her love.
The stress of dealing with last minute details has been getting to me, too. I know a good deal of it is just worrying about forgetting something that I'm supposed to be bringing with me. I've got the carry on bag with the vases and candles for the reception tables loaded, but still have a bunch of other stuff that we'll be bringing down with us to pack. On top of that, there's anxiety as I approach the anniversary of my cancer diagnosis at the end of August. I'm getting ready for all those appointments - a recheck with the surgeon, with my oncologist, my ob-gyn and this year's mammogram, where it all started last year. I don't want to have another year eaten up with this dance of doctors and chemicals and radiation burns. I'm dreading the chance that they could find something more.
Saturday, 21 June 2008
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AlterEGGO challenged Xanga readers to post pictures of their favorite places. My teen was in a workshop at the San Jose History Park last week half days. It's far too far from our home to just drop him off and head back home - especially at today's gas prices - so we were left with 3 hours each day to explore nearby. Here are some of our favorite places to go near the SJ History Park on blazing hot summer days.
The Japanese Gardens are right beside the History Park. While you can't really spend the full 3 hours there, you can wander around for a good little bit. They took out the fish food dispensers, much to our dismay. We didn't realize that Happy Hollow Zoo, also in the same area, was still open. They're closing for a year to renovate the place. We might have gone there if we had known we could. 
One day we went to the Tech Museum, thinking that we could see an IMAX film. Instead of doing that, we just explored the old familiar exhibits. I spent some time looking at the new Nobel prize exhibit, but it bored Rob. 
I tried to talk Rob into cooling off in the fountains at the plaza, but he wasn't having any. What a party pooper! I should have made him hold my purse so I could have gotten wet, but I didn't. Another afternoon we visited the San Jose Museum of Art to see the robot exhibit. We had seen pictures of the 22 foot styrofoam robot in the newspaper that were intriguing. 
Rob liked the area where you could make your own robot out of legos. He's also determined to make some out of found objects here at the house. 
When the temps hit 103, we headed to the coolest place in town, Sharks Ice. I managed to last just over an hour on the rink - not bad for a rickety old broad who grew up where skiing was done on water and skating on four wheels. Of course, that young whippersnapper lapped me repeatedly. Kids!
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- Birthday: 12/7/1956
- Gender: Female
- Member Since: 2/1/2002
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About Me
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You found me. Come on in and sit a spell. Feminist, liberal, seventh generation Texan. Home educator. Mom to 3 sons and 1 girlchild, ages 30 -11.
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