8/8/8

This is the year to challenge myself. I am in the midst of a year long writing challenge. The other day I joined a year long reading challenge. It is detailed here.

http://triple8challenge.blogspot.com/2007/09/challenge-rules.html

Basically you read 8 different books from 8 different genres. The contest goes until December 31st. Since I had already started reading book for my own pleasure I don't feel behind. I will be using one of my other blogs to post my reading list, updates and reviews of the books I read.

http://www.elegantlion.blogspot.com/

Feel free to come over and visit as I embark on this journey.

Crunch Time

We have about six weeks left of school, it's now crunch time. This weekend I have been examining where we are in each subject. A few such as history and grammar will continue into the summer on a lighter schedule.

We will also do this with math, just to stay ahead of the game. I have a book called "Painless Algebra" that we will dabble with over the summer. We will also continue working through Primary Mathematics 4a.

We were working to finish our writing book "Just write 3". However, Z, my future director/spy/poker champion has decided that he wants to devote his creativity towards his ongoing Star Wars 7 project. Since I am currently working on a book, he wants us to work on our projects together. Never one to stifle creativity we have set aside the Just write book in favor of Star Wars.

We recently finished our Astronomy study for the year and are going to be dabbling in whatever science presents itself over the summer. Living on three acres in the woods I'm sure it will involve creepy crawly living creatures, some first aid on how to treat mosquito bites and an ocassional food experiment. Think Alton Brown with a touch of Rambo, that's the kind of kitchen experiments my son loves.

Now if we could just finish our other subjects in time, we'll be okay.

Wordless Wednesday

What we're watching for the Civil War

I've been looking for something to help us study the Civil War. I thought a movie would be nice, but most of them are filled with extended battle scenes. Now Z would love that, but I wanted something that lend itself to the culture of the times, not just the battles.

I decided to go with Gone with the Wind. Our library had it and I thought, why not? We watched part of it this morning and Z enjoyed it. I paused it quite a few times to discuss the culture and events that were happening. We also discussed the attitude of poor Miss Scarlet.

I also never knew that one of Miss Scarlet's beau was played by non other than George Reeves, the original Superman. We'll see how the rest of the movies plays out for Z. I know he picked up on some of the historical facts as we've touched on them already.

I remember watching it as a child with my mother, so it's nice to share some family history as we focus on history itself.

It's the middle of the night, does anyone want a cat?

I snuck out of bed early 4am to get some computer work done. Sneaking involves not waking anyone else up. Well, I tell you, if I ever go into covert operations, the cat stays at home!! Z and Tigger fell asleep in the living room last night. They were bonding over James Bond as I went to bed. I have to go through there to get to my computer.

Well, the cat thinks 4am is snuggle time so he's already mad that I'm getting up. Then once I get up he's right beside in the dark hallway. So what happens? I accidentally step on him because the blasted cat won't move. A loud echoing SCREECH reverberates from the cat, thus waking said son and husband. Only for a moment thankfully.

I sneak onto my computer realizing that I must feed the cat now. If you have cats you know what I mean. If they pass a food bowl it must be filled or they will bug you until you do. I feed him, but he won't move his face to let me actually fill the bowl. Suffer, I say.

Then he likes to get on the dining room table and watch me on my computer. Before you saw EEEWW we only do school at the table. We haven't actually eaten there since Christmas.

Adding to the desire to wake all things resting Speedy gets on the table and rings this little orange bell my parents gave us for school. (thanks mom and dad) It's one like they keep on the counters at stores where you press the button. Thankfully I realized the cat rang it, othewise I would have jumped out of my skin.

So I've been up for less than forty-five minutes and now the only thing I have accomplished is dealing with the cat and adding a blog entry about it!!

I don't dare make coffee because then my body would think I have to stay up. Does anyone make a decaffinated cat?

A Salute to George Washington Carver

Z just started a book on George Washington Carver. He has always been my favorite inventor. I owe my childhood to development of peanut butter. Without it I would have starved as a kid, just ask my mother. So I pay homage to a man who some consider the father of the peanut industry.

Do you love peanut butter? Check out this site.

http://www.peanutbutterlovers.com/index.htm

"Quote of the Day" Observation

My quote of the day on my blog says "A multitude of rulers is not a good thing. Let there be one ruler, one king." Homer.

It struck me as funny this morning. Of course, I did just get up and have only sipped my coffee. That's fair warning that my brain isn't receiving enough of anything to make a decision, but Homer was funny this morning.

I say that because apparently Homer was actually talking to a household with at least one ten year old boy. Ten year old's are great, sometimes they just get confused about who is in charge of the household.

Z does Algebra!

Z has re-discovered his affection for math. After a dismal start this year, we switched to Singapore Primary Mathematics. This kid can do math in his head like no one I've seen. I'm not surprised, he's been playing around with numbers since he could walk. He had play money, learned to count using Hot Wheel versions of Nascar cars and sees pattern in everything.

The other day he borrowed my 10-key calculator and didn't give it back for two days. I caught him on the couch, I thought he was playing with his PSP, but no, it was the 10-key.

So he's been asking for algebra problems. He loves for me to write out long addition and subtraction problems on the white board. After some research I found the above book listed on paperbackswap.com. It didn't have a picture, so I ordered it sight unseen. It arrived in the middle of our school day and I laughed when I opened it. It is the same text I used in my high school algebra class. that was (mumbled reply)______years ago, but I still recognize the cover. Z decided we needed to start Algebra right then. Granted he can't get much past chapter one at this point, but I pulled problems from the book and he did them correctly.

Everday since then we have been working on algebra. I've been making up basic problems and he gets excited to walk into the room and see math on the board. This is so far from the weeping and gnashing of teeth we had earlier this year.

So I need to review this book and refresh my "skills" before Z is ready to do the entire book. I see that happening in the next one to two years.

Here's the word problem. If I was 15 when I took Algebra and I'm now ___ how fast will I to work through the book in order to meet the needs of my tweenager? I need more coffee as I ponder this.

Wordless Wednesday (vintage)