8/31/2006

The Post of Explanation

I really couldn’t think of a snazzy title - so that one will have to do. Where has PJ been? you may be asking yourself. Or maybe not. How would I know for sure? But just in case you have:

I’ve been either teaching my kids - or preparing assignments that are coming up in the future to teach my kids. If anyone tells you that homeschooling means that the kids and the moms are just sitting around playing all day and calling it school - get their name and phone number because I’ll call them with a few choice words that include: you. don’t. know. what. the. hell. you’re. talking. about.

Sure, we can do a lot of things that are fun - and call it school … we went to the zoo yesterday which covers gym (walking, running, playing), science (animals), and social studies (watching other families, comparing animal families to human families) - but as the parent-teacher, you have to plan those events to make sure that elements of the curriculum and standards are being met. And trust me, it’s work, but it’s worth it.

So, since the school year has started, my posts here will probably be a bit less frequent. I also have two other websites, a forum, a newsletter, a house, a novel, and a husband that require attention, too. –Whew– Better too much to do than too little.

What’s up with all of you? For those with kids in school-school - how is the peace and quiet (or is there any)? For those without kids - when are you having some? LOL! Post here - or send me an e-mail!

sparta at 4:30 pm

Comments (3)

8/24/2006

WHY CAN’T THEY MAKE UP THEIR MINDS

Okay - so the members of the International Astronomical Union have been mucking around with what is and isn’t a planet. First they came out with an announcement that we would now have 12 planets in our solar system (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Charon, Ceres, and Xena (possibly to renamed later)). Which was cool - a havoc for textbooks and science teachers - but cool.

Well, today I read news that they have apparently changed their minds. WTF?

I guess these guys don’t realize the hub-bub involved in changed textbooks and charts and lesson plans. They probably don’t care, but still - they are tinkering around with all kinds of things. Like Trivial Pursuit - new copies will have to be issued with the “new” knowledge, which of course will change after hundreds of thousands of those new cards have been put on shelves, meaning you will have to buy the latest “this is really the current edition we promise” set to stay current. What about Jeopardy? What about movies where the system is discussed? There they are talking about landing on the farthest planet - which by the time it’s released will be what? Neptune? Pluto? Ceres? Xena? AUGH!

Now, what they are saying is that everything out to Neptune counts as full-fledged, regular planets; everything past that is considered a “dwarf planet”. You know, it’s a planet, but not a planet-planet.

Just wait til Pluto gets finished with them; I hear it’s going to enact the Planets with Disabilities Act, and celestial lawyers are worse than ones from L.A.!

;-)

~PJ~

sparta at 10:55 am

Comments (4)

8/19/2006

The quiz told me so!

So I took this quiz - and look at the answer….

You Belong in San Francisco

You crave an eclectic, urban environment. You’re half California, half NYC.
You’re open minded, tolerant, and secretly think you’re the best.
People may dismiss you as a hippie, but you’re also progressive, interesting, and rich!

Where Does Your Inner Californian Belong?

How did it know?

sparta at 6:13 pm

Comments (12)

Hey, guys!

What’s up?
What’s going on?
What’s happening?
What’s the skinny?
What’s the scoop?
What’s the low down?
Gimme the dirt.
How’s it hanging?
What’s the 411?

For me, mostly just the typical craziness that comes from living in this household. Homeschool lesson plans, prepping for my next podcast, reading, writing - thought I was going to say “and arithmetic” didn’t you? - household crap….

I am happy to say that my best friend Cara’s daughter, Katy, is back from Africa safe and sound! Hooray! I wonder how long it will take her to recover from jet lag? I wonder how quickly she will adjust to being back? She was washing her clothes and bathing from a 5-gallon bucket, after all. I’m sure she will gain a new appreciation of indoor plumbing. It will be interesting to hear her experiences.

Cara’s Blog

sparta at 2:33 pm

Comments (4)

8/14/2006

You know what? PJs are the craziest peoples….

Okay - Okay - no comments from SNAITB or UM on the title please.

I’m just running around like a crazy person these days. The short list:

1. Prepping for homeschooling - later this will actually be the homeschooling.
2. My podcast - Tech for Writers - you’re subscribed, aren’t you?
3. My writing
4. I have 3 web pages and a forum to maintain now (see items #2 and #3)!
5. Um - my huband likes clean laundry and for there to be food to eat, so those pesky errands like going to the store and chores like doing the laundry have to fit in somewhere.
6. Oh, yeah - remember those voice lessons? Well, supposedly, I’m still a student.
7. I am beginning work on the homeschooling newsletter, and there’s talk of a yearbook…guess who will get volunteered for that?
8. Other “stuff” - this may include visitors (we do have those from time to time) and helping AJ with something job-related.

Yeah, yeah, it’s only 8 things - but those 8 things keep me hopping all day. Good thing I don’t have a regular job or I’d never get anything done! LOL!

So - what’s keeping all of you busy lately? Come on - please tell me I’m not the only one competing against that one-armed wallpaper hanger!

~PJ~

sparta at 11:30 am

Comments (5)

8/10/2006

My best friend Cara

My thoughts are with my best friend Cara today. Her daughter has been in Africa and is coming home this month. She will be stopping in London for a couple of days before proceeding to the U.S. With the recent uncovering of the plot against airplanes coming to the U.S. from Britain, Cara is understandably concerned.

So, if you all could leave some words of encouragement for her here in the comments - I know she’d appreciate it!

:-)

sparta at 11:35 am

Comments (0)

8/8/2006

I’m back!

I just returned from my Mommy-Vacation. It was a lot of fun. I got to spend time with my sister, my best friend (who’s like a sister), my first-grade teacher (yes, I’m still in contact with her; heck, she came to my wedding. I owe her a lot - it’s a long story - so she’s very special.), my aunt, my grandma, and my oldest niece! I even had a nice visit with my dad, too. There were a few people I didn’t get to see , but overall, the trip went well - and I accomplished a lot of the things I meant to do.

Yay, me!

So, in case you were wondering, that is why I haven’t been posting and what-not. Now I have a full-plate. I have to get ready for homeschooling, prepare an excerpt for my crit group, get ready to set up the school’s newsletter (I get to be editor-in-chief), try to squeeze some writing in, research and record the next episode of my podcast, not to mention the day-to-day things I do around here. Whew. I need a secretary or an assistant or something.

Any volunteers?

sparta at 2:50 pm

Comments (2)