Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Busy Life!

Life is going great... but SO BUSY lately! Katie visited. Chris' parents visited. Camping. Adeventureland. Whew! Zackary is playing flag football... and it is clear he will much more enjoy tackle football. We're buying the empty lot next to our house. My classes have restarted for the Fall term. And Chris... is getting out of the Navy. It's looking like his last day will be at the end of this month. He was offered a Government Contracting position in the building he is currently stationed at. Pretty neat deal. Our insurance finally came through for the new roof. It's time to close the pool since the weather has cooled off. The dishes and laundry pile never end. I'm semi-planning a mini trip to Hollywood... but that is in a pending status :) We're working out the logistics of a trip to Texas for Christmas-- when to go, when/where to fly Katie, etc... And last, we're also shopping for new bicycles for all of us (and maybe a tandem bike attachment for Alyssa) and a new nicer, larger dining room table. All of which we are being overly picky about. Whew....!

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Homework vs. No Homework. No Brainer?

My psychology class is awesome. The teacher is 80+ years old & near deaf. He can't tell if a student is reading from the textbook or Cosmopolitan magazine as far as hearing goes. But hes genius. Or maybe just experienced. And his teaching style, as dull as some may find it, is truly the most effective style I've ever learned from. I can say I am truly LEARNING in his class, not just memorizing for the purpose of later tests or quizzes. His teaching theory: Read, write, discuss, test. I'll explain...
He passes out our weekly assignment: a paper with 15-20 terms or ideas from the text we need to define or discuss. We do it as homework. The next class we discuss the homework line by line (slow enough to do the assignment in class if needed). We then take an open book & note "Test", turn in the assignment and test & call it a day. These "tests" are multiple choice, with the page number you can find on the answer noted at the end of the question. Tough, huh?
His class may seem boring to some. Its not full of projects, papers, group assignments, and due dates you can never keep up with. No word limits, reference pages or essays. I've never taken a class in such a format. With every answer given to you before you turn in every assignment. I can see how some student's may think they could take advantage of such a course, but even taught as it is, I am learning... really storing and applying the information given in this class.
Ok, I know I title of this post is about homework, so I'll get to that part, finally, after all my rambling. At the end of class the instructor will usually ask if we want to take the test in class, or for homework. WHY IN THE WORLD would you opt to take a TEN QUESTION, OPEN BOOK test as homework? It will take you 3-5 minutes to complete in class for an EASY A! Versus taking it home, procrastinating or forgetting about it, taking time out of your free time to do more homework, adding to the number of weekly homework assignments due (assuming we are all taking several classes)? Why?!? I'm all for getting out of class early, but the extra couple minutes is worth it to me to stay. Why am I the ONLY one that ever votes to take the test in class?!?
That's it. That's why I blogged today. Some people I do not understand.

Editing Posts

I can admit typos. But I am not illiterate. I see errors in previous posts, but I am unable to edit them! I am assuming its a glitch with the website, or may have something to do with the new Explorer 9 I am using. I've already noticed it's not compatible with quite a few websites.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Life Hapens...

I want to start blogging but SO MUCH has happened since I posted last, I almost feel an obligation to explain. But I won't. It's just so much. But its life. The pain. The forgiveness. The tears. The lessons. The laughs. Friends. Family. Life.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Six people, five-hundred miles .... one car, no room!

Okay, so our vacation is almost here! Chris' parents fly into Kansas City Wednesday night. Not the closest airport (its three hours away!), but the cheapest by far.

We're headed to Wisconsin Dells Thursday and we'll be back Tuesday night. We know all about where we are going, thanks to internet research & good friends. We know what route to take, where to stay, where to visit.... but what we havent figured out.... is how do we get our stuff there? Six people in a seven passenger Tahoe doesn't leave much room. And for all the activities we've got planned... swimming, skiing, etc... there's EXTRA luggage.... we've got swimsuits, towels, snowpants, snow boots and extra coats/thermals/hats & gloves... for SIX people! Thats on top of about a week's worth of REGULAR luggage for each person!

We might rent a luggage platform that slides into the hitch on the back of the truck, but we've already got plans for a cooler to sit there. Hopefully Chris can rig up something not too hilbilly looking on top of the truck. I have an image of the I Love Lucy show where Fred and Ricky pack the car for California! Ahhh.... to funny!

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Is it really 12:40am?

Things that interrupt my midnight homework cramming sessions....
Songs like this...

"My dad chased monsters from the dark
He checked underneath my bed
He could lift me with one arm
Way up over top his head
He could loosen rusty bolts
With a quick turn of his wrench
He pulled splinters from his hand
Never even flinched
In thirteen years I'd never seen him cry
But the day that grandpa died,I realized

Unsinkable ships, sink
Unbreakable walls, break
Sometimes the things you think would never happen
Happen just like that
Unbendable steel, bends
If the fury of the wind is unstoppable
I've learned to never underestimate
The impossible"

Friday, January 28, 2011

Vacation!

So, we're planning our first REAL vacation, ever!

We're going to Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin in February. We'll be staying at Hotel Rome in the Mt. Olympus Resort for two nights and Christmas Mountain Villagen for two nights. We're actually staying five nights, we just haven't fnished planning yet!

Mt. Olympus has an indoor amusement park and an indoor waterpark, and both are included in our stay! They're also throwing in ski lift tickets to the other resort we'll be staying at. No, I'm not trying to sell it to you, I'm just excited!!! We'll be staying in one of the Caesar Suites.

Christmas Mountain Village is a timeshare type property. Chris and I plan on skiing, and maybe Zack if I can talk him into it. Chris' parents are also coming along on this trip to play with Alyssa & Zack while we re skiing.

I am beyond excited!! I think we are all going to have so much fun! :)

Monday, January 24, 2011

NYR

My new year’s resolution? To have a HEALTHIER new year! :)


Last year I did everything but fall apart. From having my wisdom teeth removed, experiencing a serious allergic reaction to penicillin, the mysterious (aneurysm to seizure to unknown cause) headaches, kidney stones, hernia, irregular heartbeat, thyroid testing, a diabetic scare, becoming borderline hypoglycemic... ughh, it was a crazy year....but it's getting back together in 2011!!!