R drove S to school. B and I were very late getting to Aquinas due to 1)I forgot to put the dryer on with my clothes I was planning to wear 2) B moves like molasses in the a.m. 3) the roads around us were still shut down from flooding so what usually took under 10 minutes took 25 minutes (to get to toll road). So B missed most of the first class (history). This makes her unhappy since she really loves history and the mentor for that class.
I was nervous about teaching the class, afraid I hadn't planned well. One never quite knows how things are going to go. On top of that I had not 1 but two visiting moms watching me! But the class seemed to go really well. We talked about Howard Pyle and we set the context for Otto of the Silver Hand. We talked a lot about our latest drafts and corrections to be made. Got a lot of stuff sorted out. We practiced our declamation for the showcase this Saturday. That didn't go so well so I was a bit nervous. Then I corrected a couple of late essays, had a good conversation with one of the moms who was visiting. She was really cool. Worked on prepping for Latin class. Had a good talk with Katherine the nurse about Aunt Jackie. Latin class went well. The end of the year is rushing upon us. Intro to Latin teacher let us take up some of her time to practice for the showcase again. Felt better after that. I think the the kids will do well.
S got out of school early but H was able to pick him up.
Came home, helped S study for Latin exam, speech therapist came, we had pizza for dinner. S had to stay up late studying for biology. R came home in a bad mood. Printer broke again so he spent a long time fixing it.
Friday, May 2, 2014
Journaling the Day 4/30/14
Overslept. Didn't get out of bed until it was past time to get S up. Hurriedly fed pets and made coffee. Made S's lunch and then we drove to school through pouring rain. Drove home the backroads because I didn't want to be on the crazy racetrack of a tollroad when the rain started coming down so hard I couldn't see anything. Got back later than usual. Got Becky up and fed before math tutor arrived. Finally got to take a shower!
Read some more of Jen Fulwiler's memoirs. Hard to put down.
Started prepping for class tomorrow. Researched Howard Pyle, robber barons, etc. Helped B with her Latin. Corrected more papers. Darn printer would not work. Keeps saying jam when there is no jam. I turned it off and on and everything I could think of and no printing. Had to refigure how I was going to do class tomorrow with inability to make copies or print stuff. Shoot!
Rained like crazy. Heard weird roaring sound, like an airplane. Went outside and it was the creek rushing into the pond through the big pipe they'd put in. Loud! The world is a flood.
S was supposed to stay late after school to work on biology project but it was supposed to be videoing botanical stuff outside. The guy who was in charge just left and didn't say it was canceled (though of course it was because of the torrential rains). Sean waited for 20 minutes for the guy to show up and finally called me. I picked him up and it wasn't too bad out but coming back the main road was very slow because of high water and the road our cul de sac is off is closed due to flooding. I told S I was not willing to drive him to his teen group meeting at church this evening. He was bummed but really, it is awful out there right now.
Started working more on class plans then got distracted and started reading the book again. B came and got me and asked where's dinner. Oops! Went and made chicken fried rice from yesterdays leftovers. S liked it but B didn't and made herself a can of soup.
I hope R comes home soon. It has been strangely quiet about Jackie. No emails or phone calls about her at all.
I just finished lesson plans. Need B to do some logic homework while I clean the kitchen and get laundry on. Then I'm going to bed early to read my book!
Read some more of Jen Fulwiler's memoirs. Hard to put down.
Started prepping for class tomorrow. Researched Howard Pyle, robber barons, etc. Helped B with her Latin. Corrected more papers. Darn printer would not work. Keeps saying jam when there is no jam. I turned it off and on and everything I could think of and no printing. Had to refigure how I was going to do class tomorrow with inability to make copies or print stuff. Shoot!
Rained like crazy. Heard weird roaring sound, like an airplane. Went outside and it was the creek rushing into the pond through the big pipe they'd put in. Loud! The world is a flood.
S was supposed to stay late after school to work on biology project but it was supposed to be videoing botanical stuff outside. The guy who was in charge just left and didn't say it was canceled (though of course it was because of the torrential rains). Sean waited for 20 minutes for the guy to show up and finally called me. I picked him up and it wasn't too bad out but coming back the main road was very slow because of high water and the road our cul de sac is off is closed due to flooding. I told S I was not willing to drive him to his teen group meeting at church this evening. He was bummed but really, it is awful out there right now.
Started working more on class plans then got distracted and started reading the book again. B came and got me and asked where's dinner. Oops! Went and made chicken fried rice from yesterdays leftovers. S liked it but B didn't and made herself a can of soup.
I hope R comes home soon. It has been strangely quiet about Jackie. No emails or phone calls about her at all.
I just finished lesson plans. Need B to do some logic homework while I clean the kitchen and get laundry on. Then I'm going to bed early to read my book!
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Journaling the Day 4/29/14
This was one of those days where somehow I never had time to take a shower. I hate days that like. I am spoiled rotten about daily showers. Yuck. It's 10:14 p.m. and I feel so greasy and gross.
Got up and got Sean up. Fed him breakfast, made him lunch. Took him to school by 7:35. Got home and did a little bit of Aquinas Learning email stuff and such. Woke Becky up. She was grouchy so I said get your own breakfast! We read history though before we went off to her voice lesson. While waiting for her there I read through several essays from my class. On the way home we stopped at Chick fil a. I ate a chicken salad sandwich on wheat. No fries or soda. Not much of a diet but at least it was something!
Came home and talked with Hannah a bit. Tried to renew prescription but was having difficulty. Went to visit Aunt Jackie. She's in bad shape. We are trying to get her to move back here. She's really losing her grip on reality and there are all sorts of problems at the retirement home that make us very unhappy. Very worrisome situation. Flew through the rain to pick up S ten minutes late. Rain was pouring down. Took him to his therapist appt. While waiting I finally got prescription filled, read a little in the car but then fell asleep and woke up with my neck killing me. Talked to the therapist and then drove home. Got on the phone with my sister about the Jackie crisis, wound up talking about everything. She's got it rough right now. Luckily I had remembered to plop some chicken the slow cooker which I poured a bottle of teriyaki sauce over this a.m. so we had chicken, rice from the rice cooker and sugar snap peas for dinner. After dinner S needed to do prepare a slide show presentation on Elizabethan Art and Architecture. I helped him. It was pretty interesting. Cleaned up the kitchen somewhat. B was supposed to be doing her Latin this afternoon but I forgot to check whether she did. She did a math test this evening with Rick.
I found my kindle! I couldn't find it yesterday and I was very sad because Jen Fulwiler's memoirs came out today and I pre-ordered! Gonna go to bed now and read it.
Got up and got Sean up. Fed him breakfast, made him lunch. Took him to school by 7:35. Got home and did a little bit of Aquinas Learning email stuff and such. Woke Becky up. She was grouchy so I said get your own breakfast! We read history though before we went off to her voice lesson. While waiting for her there I read through several essays from my class. On the way home we stopped at Chick fil a. I ate a chicken salad sandwich on wheat. No fries or soda. Not much of a diet but at least it was something!
Came home and talked with Hannah a bit. Tried to renew prescription but was having difficulty. Went to visit Aunt Jackie. She's in bad shape. We are trying to get her to move back here. She's really losing her grip on reality and there are all sorts of problems at the retirement home that make us very unhappy. Very worrisome situation. Flew through the rain to pick up S ten minutes late. Rain was pouring down. Took him to his therapist appt. While waiting I finally got prescription filled, read a little in the car but then fell asleep and woke up with my neck killing me. Talked to the therapist and then drove home. Got on the phone with my sister about the Jackie crisis, wound up talking about everything. She's got it rough right now. Luckily I had remembered to plop some chicken the slow cooker which I poured a bottle of teriyaki sauce over this a.m. so we had chicken, rice from the rice cooker and sugar snap peas for dinner. After dinner S needed to do prepare a slide show presentation on Elizabethan Art and Architecture. I helped him. It was pretty interesting. Cleaned up the kitchen somewhat. B was supposed to be doing her Latin this afternoon but I forgot to check whether she did. She did a math test this evening with Rick.
I found my kindle! I couldn't find it yesterday and I was very sad because Jen Fulwiler's memoirs came out today and I pre-ordered! Gonna go to bed now and read it.
Journaling the Week - 4/28/14
Monday - Spring break is over, back to the grind! Got S up at 6:30 and did our usual routine. Drove him to school. Came home, got Becky up and gave her breakfast. Math tutor came at 9:00. Subjected myself to the humiliation of having Rick take photos on my on the scale to submit to Dietbet which he kindly did for me. Took a shower.
B really needs khaki pants to go with her AHG uniform. We decided to go get them since she had an AHG meeting. Didn't trust target to have any since probably they have only summer clothes. Didn't want to go to the mall. Decided to drive to the uniform store in our little town. So we did, but it was closed. Went grocery shopping instead.
B read the rest of St. Margaret Clitherow and we read all of her Catechism notes out loud. These were really good; all about Vatican II which was really timely since the canonization of John XXIII and JPII. Went for a brisk 20 minute walk.
Picked up S. Came home and took B to AHG meeting. They worked on music badge and then helped pathfinders with a craft project. Trying to deal with religious awards stuff, ugh. Came home - S was out with physical trainer.
Stuck frozen lasagna in oven for dinner. Rick came home. Helped S a bit with his Latin homework. Then Rick helped a bit with his Algebra project. Then I went to bed and they watched Dr. Who. Spent all day trying not to overeat and to remember to drink plenty of water.
B really needs khaki pants to go with her AHG uniform. We decided to go get them since she had an AHG meeting. Didn't trust target to have any since probably they have only summer clothes. Didn't want to go to the mall. Decided to drive to the uniform store in our little town. So we did, but it was closed. Went grocery shopping instead.
B read the rest of St. Margaret Clitherow and we read all of her Catechism notes out loud. These were really good; all about Vatican II which was really timely since the canonization of John XXIII and JPII. Went for a brisk 20 minute walk.
Picked up S. Came home and took B to AHG meeting. They worked on music badge and then helped pathfinders with a craft project. Trying to deal with religious awards stuff, ugh. Came home - S was out with physical trainer.
Stuck frozen lasagna in oven for dinner. Rick came home. Helped S a bit with his Latin homework. Then Rick helped a bit with his Algebra project. Then I went to bed and they watched Dr. Who. Spent all day trying not to overeat and to remember to drink plenty of water.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
The Viaduct Murder - Book 19
The Viaduct Murder by Father Ronald Knox is a brilliant little book. It is erudite but not pompous like I think Dorothy L. Sayers can be. It is sly in its humor and a bit different from other murder mysteries as the sleuths never do figure out who did it! The murderer eventually confesses.
Paston Oatvile is an old estate that has been turned into golf links with bungalows and hotel where the patrons can stay while they vacation. Four golfers, who stay or live at Paston Oatvile join together to solve the mystery of the death of another golfer who turns up dead on the links. Actually his body is over in the rough grass under the viaduct where the railroad crosses. The four comrades are Gordon, Reeves, Carmichael and Marryat. Inspired by Sherlock Holmes they want to figure out who murdered Brotherhood (that's the victim's name). They each come up with theories, sometimes very elaborate and all proved wrong eventually. Their thinking processes, as they unfold, can be quite comical at some points and slowly reveal their different characters.
There's a lot going on under the surface here. In fact, I felt like I missed things so upon finishing, I immediately started to reread the book. Knox has a wonderful sense of humor that plays out in his understated way of drawing out his characters and sometimes he just throws in a terrific pun. For example, just as two of the men are going on a wild chase to capture a person who they think is the murderer, they dash to the car the owner has named Tarquin "Superbus." You have to know Roman history to get that one. So silly!
Anyway, this is a fun, intelligent book that says more about morality and character than you think it does. I am enjoying my reread immensely.
For more book reviews go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
Paston Oatvile is an old estate that has been turned into golf links with bungalows and hotel where the patrons can stay while they vacation. Four golfers, who stay or live at Paston Oatvile join together to solve the mystery of the death of another golfer who turns up dead on the links. Actually his body is over in the rough grass under the viaduct where the railroad crosses. The four comrades are Gordon, Reeves, Carmichael and Marryat. Inspired by Sherlock Holmes they want to figure out who murdered Brotherhood (that's the victim's name). They each come up with theories, sometimes very elaborate and all proved wrong eventually. Their thinking processes, as they unfold, can be quite comical at some points and slowly reveal their different characters.
There's a lot going on under the surface here. In fact, I felt like I missed things so upon finishing, I immediately started to reread the book. Knox has a wonderful sense of humor that plays out in his understated way of drawing out his characters and sometimes he just throws in a terrific pun. For example, just as two of the men are going on a wild chase to capture a person who they think is the murderer, they dash to the car the owner has named Tarquin "Superbus." You have to know Roman history to get that one. So silly!
Anyway, this is a fun, intelligent book that says more about morality and character than you think it does. I am enjoying my reread immensely.
For more book reviews go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
Friday, April 25, 2014
Dietbet
Well, I did it. I just paid $35 into the 'pot' at Dietbet. A homeschooling mom I know is starting a game up at Dietbet. I definitely need some motivation to get myself into shape. So maybe this will help. It does sound like it could be fun. You can use any diet you choose. Here's the one I'm thinking of - of my own cullings from various sources:
1) Drink more water - just always be sipping away. And I need to make sure I drink two tall glasses in the a.m. before lunch.
2) Walk every day. If I can't walk outside, I'll do a Leslie Sansone dvd.
3) Breakfast - lowfat yogurt, low cal 1/2 English muffin, probably with some peanut butter on it, fruit and black coffee.
4) Mid morning snack. I get hungry in the middle of the morning. I'll eat MSG free turkey slices and fruit or veggies.
5) Lunch - either a big salad with lots of leafy, crunchy stuff in it and including leftover chicken or cubed cheese or tuna and a little oil and vinegar plus the other half of the English muffin on the side. OR a bowl of veggie soup from Trader Joe's plus a little grated cheese and that other half of the English muffin.
6) Mid afternoon - so I don't get too hungry when cooking dinner - tea and a handful of nuts.
7) Smaller portions of dinner. Make sure I eat a big helping of veggies before I tackle the protein and starch.
8) Put leftovers away right away. If they sit out, I start to gnosh on them.
9) Brush my teeth and get into pajamas as early as I can. That makes me feel like it is bedtime and not time to eat.
10) If I am really hungry still, I'll eat a small scoop of Breyer's vanilla ice cream. But not in my pajamas! There's something about eating food in my pjs at night that I can't stand.
The dietbet I'm joining is the 4% in 4 weeks. Now I have to go get my initial weigh in picture taken and submitted. Humiliating!
1) Drink more water - just always be sipping away. And I need to make sure I drink two tall glasses in the a.m. before lunch.
2) Walk every day. If I can't walk outside, I'll do a Leslie Sansone dvd.
3) Breakfast - lowfat yogurt, low cal 1/2 English muffin, probably with some peanut butter on it, fruit and black coffee.
4) Mid morning snack. I get hungry in the middle of the morning. I'll eat MSG free turkey slices and fruit or veggies.
5) Lunch - either a big salad with lots of leafy, crunchy stuff in it and including leftover chicken or cubed cheese or tuna and a little oil and vinegar plus the other half of the English muffin on the side. OR a bowl of veggie soup from Trader Joe's plus a little grated cheese and that other half of the English muffin.
6) Mid afternoon - so I don't get too hungry when cooking dinner - tea and a handful of nuts.
7) Smaller portions of dinner. Make sure I eat a big helping of veggies before I tackle the protein and starch.
8) Put leftovers away right away. If they sit out, I start to gnosh on them.
9) Brush my teeth and get into pajamas as early as I can. That makes me feel like it is bedtime and not time to eat.
10) If I am really hungry still, I'll eat a small scoop of Breyer's vanilla ice cream. But not in my pajamas! There's something about eating food in my pjs at night that I can't stand.
The dietbet I'm joining is the 4% in 4 weeks. Now I have to go get my initial weigh in picture taken and submitted. Humiliating!
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Spring Break Journal
Life has been nice and slow this week. Both Sean and Becky are on spring break right now (a week later than all the public schools). Sean's break is from high school and Becky's is from Aquinas Learning only. She also had last week off as well.
Things were hectic going into Holy Week though. Sean had lots of homework, we had lots of prep stuff to do for both Passover and Easter. Josh came home for Easter weekend. Will stayed up in Boston though. We definitely missed him.
Holy Thursday - we went to the Mass of the Last Supper which was beautiful and then Becky and Sean went on the 7 Church Pilgrimage with the parish youth ministry. The wound up at the all night diner at midnight where they ate a meatless small meal. It's Good Friday by then so no meat. They didn't get home until 2:00 a.m. This has always been a rite of passage for all the kids. The first time they stay out late and get home when their parents are sound asleep. Now my youngest has done that. Boo hoo! Growing up too fast!
Good Friday - we kept meaning to go to confession somewhere but I was in a panic about prepping for the in laws visit on Saturday. Also, I woke up with a weird earache and couldn't hear out of one ear. So we wound up just fasting and cleaning the house.
Holy Saturday - Sean had gone to confession on Wed so he didn't need to go, but Josh, Becky and I did. We went to morning prayer at another parish, then out to chick-fil-a for breakfast and then back again for confessions. Whew. Got that done.
Then we came home and started cooking for our Passover dinner with the in laws. We had a very nice one and I love that the house, the main level of it anyway, looked so nice. Originally we were going to go to the Easter vigil but I was too tired and still recuperating from that weird ear thing. Plus we hadn't dyed eggs yet. So Becky dyed the eggs (after I had hard boiled them) and basically did all the Easter prep (that is she got out the Easter baskets).
Easter morning - I got up and played Easter bunny by hiding the eggs and getting out the Easter chocolate. But everybody slept until 10:00 a.m.! Finally I forced them to get up.. They conducted an easter egg hunt. Rick made matzah brie and we made cinnamon waffles with cinnamon roll dough. Pretty good! Then we got dressed and went to the 12:00 p.m. mass. While there was plenty of Easter joy, it was the guitar mass and the choir there really thought they were giving a concert instead of assisting the liturgy. Many, many people were there who don't usually go. The thirty something couple in front of me, all dressed up in their Easter finery were both chewing gum and he was frequently checking his phone and texting. Gah! I felt sinful all day because I let myself get so annoyed on Easter.
Sean and I went to visit Eileen for Easter. That was nice.
Roasted a leg of lamb. It was absolutely delicious!
Monday - Becky still had her math tutor come in the a.m. Sean slept in. He then began to do a marathon watching of Bob's Burgers. He had his physical trainer come in the evening as usual. I drove Josh back to college. Beautiful day and a beautiful drive. Hannah worked. Had left over lamb and deviled eggs for dinner.
Tuesday - Took Becky to her voice lesson. Sean continued his marathon. Got a last minute volunteer gig for Sean at a place where he'd volunteered before. So from 4-6p.m. he help decorate for a dance they are having there. We ate out for dinner. No more Lent so I can eat out now.
Wednesday - Becky informed me she had read all of The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer in two days. She's also been watching a ton of Dr. Who with Rick in the evenings. They are both totally into it. Sean continued his marathon. Oh, Becky had her math tutor again in the a.m. Sean and I went out to lunch at Chipotle with the youth group. Then Sean also went out to CLC in the evening. I made baked chicken and rice for dinner. Sean finished his marathon watching of Bob's Burgers.
Thursday - today - Sean needs to get started on homework. He's got to write a paper on Elizabethan art and architecture and work on a Biology project. Also, both he and Becky need to study for Certamen this Saturday. Sean's going to join our team for the last competition of the year. After that we want to go to our town's Taste Of festival which they are all having all day on Saturday. Yum! I absolutely have to go visit Aunt Jackie today. I have been meaning to all week. Planning on Fettucine Alfredo for dinner.
Friday - tomorrow - more homework and studying Latin, plus the lawn needs to be mowed. Friday evening Sean is helping at the dance for the place he volunteered at on Tuesday. Some kind of salmon dish for dinner.
Saturday - Certamen! Taste Of the Town festival!
Sunday - Mass and homework.
The weather has been beautiful this week. I want to plant strawberries again.
Things were hectic going into Holy Week though. Sean had lots of homework, we had lots of prep stuff to do for both Passover and Easter. Josh came home for Easter weekend. Will stayed up in Boston though. We definitely missed him.
Holy Thursday - we went to the Mass of the Last Supper which was beautiful and then Becky and Sean went on the 7 Church Pilgrimage with the parish youth ministry. The wound up at the all night diner at midnight where they ate a meatless small meal. It's Good Friday by then so no meat. They didn't get home until 2:00 a.m. This has always been a rite of passage for all the kids. The first time they stay out late and get home when their parents are sound asleep. Now my youngest has done that. Boo hoo! Growing up too fast!
Good Friday - we kept meaning to go to confession somewhere but I was in a panic about prepping for the in laws visit on Saturday. Also, I woke up with a weird earache and couldn't hear out of one ear. So we wound up just fasting and cleaning the house.
Holy Saturday - Sean had gone to confession on Wed so he didn't need to go, but Josh, Becky and I did. We went to morning prayer at another parish, then out to chick-fil-a for breakfast and then back again for confessions. Whew. Got that done.
Then we came home and started cooking for our Passover dinner with the in laws. We had a very nice one and I love that the house, the main level of it anyway, looked so nice. Originally we were going to go to the Easter vigil but I was too tired and still recuperating from that weird ear thing. Plus we hadn't dyed eggs yet. So Becky dyed the eggs (after I had hard boiled them) and basically did all the Easter prep (that is she got out the Easter baskets).
Easter morning - I got up and played Easter bunny by hiding the eggs and getting out the Easter chocolate. But everybody slept until 10:00 a.m.! Finally I forced them to get up.. They conducted an easter egg hunt. Rick made matzah brie and we made cinnamon waffles with cinnamon roll dough. Pretty good! Then we got dressed and went to the 12:00 p.m. mass. While there was plenty of Easter joy, it was the guitar mass and the choir there really thought they were giving a concert instead of assisting the liturgy. Many, many people were there who don't usually go. The thirty something couple in front of me, all dressed up in their Easter finery were both chewing gum and he was frequently checking his phone and texting. Gah! I felt sinful all day because I let myself get so annoyed on Easter.
Sean and I went to visit Eileen for Easter. That was nice.
Roasted a leg of lamb. It was absolutely delicious!
Monday - Becky still had her math tutor come in the a.m. Sean slept in. He then began to do a marathon watching of Bob's Burgers. He had his physical trainer come in the evening as usual. I drove Josh back to college. Beautiful day and a beautiful drive. Hannah worked. Had left over lamb and deviled eggs for dinner.
Tuesday - Took Becky to her voice lesson. Sean continued his marathon. Got a last minute volunteer gig for Sean at a place where he'd volunteered before. So from 4-6p.m. he help decorate for a dance they are having there. We ate out for dinner. No more Lent so I can eat out now.
Wednesday - Becky informed me she had read all of The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer in two days. She's also been watching a ton of Dr. Who with Rick in the evenings. They are both totally into it. Sean continued his marathon. Oh, Becky had her math tutor again in the a.m. Sean and I went out to lunch at Chipotle with the youth group. Then Sean also went out to CLC in the evening. I made baked chicken and rice for dinner. Sean finished his marathon watching of Bob's Burgers.
Thursday - today - Sean needs to get started on homework. He's got to write a paper on Elizabethan art and architecture and work on a Biology project. Also, both he and Becky need to study for Certamen this Saturday. Sean's going to join our team for the last competition of the year. After that we want to go to our town's Taste Of festival which they are all having all day on Saturday. Yum! I absolutely have to go visit Aunt Jackie today. I have been meaning to all week. Planning on Fettucine Alfredo for dinner.
Friday - tomorrow - more homework and studying Latin, plus the lawn needs to be mowed. Friday evening Sean is helping at the dance for the place he volunteered at on Tuesday. Some kind of salmon dish for dinner.
Saturday - Certamen! Taste Of the Town festival!
Sunday - Mass and homework.
The weather has been beautiful this week. I want to plant strawberries again.
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