12/16/06 10-day holiday cruise Part 4

[3pirates]

Oh, I see said the blind woman.

You mean I could look like a model instead of like a fluffy, middle aged woman?

Like I said, my favorite kind of shopping!

 

[booksw]

Good morning!

I wanted you to know I am here, now I am going to catch up and read...

 

[xmjackson]

She's a sophomore, right? I don't think our sophomores take the SAT/ACT...he did take the PSAT earlier this year, so it has started....mass mailings from colleges. I remember when I took the PSAT the very first place I heard from was West Point. If they had known me they would never have wasted the postage! Like I follow orders! It was in some of those very first days girls were even allowed to go there, if I remember right.

Catcher in the Rye is our book of the moment...he likes it, though, makes me want to read it...that's one I never read. His other main authors this semester have been F. Scott Fitzgerald, Twain and HEMINGWAY! (Timely, huh?) They also just finished a unit on the Crucible...I loved studying that when I as in school.

Lexi is a junior, 11th grader. Lexi did the Crucible in 9th grade as well as Great Gatsby and Lord of the Flies - none of which I like - sorry. But I think Crucible was my choice for her on a "limited" free choice novel.

She read the Scarlet Letter earlier this year, 2nd qtr is Moby DICK!!! Sorry, she hates when DS (14) and i do that to her in public. She says Moby is too wordy and is tired of all the descriptions of the white whale.

I'd ask her but she won't wake up until noon!

My 8th grader has had to read 2 novels so far this year. He hates to read. He told me he only read the back of the books and listen to discussions and got 'A" on the tests - amazing since he is NOT an 'A' student. I got frustrated and angry with him because he should read the books!!! Not cheat! And those novels were for 8th grade history - the subject i teach!!!
I only have them read on novel.

 

[booksw]

Susan what kind of 8th grade history do you teach? My DS13 is in a school that has "social studies" but not history, per se. Up until about a year ago he was a geography geek. He knows an incredible amount about maps and rivers and currency - it amazed us. In the past year or so he has sort of gotten more interested in socializing and less interested in maps. I guess that is normal. He has one last geography competition (it is over in grade 8) and this is the first year he hasn't actually been studying. So, we'll see. It is totally extracurricular so I try not to get too involved in it by putting pressure on him about it. DH loves it and they used to study together. I know DH misses studying with him but DH also is trying to cut the apron strings a bit.

 

[3pirates]

Bri (DS14) never was a big studier, but never had to. That's catching up with him, and he is definitely more interested in socializing... Although I think he may be starting to "get it." He knows that starting next year it all counts...

The only time he ever studied for anything was when he did an extracurricular thing like you're talking about in fifth and sixth grade. Their team did well. There were math games, a history type of game and a language arts game that involved identifying types of propaganda. It was a very cool experience and they brought home several national honors. The next year he didn't want to do it again which I think broke the teacher's heart, but which I also think she understood. She's seen kids find socializing many times, methinks!

 

[xmjackson]

Susan what kind of 8th grade history do you teach? My DS13 is in a school that has "social studies" but not history, per se. Up until about a year ago he was a geography geek. He knows an incredible amount about maps and rivers and currency - it amazed us. In the past year or so he has sort of gotten more interested in socializing and less interested in maps. I guess that is normal. He has one last geography competition (it is over in grade 8) and this is the first year he hasn't actually been studying. So, we'll see. It is totally extracurricular so I try not to get too involved in it by putting pressure on him about it. DH loves it and they used to study together. I know DH misses studying with him but DH also is trying to cut the apron strings a bit.

I teach US History post civil war (1865) - through current times but I never get any farther than the Cold War. I have a masters degree in History and one in education. I'm a learning geek.

 

[3pirates]

I'm off, everyone! I've been posting in between doing things, but now we're out of the house...Kev has a bball game, errands to run, etc. etc. So much to do...have I mentioned that we only have ONE MORE WEEK!

 

[dee47]

WOO-HOO!!!!!!!!!

I have an officially clean plate work-wise, packing nearly done, and in 24 hrs. I'll be on a plane to the MOUSE HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[xmjackson]

I wish I was. BUT WE HAVE ONE MORE WEEK!! (minus one day for the plane trip!)

 

[xmjackson]

It's packing day! Let's party!

 

["Got Disney"]

only 2 more days to finish..EKKKK...can she do it...yes she can!!!

So I must continue on. Have not started to pack yet but that is on my today to do list...

checked my flight and they have changed us to flying into Denver and when I looked at the weather they are expecting snow...figures...watch us get stranded in Denver for 3 days...boy would that suck!!!

other wise family is getting excited and me well excited but worn out. Will touch base in a little while....peace out

 

[booksw]

I teach US History post civil war (1865) - through current times but I never get any farther than the Cold War. I have a masters degree in History and one in education. I'm a learning geek.

Civil war? Oh! You mean The War of Northern Aggression! Just kidding -I'm actually originally from NJ. The one thing that amazes me about our children's curriculuum is how much they get about the history of South Carolina. I think every year in elementary school they learn about the uniqueness of the cash crop in the 1700's and the roll that South Carolina played in the Revolutionary War.

I couldn't tell you the first thing about the history of New Jersey. I'm sure we never learned that type of thing in elementary school. Maybe that's one reason so many people leave NJ and so many people stay in SC...

Charleston is full of history.

 

[booksw]

It's packing day! Let's party!

Before it is packing day, I am afraid it is laundry day...

Robin, remind me what you are doing in WDW before the cruise... (i want to live vicariously)

 

[xmjackson]

Civil war? Oh! You mean The War of Northern Aggression! Just kidding -I'm actually originally from NJ. The one thing that amazes me about our children's curriculuum is how much they get about the history of South Carolina. I think every year in elementary school they learn about the uniqueness of the cash crop in the 1700's and the roll that South Carolina played in the Revolutionary War.

I couldn't tell you the first thing about the history of New Jersey. I'm sure we never learned that type of thing in elementary school. Maybe that's one reason so many people leave NJ and so many people stay in SC...

Charleston is full of history.

Its required to learn WA in middle/junior/high school. Our district does it in 9th grade. It includes such inlightening events at the San Juan Pig War and the Yakima Indian War! Now I don't teach that - I got all my degrees in PA not in WA. I have never taken a WA history class but both my kids have had lots. As as a history enthusiate I do know about WA history. Columbia river has some great history and the first federal highway project was done by the military along the Columbia River. The CCC was also big here during the Great Depression and Grand Coulee Dam is located in WA state.

Okay I have now bored you to death....

 

[booksw]

Its required to learn WA in middle/junior/high school. Our district does it in 9th grade. It includes such inlightening events at the San Juan Pig War and the Yakima Indian War! Now I don't teach that - I got all my degrees in PA not in WA. I have never taken a WA history class but both my kids have had lots. As as a history enthusiate I do know about WA history. Columbia river has some great history and the first federal highway project was done by the military along the Columbia River. The CCC was also big here during the Great Depression and Grand Coulee Dam is located in WA state.

Okay I have now bored you to death....

What is CCC and why would the feds care about a highway in WA? I remember a project DS13 did a few years ago about the Nes Pierce.... were they in WA?

 

[PirateCutie05]

So about the DIS tag...what about the people that end up not voting? I remember being slightly disappointed on the last Christmas cruise when we didn't get tagged...I'd feel bad if someone got left out who wanted to participate but never knew about the voting.

 

[xmjackson]

What is CCC and why would the feds care about a highway in WA? I remember a project DS13 did a few years ago about the Nes Pierce.... were they in WA?

Civilian Conservation Corps - A FDR "put them to work" plan for the Great Depression. Highway was needed to get goods to the west coast anywhere but CA. It was the overland route to OR and WA

 

[booksw]

So about the DIS tag...what about the people that end up not voting? I remember being slightly disappointed on the last Christmas cruise when we didn't get tagged...I'd feel bad if someone got left out who wanted to participate but never knew about the voting.

I'm not sure I can help you... I was the party pooper, after all. When you set up the poll it went out as an email to everyone on the DIS list for this cruise, didn't it? If that's the case, I wouldn't worry about it and just make your list from the people who signed up for it. I understand you feeling left out last time. I think I would have, too. It was actually fun for the first couple of days... after that, I would have loved to give you my spot !

Susan I love that history stuff, too. DH especially does. He is not too interested in reading fiction but anything about history he devours. He likes to learn about wars which I really hate hearing about. I know he will not read this so I will tell you that for Chanukah/X-Mas I got him two books-on-cd that he can listen to on the cruise. They are both political history books.

 

[magiroux]

So about the DIS tag...what about the people that end up not voting? I remember being slightly disappointed on the last Christmas cruise when we didn't get tagged...I'd feel bad if someone got left out who wanted to participate but never knew about the voting.

How about this....

Leave the names of the people that have voted no off the list. Make a list of all the rest (from the main list)and somewhere on the tag put a note stating something to the effect; if you do not wish to play Tag, please return Mickey to cabin number (insert your number here). Just be sure you have a way to know where the tag was returned from so that you can cross their name off and they won't be tagged again.

Whatcha think?

 

[xmjackson]

I'm not sure I can help you... I was the party pooper, after all. When you set up the poll it went out as an email to everyone on the DIS list for this cruise, didn't it? If that's the case, I wouldn't worry about it and just make your list from the people who signed up for it. I understand you feeling left out last time. I think I would have, too. It was actually fun for the first couple of days... after that, I would have loved to give you my spot !

Susan I love that history stuff, too. DH especially does. He is not too interested in reading fiction but anything about history he devours. He likes to learn about wars which I really hate hearing about. I know he will not read this so I will tell you that for Chanukah/X-Mas I got him two books-on-cd that he can listen to on the cruise. They are both political history books.

I "read" a lot of books on tape. I have an hour drive to work and back each day. I have listened to alot of history non-fiction on tapes - especially political and war stuff in the car. I like the little known stuff and the war battle stuff.