May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 3

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

We are in Utah. I asked her why this timing thing was so important when clearly comprehension is so much more important. She thinks it is stupid too and can really think of no reason to give me why this is important right now. The test is called Diebels. They all have it 3 times a year. I can basically see no value to it at all.
Kim

Dibels is practically the same as AIMSWEB, the program my district uses. It sounds to me like possibly the school district didn't do enough staff development for the teachers so they could understand the program. That happened in my district. The specialists got a lot of training, but the classroom teachers hardly got any information. Not a good way to handle it!

The teacher, who is very nice, said she is going to try to be the test teacher for DD if she is a testing teacher next time because she can tell when she is just guessing and can calm her down and start over. We have just worked very hard to have her understand what she is reading and to have comprehension of what she has just read. At home, we never time her. This seems counterintuitive.

Yes, there aren't a lot of times in real life that we have to read while being timed...except in testing situations, which all students face as long as they are in school. Whether we agree with standardized testing or not, it is a reality.

Also, because my father, my DH and I all teach at the university level, we teach to the things will most benefit her in later in her educational career.

Kim

Thanks for the tips!! She can read quite well when not timed, so that is not an issue. I think we are going to try the stopwatch thing with a variation. I want to make sure she is understanding it, so we may work the two together somehow. The sad thing is we have spent her entire life trying to help her feel peace and calm, because I am so bad at that, and now we are going to push her towards my manic behavior.. frustrating!

I applaud you for your sensitivity to your daughter! Life today is way too fast-paced and hectic, in my opinion. If you practice at home and make it a game and/or a fun challenge, hopefully she will feel less anxiety.

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

My birthday is New Year's Day and I've always hated it. Although my parents made a point of not giving me a joint Christmas/birthday present, it always seemed like the birthday present was just one they kept over for a week. Then 51 weeks with nothing while my siblings and kids at school had birthdays to look forward to. As an adult, everyone celebrates New Year's Eve so even going out for a meal on my birthday is either impossible or unsuccessful. And even my family seem incapable of grasping that no mail will be delivered on my birthday (UK public holiday) so cards are generally late, if they arrive at all.

When I got married my DH suggested I swapped my birthday to a date in the summer. But my mother was horrified so I didn't do it, and after she died I decided it was too late to bother.

It's reassuring to see that some of you have had similar experiences. My DH can't understand why I get depressed about it, when it's been the same for so long now, why I can't just accept it. And I don't know either - any psychiatrists out there that could explain it to me?!

I think we all deserve to have some undivided attention on our special day! I've heard of parents having "half birthday" celebrations for kids whose birthdays fall on or near the Xmas holidays. If their real birthday is Dec. 25, they have a party on June 25. I say do it! But you must know that I'm the person who threw herself a big bash on my 50th birthday--bar-b-que, DJ and dance, 100+ guests. I've never regretted it!

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

Just go ahead and do it! I've known families that celebrated half-birthdays, six months into their year...or unbirthdays chosen out of the blue because the birthday falls during a busy time of the year. Pick a day, make a plan (or let DH make the plans), tell everyone and have a great birthday!! (This from the gal who didn't have a birthday party until she turned 18 away at college and, then, somehow managed to have two in one night!)

Carolyn

How funny! I posted my reply and just now read yours, Carolyn! Great minds...

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Deb,

You're up late again!!

I am going through pictures from our trip to WDW last December from DD's digital camera. I also found all of the disks? from my husband's digital going back to our EB Panama Canal cruise!! Now I just have to find his camera so that I can load them in here!! Honestly... I call him the absent minded professor (not to his face, of course,) because he is just brilliant, amazingly smart man, but looses stuff or can't remember where he put stuff so easily!

Garsh!

Oh well, I guess he could be worse...

Hope you had a great day!

Karen

Hi Karen, I'm up late now coz I took a nap earlier....we were out on a pet play at DD's house and we played poker and dice games and had dinner. When we got back, I was beat and napped for a couple of hours...now I'm awake again. Poor puppy is exhausted. She played and played with DD's dog and cats. She gots more kisses and hugs from DD, DSIL, DGK's....she's pooped out now.

I was tring to catch up....lots of pages added in one day.

Well I'm up if you still are....

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

I think we can have a Mac users meet on the cruise!

I can wear my Mac Geek T-shirt!

OK, I'll wear my pin!

 

[been2marceline]

Hi Karen, I'm up late now coz I took a nap earlier....we were out on a pet play at DD's house and we played poker and dice games and had dinner. When we got back, I was beat and napped for a couple of hours...now I'm awake again. Poor puppy is exhausted. She played and played with DD's dog and cats. She gots more kisses and hugs from DD, DSIL, DGK's....she's pooped out now.

I was tring to catch up....lots of pages added in one day.

Well I'm up if you still are....

Deb,

I did some periodic catching up thoughout the day, (and in-between my chores) and I still had a lot to catch up on this evening!!

My cute kitty is sitting next to me sacked out. She was up and around with us all day and is crashed out. She is usually alone for part of the day during the week and sleeps until we get home and is more lively at night!

I am watching my DVR taped X-Files from over 10 years ago!! I don't remeber seeing most of these, I think that we started watching after season 3, which is what I am watching right now!! Love this show!! David Duchovny, mmmmmm!!

Karen

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

After DS8 learned his counting by 2's, 5's, and 10's (don't they call it skip counting, now?), I just had him start learning to count to 20 by 3's, then 4's, etc. That way, when he started multiplication, it would be easier. If he ever gets stuck, I just tell him to count by 7's. Yes, it takes longer than knowing the multiplication fact off the top of his head (I'd say that would be preferable), BUT he knows why 7 times 8 equals 56. It's 7 groups of 8 or 8 groups of 7. In the long run, I'd have to think knowing why is better than just knowing. (Oh, and there are some fun songs with the facts in them for pure memorization. We have a schoolhouse rock one...you could play it at night while he's sleeping...)


Carolyn

Several of the teachers at my school used songs to teach the kids skip counting. It really works well.

 

[granmaz]

Good morning or night! Beautiful looking day today after the foul weather yesterday.

Is your birthday January 5th? So is mine! I wished I had a summer birthday when I was a kid, but now I'm with you. I don't like all the fuss either. I don't really need anything and I always feel like I'm having to come up with ideas of presents for loved ones to give me. Just give me some $$ for more Disney vacations! But that sounds so crass.

Being that my b/d is March 23rd, I always receiver loads of Easter Eggs. I was supposed to save them till Easter!!! I would secretly eat them from behind and left the front to look like the egg was whole!

This totally reminds me of something I did on my last cruise, but didn't put it in the trip report. I purposely took all my old underwear that I would have been throwing away soon anyway, same with some clothes too, so that I could throw out a bunch of stuff before coming home, leaving more room in the suitcase for souvineers and other new stuff. Well, I did do laundry at one point, and threw away a bunch of old stuff in the laundry room. Then on the last night, as I was packing, I threw all that old underwear away in the garbage can in our room. We went to dinner, out to have other fun, etc. At the end of the night, when we all returned to our room for the last time, we found that when the room steward cleaned our room, he took all those underwear out of the garbage can and put them on my bed! We were just dying laughing at what that poor guy must have been thinking as he was fishing ratty old underwear out of the garbage can! I'm cracking up laughing as I'm typing this!

Nooooo!!!!! I can't believe that!! When we used to go camping I took oldish undies for the journeys and binned them!! I hope nobody fished them out.

My husband is the "Director of Praise and Worship" We have 11 paid employees at the church. Most salaries are set by the Personnel Comm. This is made up of church members. For my DH and the Senior Pastor, the session sets the "The Terms of Call" (which includes everything from $$$ and all benefits and vacation) and then the entire congregation votes on The Terms of Call. This is funded by donations. Our church is in a major growth mode. Our budget is about 1.5 million $$$ and we just build a brand new building. It is such a gift!! We have a mortgage of 4 million....!!!

My DH is doing a production of Godspell.....has been working on this for 1 year and it is next weekend...Friday night..Sat night and Sun afternoon. I have been selling tickets...and we have sold about 1,000 tickets.....should be a great event!!!

Our life is the church......

I enjoyed Godspell when i saw it once. I wish we could pop over and join you. Your church sounds big! We are a small group and we meet in a hotel. I think we have about 100 adults and 50 children though it sometimes seems the other way round!!! Our son is in charge of the worship side of things.

I hope somebody is taking notes on all that is being discussed on this thread, since there is no way that I can read it all. It's all I can do to keep up with the May 12th thread. When I return in June then I will be able to spend more time here, so keep good notes for those of us that will be joining later!

We will be away for 2 weeks in April and I am stressing about all the pages I will have to read when I get back!!

 

[been2marceline]

Good morning or night! Beautiful looking day today after the foul weather yesterday.



Being that my b/d is March 23rd, I always receiver loads of Easter Eggs. I was supposed to save them till Easter!!! I would secretly eat them from behind and left the front to look like the egg was whole!



Nooooo!!!!! I can't believe that!! When we used to go camping I took oldish undies for the journeys and binned them!! I hope nobody fished them out.

Good morning, Marilyn!

The DIS went down for a bit and is back up again, but I am off to bed!

We have been forecast a cooling spell and rain Monday night and Tuesday!

I do hope we get it! I have been enjoying the lovely weather, but we really do need the rain!


I enjoyed Godspell when i saw it once. I wish we could pop over and join you. Your church sounds big! We are a small group and we meet in a hotel. I think we have about 100 adults and 50 children though it sometimes seems the other way round!!! Our son is in charge of the worship side of things.

I have actually been in Godspell twice in local theatre. Many moons ago... (years ago!)


We will be away for 2 weeks in April and I am stressing about all the pages I will have to read when I get back!!

Can you bring a laptop or use a computer at your location?

Take care and have a great day!

Karen

 

[granmaz]

Morning Karen - this must be very late for you, I don't know how you manage them!!

I don't think there is internet access at the little bungalow we are renting. Perhaps there will be a computer somewhere onsite!! I think it would be worse if it were next year this time we were going away though!

We may be getting some snow today even though it looks so lovely!

Have a good night.

 

[granmaz]

We are going to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, a small volcanic Spanish island some way from Spain off the African coast. We are really just crashing out for the 2 weeks, eating and walking around a little. Swimming too I hope!

 

[granmaz]

Since I have lost some weight I should need to buy a bathing costume and cover up(very necessary for walking around!!!!!), and perhaps some capri trousers. Oh, and maybe some undies unless I take all my old ones to leave there!!!

 

[been2marceline]

Since I have lost some weight I should need to buy a bathing costume and cover up(very necessary for walking around!!!!!), and perhaps some capri trousers. Oh, and maybe some undies unless I take all my old ones to leave there!!!

Sounds like a lovely trip!!

Enjoy shopping!! And don't forget your underwear!!

My cat just came and nuzzled my arm and is looking at me pointedly! She is so funny!! She is letting me know that it is time for "us" to go upstairs to bed! She is so set in her ways!!

Karen

 

[disneylover5]

mine too, the 30th to be exact. It sucks, everyone's always broke from christmas, or what little money they do have left they want to spend on booze on NYE. and I NEVER got a school birthday party....poor me....

My birthday story is different from most others here. My Bday is Sept 4th. Where I grew up the law was 1st day of school after Labor Day....so, I always had cupcakes like the very first or second day of school. Everyone loved me as a treat came so early on in the school year. Except my oldest brother, I was born on this 4th Birthday....so his party was cancelled. He did not like me then!!

buy a bathing costume and cover up:

You really do have some great sayings~!!!!

 

[disneylover5]

Since I have lost some weight.

Congrats....It feels really good, doesn't it!! I am stuck at 11 pounds down. I have to do something to kick in the level of weight loss. I have 16 more to go!

 

[granmaz]

Congrats....It feels really good, doesn't it!! I am stuck at 11 pounds down. I have to do something to kick in the level of weight loss. I have 16 more to go!

I'm not sure how much I have lost as I gave up weighing myself. It always made me go and eat if I hadn't lost any!! By the feel of my clothes etc I am guessing at a similar loss to you. I put some trousers on this morning that kept almost falling down! I also think I would like to lose the same as you also! Actually, for the cruise I would quite like to lose more than I need because I want to enjoy the food!!!

 

[Jhalkias]

OK, I'll wear my pin!

Cool! Where did you get that???

Good morning everyone. Can't post much during the day, but since this thread seems to never sleep, there is always much to catch up on.

Leaving for vacation Friday . . . do I take my laptop with me, or suffer when I return??

Amy, don't forget to pack my "costume"!
(Lord knows I do need one when I swim)

 

[granmaz]

Cool! Where did you get that???

Good morning everyone. Can't post much during the day, but since this thread seems to never sleep, there is always much to catch up on.

Leaving for vacation Friday . . . do I take my laptop with me, or suffer when I return??

Amy, don't forget to pack my "costume"!
(Lord knows I do need one when I swim)

Commonly known as 'cozzie'!!

Oh, take the laptop!!!

 

[lillygator]

Up until that point I was cheering for the Gators (thinking you were cheering for our Buckeyes) . . . and so was Amy, now we have to change our allegiance.

Go BUCKEYES!​

Methinks a little REVENGE for football might be in order if the Buckeyes meet the Gators in this thing!

We were just talking about this possibility yesterday! Can you imagine??

My grandmother lived on Anna Maria Island (Bradenton Beach) so I have spent lots of time there. Miss the area, haven't been back since she passed away. Loved the beaches, spent many shopping days in the circle area of Longboat key (can't remember it's name now).

Actually Anna Maria is where the Outlawz live....right in the bend at Runaway Bay. They have a condo there.

 

[tink1963]

Cool! Where did you get that???

Good morning everyone. Can't post much during the day, but since this thread seems to never sleep, there is always much to catch up on.

Leaving for vacation Friday . . . do I take my laptop with me, or suffer when I return??

Amy, don't forget to pack my "costume"!
(Lord knows I do need one when I swim)

Defiantly take the lap top. We may not move as fast as the EB but we do keep up a quick pace.