May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 5

[HollyTyler]

Well, I'm off. I'm completely wiped out after a busy day, but have to clean a bit because right after work tomorrow, my dad and stepmom will be here for dinner. They're going to cringe when they see how I've neglected my yard, but I just don't have time. Can't do everything all the time. So I need to at least clean the bathroom, do my floors, and pick up a bit in the living room. Should be a pretty easy & quick job. Tomorrow morning I can do the dishes and pick up a bit in the kitchen. Just a quicky job for now.

Goodnight all!

 

[HollyTyler]

I am so excited! When we moved I got my own scrapbook room, well on sun. I got a new toy to go in it. I got a cricut ( if you are wondering what this is go to cricut . com). I can't wait to get the Mickey carts to go with it!!! TIme to get back in to scrapbooking again!!

I checked out the cricut and WOW does that look neat! You'll have fun with that for sure!

 

[Jhalkias]

john did you know if you take the broken one into Apple you get a 10% discount on the new one?

http://www.apple.com/environment/recycling/

Yup. Good info anyway . . . just don't really want to ride up to the Apple store 45 minutes away . . . let's see . . . about 5 gallons of gas to go there and return . . . about $15, and I save 10% of $149 . . . or $14.90 . . . sounds like a "Wash" to me . . .

 

[Jhalkias]

YAY!!! I got Tyler's school of choice acceptance letter today for the district I applied for! WOOHOO! YIPPEE! Tyler's excited too because his best buddy got accepted too. Now I can quit worrying about where he'll go to school. Other school districts in our area require school of choice kids to reapply every school year and hope they have enough openings for that particular grade. But with his school, once you're accepted, you're in until graduation.

I'm glad you're happy Holly . . . I had some interesting advice for you if he did not get in. I am reading (actually listening to) on my ipod one of the most interesting books I have ever heard . . . "Freakonomics".

There is a lot of research in the book that defies what would be considered "conventional wisdom". Some very interesting studies on education, showing the factors that make a significant difference in student achievement. One of the most interesting things, that really defies the current de-riguer educational assumptions is that the actual "school" that a child attends will make a difference. The data clearly shows that the parental background is what makes the difference, and children with that advantage do better no matter what school they go to, and kids without the advantage of strong parents (both intellectually and socio-economically) do just as poorly in the "good" schools.

I am sure you will feel better about Tyler in the school you have chosen, and he will too - especially with his friend going there. As a school board member dealing with NCLB, I have always touted that the building plays a far less significant role in achievement than the environment and heredity of the child. It was interesting for me to see that borne out in a study.

Oh, and BTW - the amount of TV that a child watches also has little effect on their ultimate achievement - whether a lot or a little. Having plenty of books in the house does correlate positively to achievement, but reading to your child all the time does not.

The book is fascinating, and delves into lots of other subjects other than education, like crime rates, safety, etc.

 

[Jhalkias]

Looks like I am here talking to my self . . .

Badda Bing . . .


West Coast must still be doing the dishes, and I am getting ready for bed.

 

[Jhalkias]

Alex leaves for London on Wednesday . . . he will be gone for 12 days. Plans on going to Wimbledon, and seeing the sights, but did not plan on being in a flood!

 

[Jhalkias]

Good night John boy . . .

Good Night Mary Ellen . . .

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

Holly,
I just want to add my voice & vote to those who have supported you in being "mean" (the word most students use for what we call "strict"--ha!). My observation over the years has been that the unhappiest kids I ever came across were those who always got their way. Interesting, isn't it? They didn't seem to appreciate much of anything, probably because nothing was special for them. They were usually pretty lazy as well; the concept of working for something was a skill they never got any practice in. And this often extended to learning to read. They (and maybe their parents too...?) seemed to think that something magical was going to happen somehow and they would be struck literate! I used to keep a toy magic wand near my reading table to use on those kids.

John, I have that book Freakonomics. I've read part of it but never finished it. I don't remember reading the part about schools, etc. I'm going to have to get it out and finish it. It is fascinating.

Deb & Holly, thanks for the "welcome back"--I'm glad to be back with my friends.

Noel, thanks for the PM and I hope you're feeling much better soon!

Good Night, everyone!

 

[woody73]

I booked our flights yesterday. I checked two days ago and for the direct LAX-MCO flights. . .

. . . we chose the AA flight . . . and we liked the earlier time anyway cuz it means we'll get to Orlando at 4pm.

We had already booked AA #244. I wonder if we are traveling on the same day.
(You can send me a PM if you prefer)

Woody

 

[woody73]

. . . I have that book Freakonomics. I've read part of it but never finished it. I don't remember reading the part about schools, etc. I'm going to have to get it out and finish it. It is fascinating.

It's a good read.

Woody

 

[been2marceline]

Congrats John!

Pirate ye be!

Still catching up, worked so much this weekend I didn't make it to posting or reading before the DIS would go down, and then I fell asleep early from being really worn out!

Karen

 

[been2marceline]

Well, now I need to go and see if we have rice . . . do you bury it in the rice?

John,

Leno is on doing "headlines" and he just had one that said "Geek Orthodox Church Event".

The Geek versus Greek made me think of you...

Karen

 

[been2marceline]

WOW....that's a lot more wine....so great for you, see the move was hell but so worthwhile. Are the new wines up on the website yet? We have enough for now, but I'm sure I'll be ordering again soon.

Yes, all on line. You would love the Chateau Paradis White Bordeaux!

Karen

 

[been2marceline]

Hi all. Just back this evening from our week away. Had a lovely time but came back to a country flooded!!! It is really bad in places near by, but now actually here. We had to drive through some flood water to get home though!

I still have to read the last 4 pages, but must get to bed now!

Noel, good to see you again and hear you are feeling a bit better. Take things easy.

See you all tomorrow.

Welcome back Marilyn! I have missed you!

Karen

 

[LiserAnn]

I'm glad you're happy Holly . . . I had some interesting advice for you if he did not get in. I am reading (actually listening to) on my ipod one of the most interesting books I have ever heard . . . "Freakonomics".

John-DH read Freakonomics a while back, loved it. If you like that one, give "The World is Flat" a try also. Those are the two books he's constantly telling people to read. He can't say enough about them....(meanwhile I've read neither...not for lack of desire, but more because of lack of time).

 

[granmaz]

YAY!!! I got Tyler's school of choice acceptance letter today for the district I applied for! WOOHOO! YIPPEE! Tyler's excited too because his best buddy got accepted too. Now I can quit worrying about where he'll go to school. Other school districts in our area require school of choice kids to reapply every school year and hope they have enough openings for that particular grade. But with his school, once you're accepted, you're in until graduation.

Excellent. It is always a stressful time waiting for these decisions and it can make such a big difference to our children.

Alex leaves for London on Wednesday . . . he will be gone for 12 days. Plans on going to Wimbledon and seeing the sights, but did not plan on being in a flood!

Seems like the dreadful weather is passing. Well at the moment it is working south, so Wimbledon may be disrupted a little. Hopefully by the time Alex arrives all will be normal. It has been the wettest June on record! This follows the hottest April on record and I think the driest. What strange weather.

 

[been2marceline]

Good night John boy . . .

Good Night Mary Ellen . . .

Wasn't that my line a few night ago?

Karen

 

[UKANGEL]

Alex leaves for London on Wednesday . . . he will be gone for 12 days. Plans on going to Wimbledon, and seeing the sights, but did not plan on being in a flood!

Hope Alex has a great time, John.

The floods haven't really got to London so he should be ok depending on where he goes! Did he get all his arrangements sorted out?


Have a good day everyone

 

[txSleepingBeauty]

good morning guys...I just got home from work, these overnights are taking their toll, not sure how people do this on a regular basis......anyway, hope everyone has a great day!

 

[ibouncetoo]

Morning cruise-mates! I'm still fighting computer issues at home, so I'm not posting much and doing most of my DIS reading at work (wondering if I need to call the Geek Squad!)

Welcome home Cheri and Marilyn, glad you had good trips!

Looks like I'll get to put in some overtime today (computers were down a bit yesterday, so I've got a back-log)....yeah, more cruise money!

Have a good day everybody!