As the World Turns..

To sort of quote the announcer from a soap opera I used to watch a long, long time ago - "As the world turns, so do the days of our lives"  or something like that.  The gist of that is time is moving on!

The grocery stores are filled with Halloween candy.  Commercials on TV are shifting to Fall and Winter scenes.  The Hallmark store has the Christmas ornaments and cards out and on display.  It's the middle of August!

Here is Virginia it's been the hottest Summer in a long time.  It's just sapping everyone's energy and motivation.  We've had some occasional rains and storms and so far our yard is looking good.  Of course, the sprinkler system helps with that even if it does bring a higher water bill.

Golfer and I are in the midst of having a generator installed so we will be ready for our next big storm or power event.  Peace of mind!  We have plans to power wash the siding and clean the windows, but the heat has been pushing that to later.

The furry kids are all doing well.  The little ones are getting bigger.  When they first came home I could lift one of them in one hand.  Have to use two hands now!  One of their new favorite activities is unrolling and shredding the paper towels in the kitchen!  They've checked out the toilet paper, but evidently it isn't as much fun.

School is going well for Boxer and Bloomer and they are adjusting to homework.  BeyB has a couple weeks yet before high school starts. 

Political ads are increasing.  I find most of them annoying.  I think they should all adhere to the truth in advertising method.

So, life moves on.  All is well with us.  I hope the same for  you.  Stay safe!

Happy Birthday, Golfer!

I love you!  xoxo

Let's Hear It for Chicken!

Free Speech!  Chic Fil-A has been in the news recently because someone high up in their company has had the nerve to voice his opinion on marriage and other related areas.  This has spawned demonstrations and support for Chic Fil-A.  And those have caused plans for a "Kiss-in" by the folks on the other side of the subject.  For the record, my stand on this is marriage is one man and one woman.  I am not against people having significant others, or having committed relationships, but those are not marriage.  God made all people and I think He would really like all of us to "just get along".

Anyway, back to the Chic Fil-A issues.... The owner of a North Carolina independent Wendy's franchise is now in hot water for voicing his support of Chic Fil-A.   He posted his support on all his stores' signs.  Evidently Wendy's main corporate leaders are against free speech within their company and made him remove this message.

What next??

Golfer and I went to Abuelo's for dinner and had some wonderful Mexican food last evening! 

Stay safe!

Education

This morning’s paper featured a first-page article on education. I admit, I don’t read every article in the newspaper every day, but this one caught my eye. Schools have been using the SOL or Standard of Learning process for quite a while. Basically what has happened is the teachers “teach to the test”. Scores were measured by AYP – Adequate Yearly Progress targets. Now under the new system the pass rates will be based on AMO or Annual Measured Objectives.


Then the multi-page article goes on to explain the various categories and “classes” of these objectives. And here is where I have a problem with this system. It divides the students into the following groups: all, Asian, White, Hispanic, Black, English language learners, economically disadvantaged, and students with disabilities. These groups have different pass percentage rates. Now I certainly agree that a student with a disability, either physical or mental, should be taught and graded accordingly. But to divide all the other students like this smacks of prejudice and bigotry, the very things the USA is trying not to have! And yes, I realize that they aren’t really going to be physically separating the students into these categories; they are just sorting their scores.
 Why should one group be required to have a higher score to pass than another?   Why is one “class” required to do better than another? Why the differences? Seems to me the students should be tested on the same scale and scored by the same. It should not matter where they came from or what color their skin.  How about just having all the students studying and trying to do really well?

What is wrong with going back to having qualified teachers spend their time actually teaching a subject? The students should do their work, study and when they take a test be graded accordingly. If they work hard and do well, they get a good grade. If they goof off or don’t care and don’t do well, they can study harder and try again. If they don’t pass, they can take that grade over again the next year. This system worked years ago; I know, I was in it and I worked hard for my good grades.

I would like to see children know how to tell time on a regular “old fashioned” clock. I’d like to see them be able to find countries on a map. And count change. And write in script. Old fashioned? You bet!  but good basic knowledge. They should learn about classic literature and history and be able to add without a calculator and using their fingers. And let’s throw in memorize and recite the Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, and the Gettysburg Address, too.  And of course, make sure the students are well schooled in the ever changing technology of our time!

The whole mind set in schools of “everyone needs to be a winner and get a trophy” bugs me also. Do well and be rewarded. Don’t and suffer the consequences. That applies to adults as well as children.

And these are my thoughts for the day. Stay safe!

Some Random Thoughts and Things I Expect and Want

I expect courtesy, honesty, and manners.

I want to hear "please" and "thank you".

I want other drivers to obey the yield and stop signs, all laws, and stop texting, tweeting and phoning (unless it's a Blue Tooth device)  And on the topic of driving, I really don't want to be sitting next to you in traffic while you are behind the wheel putting on your make-up, reading the paper or shaving!

I want people to be kind to animals and children.

When I ask someone a question, I expect an answer; even if it's just a "no" or "I don't want to talk now".  Don't ignore me.  I'm flexible, I can ask you again later.

And my most recent want  . . . .  when I go into Starbucks, I want the coffee I like to be brewed and ready and the barristas actually paying attention to the customers!  They are a coffee shop.  How can they let the coffee run out??

Stay safe.  (I'm trying Starbucks again in the morning!)

Happy Birthday, BeyB!

We love you!

Yep, We're Still Here!

I just realized it's been a while since my last post.  Things have been busy and time flies right along!  And add to that the extremely hot and humid weather that just sucks the energy right out of a person and well . . . . nothing got written!

But Golfer and I are fine.  The furry kids are all doing great.  They are all getting along well, and the little ones are growing and still as feisty as ever!  Maybe even more so as they get into something new every day.  But gee, they are lovable!  They do so many cute things and move so fast it's hard to get pictures though. 

Last weekend Bikini and family came for a visit!  It was her 20th high school reunion weekend.  In between reunion activities we worked in some family time and Nurse J and family came too!  It was great to get everyone together.  To be honest though, I am not totally convinced that the kids liked the roasting of marshmallows as much as the adults!

Golfer and I had to get new tires put on our Mustang.  Seems like it's always something.  Now we're waiting for the work to be scheduled for the installation of a new generator.  That will give lots of "peace of mind" during our stormy weather around here.  The yard is holding it's own for now in spite of the weather, but I'm not sure I want to look at the next water bill. 

It is almost August and that means Summer is starting to wind down although the hot weather will certainly last a lot longer.  Boxer and Bloomer start back to school in Georgia August 1st.  BeyB will be starting high school after Labor Day.  Seems impossible!  Sees like they were all just tiny babies!

I had one of my semi-annual eye appointments this week.  All is okay, except I need new glasses.  It's been a couple years.  Thank goodness for insurance!  They've been ordered.

That's about it from here.  Time to get busy.  Stay safe!