This is one of those times that the photo says it all. I have no comment.Thursday, May 29, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
HOMEWORK – OH MY GOSH !!!!!!
I have a daughter in 6th grade. So do many people. My daughter gets lots of math homework. It’s not the same math I learned. I have attempted to help her numerous times over the school year but her mother usually has to take over before I break something or have a heart attack from frustration.
I have a college degree. I have published poetry, articles, and letters. I may not be the sharpest tool in the woodshed but I am not the dullest. But when it comes to this crazy 6th grade math, goodness!!!!! Beat my buttocks with a cane and make me write bad checks!
Talk about an intellectual beating. My daughter, “Little Rolling Thunder”, despises math as much as I do. She likes her parents to do the work for her. That makes for a fun evening. I work all day, want to rest at night, and then have to learn 6th grade math!!! To make matters worse, the math book does not cover everything on the homework. She took poor notes in class to boot.
Probability. That’s what the last assignment was on that I helped her with. Most of the questions made no sense. “Little Rolling Thunder” was in a bad mood. What should have taken 30 minutes lasted a couple of hours. Her Mom was not up to helping her that evening. This assignment was a study packet for a unit test. She had gotten a 50 on it. We now had to find the CORRECT ANSWERS TO 24 QUESTIONS! ( If my daughter was a guy, we would have had a fist fight out in the yard ) When it came down to it, I had to tell her to guess on some of them.
The little fart took her test the next morning and got an 87. And you say there are no miracles in the world???? I don’t know how she did it but she did.
She only has a couple of weeks of school left. The homework is finally slowing down. However, over the Memorial Day Weekend we have to get her to study for one last unit test. She only has 12 out of 100 questions answered and who knows if they are correct.
We will get through it. I am sure it will be painful. We love “Little Rolling Thunder” and like her, we are ready for summer break. When I left college I thought homework was a thing of the past. I liked most homework in college but have now discovered that I am very selective in what, where, and when I want to learn new things. And, I don’t like learning math the “new way”, whatever that means.
I will take this opportunity in advance to answer all you theoretical, analytical, mathematical geniuses out there – BITE ME.
I have a college degree. I have published poetry, articles, and letters. I may not be the sharpest tool in the woodshed but I am not the dullest. But when it comes to this crazy 6th grade math, goodness!!!!! Beat my buttocks with a cane and make me write bad checks!
Talk about an intellectual beating. My daughter, “Little Rolling Thunder”, despises math as much as I do. She likes her parents to do the work for her. That makes for a fun evening. I work all day, want to rest at night, and then have to learn 6th grade math!!! To make matters worse, the math book does not cover everything on the homework. She took poor notes in class to boot.
Probability. That’s what the last assignment was on that I helped her with. Most of the questions made no sense. “Little Rolling Thunder” was in a bad mood. What should have taken 30 minutes lasted a couple of hours. Her Mom was not up to helping her that evening. This assignment was a study packet for a unit test. She had gotten a 50 on it. We now had to find the CORRECT ANSWERS TO 24 QUESTIONS! ( If my daughter was a guy, we would have had a fist fight out in the yard ) When it came down to it, I had to tell her to guess on some of them.
The little fart took her test the next morning and got an 87. And you say there are no miracles in the world???? I don’t know how she did it but she did.
She only has a couple of weeks of school left. The homework is finally slowing down. However, over the Memorial Day Weekend we have to get her to study for one last unit test. She only has 12 out of 100 questions answered and who knows if they are correct.
We will get through it. I am sure it will be painful. We love “Little Rolling Thunder” and like her, we are ready for summer break. When I left college I thought homework was a thing of the past. I liked most homework in college but have now discovered that I am very selective in what, where, and when I want to learn new things. And, I don’t like learning math the “new way”, whatever that means.
I will take this opportunity in advance to answer all you theoretical, analytical, mathematical geniuses out there – BITE ME.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Parents
As we are now between Mother's Day and Father's Day, and me being older, I pause to reflect on my parents.
I have a lot to be thankful for in the 2 people that decided to have me. While like all people they are not perfect, they also were not a lot of other things as well. They were, and still are, good parents. They provided me, my brother, and sister, a loving home. While we were not rich, we do not wallow in poverty. While we had arguments, we were not abused emotionally or physically. While my parents were strict, they were also lenient in other things. None of us kids has done jail time by the way. While they controlled a lot of things, when the time came they let go.
My Dad is a real character. The first time I heard him really yell loud was at one of the grand kids for letting a cat out of the house. I almost had heart failure and just about peed my pants due to surprise. And, at this point, I had been married for a few years. He has a very even temper, something I don't have. He also can be a man of few words but when he has something important to say one should listen.
My Mother is the more emotional one and I am like her. We both share a fondness of liking to chat with others. We both have many words. Mom is a great animal lover unless it's birds. Something happened in her youth and anything that flies is her eternal enemy. She is an expert on cats after having so many over the years. When I need unofficial Vet advice, I usually give her a call.
The best thing about my parents today is that they are more than just parents to me. Our relationship is one of genuine friendship and equality. I can only hope to master the parenting skills they have mastered over the years, especially since I have a daughter I affectionately call "Little Rolling Thunder". If you know her you will understand.
For those of you that did not come from a good solid home, my heart goes out to you. But, with God on your side, you can have the home you did not have as a child. Never let the past overcome the future.
I have a lot to be thankful for in the 2 people that decided to have me. While like all people they are not perfect, they also were not a lot of other things as well. They were, and still are, good parents. They provided me, my brother, and sister, a loving home. While we were not rich, we do not wallow in poverty. While we had arguments, we were not abused emotionally or physically. While my parents were strict, they were also lenient in other things. None of us kids has done jail time by the way. While they controlled a lot of things, when the time came they let go.
My Dad is a real character. The first time I heard him really yell loud was at one of the grand kids for letting a cat out of the house. I almost had heart failure and just about peed my pants due to surprise. And, at this point, I had been married for a few years. He has a very even temper, something I don't have. He also can be a man of few words but when he has something important to say one should listen.
My Mother is the more emotional one and I am like her. We both share a fondness of liking to chat with others. We both have many words. Mom is a great animal lover unless it's birds. Something happened in her youth and anything that flies is her eternal enemy. She is an expert on cats after having so many over the years. When I need unofficial Vet advice, I usually give her a call.
The best thing about my parents today is that they are more than just parents to me. Our relationship is one of genuine friendship and equality. I can only hope to master the parenting skills they have mastered over the years, especially since I have a daughter I affectionately call "Little Rolling Thunder". If you know her you will understand.
For those of you that did not come from a good solid home, my heart goes out to you. But, with God on your side, you can have the home you did not have as a child. Never let the past overcome the future.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
A New Blog / A New Start
This is my third attempt at blogging. I think the other two are a failure for a few reasons. Not creative enough, not enough of me, boring, whatever. So, when I blog on this one, I am just going to let it hang out.
I should have followed a wise old Texas Saying. I am not a Texas native but have been here almost 20 years. I think this saying captures it all.
You can't run with the Big Dogs if
you pee like a Puppy.
So that being said, "Running With The Dogs" is launched. I will add links and other crap as time permits and the feeling strikes me.
I should have followed a wise old Texas Saying. I am not a Texas native but have been here almost 20 years. I think this saying captures it all.
You can't run with the Big Dogs if
you pee like a Puppy.
So that being said, "Running With The Dogs" is launched. I will add links and other crap as time permits and the feeling strikes me.
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