Shadow is 8!!!!

Happy birthday to our gorgeous Shadow!!!

47 more days.

Count down to Walker Stalker Con Atlanta 2014.

MJ

August 29th.

Special moments.

The best part of being a teacher is when you get a homemade thank you made by a child. Her mom said she redid it 5 times before she decided to use this one. Isn't that just so special?

51 more days.

Count down to Walker Stalker con Atlanta.

Because it is funny!

Stay on your side.

Things I cannot wrap my brain around.

Mini-rant:

As I grow older and wiser, there are many things that I just cannot wrap my brain around no matter what, so I thought I would just share a few of those and maybe someone can enlighten me.

These are in random order.

For example, what is the deal with these cars that are not much bigger than mailboxes?  Why would anyone drive one of these?  If you have one, let me know.  When I pass someone driving one of these cars, I just think, I hope you make it where you are going.  I think I would drive a motorcycle before I drove one of these.  One hit, and I image that would be it!

Another gripe I have are reality TV shows.  Why are there so many reality TV shows and how can I get one?  Sister Wives, Married at First Sight, The Bachelor/Bachelorette  (gag), The Real Housewives of anywhere and everywhere-sorry to tell you ladies, your are not real housewives, Teen Mom 1, 2, and 3 (that is a lot of pregnant teen moms), Dating in the Dark, A Shot at Love with Tequelia somebody, 16 & Pregnant, 19 & Counting, Airplane Repo, The Baby Borrowers, Fake-A-Date, Flavor of Love, He's a Lady, Rob and Amber Get Married (who are Rob and Amber and why does anyone care if they get married?), Who's Your Daddy?, Taxicab Confessions, and why is American Idol still on?

Most importantly, I do not keep up with the Kardashians (triple gag).  Who are these clowns?  Always whining about everything, they have millions of dollars but are never satisfied with anything, and I am not exactly sure why they are "famous."  Anyone know?  I certainly know who Bruce Jenner is, and I think we all know what Attorney Robert Kardashian is famous for, wink, but why are the other ones famous?  I think it hit me the last time I went to a store and there was a magazine which was comparing the Royal Baby to the baby of this self-proclaimed famous for a big a** woman.  What an insult to the Royal Family.  I am not British, I am not royal, but this is a ridiculous comparison.  First of all, you cannot say one baby is worth more than another, that is just no.  Secondly, how long have the Royals been around?  It may not mean much to most Americans but this monarchy has been in place for a very long time since around the 1200's???  Ugh!! I need to stop here on this one.

Another biggie for me are deadbeat parents.  I think my opinion on this topic is pretty clear-cut but in case I have been unclear, let me lay it out for you.  I do not understand how a parent can just simply abandon their

kid and not support them financially and/or emotionally and then go out and have more when they are not even responsible for the ones they already have.  That is so irresponsible and disgusting!  You have an obligation to your kid so get over yourself and do what is right by them. They see what you do, they know what you do. You don't put yourself first, kids always come first and to disconnect them financially and emotionally is a coward's way out.  This would be considered 10/10 on the idiot scale.  You should be lucky to have a kid, not everyone is able to, so if you are a deadbeat parent not supporting your kid/kids and causing them emotional distress, stop doing that, stop having kids, duh, grow up!  Think about it, you treat them like crap now, they will return the favor later, what comes around, goes around and there are laws in place to protect these kids from idiots like you so just wait for it.  Sadly, it might take a while for them to catch up with you but they will.

A new thing I have noticed about myself is that I have discovered I am very political.  I think it started shortly after I began homeschooling my girls and just seeing all the corruptness that is allowed in schools, every single day something on the news about a shooting, a cheating scandal, or something drug-related.  And why are all kids required to be the same?  It just took one year of kindergarten to know that I did not want my children crushed by conforming to the "norms that society has in place."  All 5 year olds should do everything the same way, uh, not!  What is good about that?  Nothing that I can see, that is why we are in our 10th year of homeschooling.

The government trying to impose too much on this "free nation."  That is not for me.  I am not going to be micro-chipped in 2017.  The gross incompetence with mismanagement of money.  I don't want to work so that someone else gets a free ride.  I do not want our troops fighting everyone else's battles.  Nope, not me.  I work every day, every night, every weekend at random times because I have to support my children which raising children in this day is not cheap, going back to the deadbeat parent thing and the mismanagement of money by the government thing but I am doing what I have to do for the betterment of my children just like all you other great parents are doing.  Anyway, I am sick of the current elected officials-like everyone else is I assume, but their days are numbered at this point so hopefully, good things will come in the near future.

Wheeww!! I think that will do it for now.  These are just my opinions.  You do not have to like or agree with them.  Rant over for today.  Have a great day!

Shadow!

~

I already know my girls are amazing............

and they prove that more with each day that passes.

Count down to Walker stalker con 2014 in the ATL.

image from walker stalker con

image from walker stalker con

October 17-19, 2014 at Americasmart Building Atlanta, GA.

Read more here.
Up coming events and tickets.
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Ooopppssss!!!!

    And again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again..................

What I did today before 2:30 p.m.

*medical transcription
*made and cleaned up breakfast and lunch
*taught algebra
*taught geometry
*taught physical science
*taught biology
*reviewed a biography of Charles Dickens
*taught an economics lesson
*cleaned 3 litter boxes
*cleaned a birdcage
*2 loads of laundry
*this short blog post
It is amazing how much one can accomplish when people are counting on you to come through for them.
What have you been doing?

It is good to be different!

Photo from Media cache

~

Smokey has claimed this puzzle as his own.

Is this too much to ask, really?

And one more thing.  I want deadbeat parents to face harsher punishments for neglecting and not providing for their children.  Kids don't get to pick their parents so if they get a deadbeat for a parent, they are just stuck!

Heading into week two already!

So true

I spend every penny I have trying to provide for my girls and all of their basic needs.  It is all about them as it should be.  Material items and bribes do not send a good message to kids that understand hard financial times, watching their mother work all the time and still barely getting by while others just throw money away on things that are irrelevant.  How does your family spend its money?

Interesting idea!

FOX 5 Atlanta

Yesterday

DEADBEAT PARENTS: Not paying child support can result in losing your driving privileges in Georgia. Now, a new policy will link the driver's license computer to child welfare, which could significantly speed up license suspensions. Do you think it will help?  I do think it would help!  I know, I know if they can't get to work they can't pay anyway, blah, blah, if they are working and not paying what difference does it make?  If there is a paycheck involved the first priority is to the children, why should the deadbeat get a free pass?  There is no reason.  

Happy Left-Hander's Day!!!

Today is International Left-Hander's Day so I wanted to give a shout out to my leftie.  Lefties are special people with only 10% of the population in the world being left-handed.  I already knew my leftie was special but here are a few more random facts about lefties.
*Lefties are very creative.
*Lefties are multitaskers.
*Four out of the last seven presidents have been left-handed.
*It is more likely for a leftie to be a genius for the reason they are forced to use both sides of their brains more often.
*Eskimos believe that left-handed people were sorcerers.
*The Incas also believed that lefties were magical.
*In North America being a leftie is a sign of good luck.
*Lefties are more likely to pass their driver's test on the first try.
*Lefties remember tunes to songs better than righties.
*It has somehow been determined that cat's are more "Left-pawed" than right.  Just throwing that in there.

A few drawbacks of being a leftie include spiral notebooks and binders, zippers, high fives, hand shaking, scissors, and the obstacle that the majority of everything in the world was made based on the right-handed folks but no big deal.

Some super famous lefties include Napolean Bonaparte, Marie Curie, Isaac Newton, Da Vinci, Jimi Hendrix, Aristotle, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Di Niro, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, Julius Caesar, Albert Einstein, Herbert Hoover, Jennifer Lawrence, Niall Horan, Mr. Morgan Freeman, Sir Paul McCartney, oh, and President Barack Obama.  For the most part, these lefties are in pretty good company.  Impressive I would say.  You can find more famous lefties here.

Sadly, Jack-the Ripper and Osama Bin Laden were also lefties.

Happy Left-Hander's Day to all you lefties!!  Keep on being brilliant.

I think there is a better chance of winning the lottery.

A tragic loss of one of the greats.

In loving memory of Robin Williams 1951-2014

On deck for our new school year: 2014-2015!

We survived our first year of high school with no stitches and nothing blew up, well nothing accidentally blew up.  We have had a hard year (really about a year and a half) but we kicked butt anyway and got through it all and more, and this year will be even better.  If money were no object, I may have chosen a few different or extra materials but since I am the only source of income, I got what I could, and I really got quite a few goodies!!!!  Now looking at it all pulled together, I would not change a thing.

My A-bug is in 8th grade this year which is devastating to say the least.  She is my super girl, and she is growing up too fast.  She is my helper child.  She will go along with anything I ask her to do even if it is not her favorite.  She has great passion for things she is interested in.  HINT: Never ask her about birds unless you have at least an hour.  Already in her last year of middle school, gasp!  I guess it can't be helped.

Like most homeschoolers with multiple students, it is easier and more beneficial to do a few subjects together at levels conducive to each student.  I did break up their science courses this year but they will both be studying WriteShop II, Latina Christiana-Latin, Latin Made Simple, World History BJU, and A History of Western Art.   They will each have at least 2 required reading projects, and we are adding a little more dystopian literature just because we can and someone living here has an obsession with all things dystopian at the moment.  Here is a fantastic site for dystopian lit.  We will also be using Khan Academy for anything and everything we find related to what we are doing.  If you are not familiar with Khan Academy, YOU MUST GO THERE AND CHECK IT OUT NOW! GO!

This year A13 will be using Apologia Physical Science by the amazing Dr. Jay Wile, Math U See pre-algebra, and Write on Course, as well as multiple outside activities such as gymnastics, co-op classes on Monday, as well as being on the Scholastic Team for our homeschool group and misc field trips and group activities.

8th grade

C15 is starting 10th grade this year (stop it!).  This child has grown up so fast, it is unbelievable.  10th grade?  HUH? Well, all I can say is that she is not your typically 10th grader that is for sure, and I am so grateful for that.  This girl is seriously smart, exceptionally smart at some things really.  I am grateful she has not had to endure all the hideous things that go on in an American Public School facility-no offense to anyone just my opinion but she is not pregnant, she does not smoke, and she is the kindest person you will meet so I think I am doing a pretty good job with her and both of my girls especially given the chaotic circumstances we are being forced to deal with but hey if it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger, right? moving on.........................

C15 will be working with Apologia Biology and Khan Academy's crash course biology taught by Hank Green (brother to John Green).  It is a fantastic, no nonsense course.  She will also be using Writers INC, 411 SAT Critical Reading Questions, Teaching Textbooks Geometry along side Math-U-See Algebra (this is for my kid that hates math and all things related to math but has scored 95% or higher on every math evaluation she has taken to date). Go figure?  She will also be taking co-op classes on Mondays, as well as Rockschool, guitar lessons, driving, Barnes and Noble book club every two weeks, volunteering at the local animal shelter, and joining the library teen advisory comity.  She will also participate with the Scholastic Team as she is their main photographer for the events, field trips, and group activities that are held by our group. The volunteering and library advisory comity both count as public service credit.

10th grade

This is a pretty big year for us, that is a lot to learn!  We also have a move coming up and a few other changes but we have made it this far on our own and we can only go up from here.  We have persevered through the most difficulty time in our lives and we are still going strong.  The three of us together can do anything!

Happy homeschooling!

Is there anything more pathetic than a 40-year-old man not paying child support for his kids?

There is, a 45-year-old man living with his parents not paying child support.  Pretty pathetic if you ask me!

Two cents....

What kind of world do we live in where laptops and concert tickets are more important then providing basic necessities for children?  A pretty warp one I would say.

Red-headed woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus

About a month and a half ago, our dishwasher decided to stop working.  I never thought for a minute there would be a benefit from standing and hand washing all of the dishes but today, however, I was glad I was standing there.  This beautiful red-headed woodpecker decided to come and get a snack.  I took these pictures through a window screen but I think this bird's beauty is clear no matter where the picture has been taken.  If you know me at all, you know this is one of my favorites.  I guess that is why I took 49 pictures today of just this beauty.

He just decided to land and see if he could grab a bite. 

He managed to stuff 5 whole peanuts in his mouth before he flew away. 

He is back.

He can hear me so he pauses.

Filling up his beak.

This time he was only able to snag three before he
decided to take off.  He had a little competition
today from a Blue jay and a few mocking birds.

Isn't this jay a cutie?

This is a pair of mocking birds.  One was actually feeding the other.  So sweet!
(Click to enlarge the picture and you can see the other mocking bird has his mouth open).

The sunset and the moon 08/02/2014

Pretty much!

Homeschooling must haves.

Here are a few of my personal homeschooling must haves.  I have read each of these about ten times cover-to-cover over the years, and I learn something new every time.

High School @ Home.  You Can Do It! by Diana Johnson
Barnes and Noble
Amazon

Homeschooling the Teen Years by Cafi Cohen.
Good Reads
Amazon

Home Learning Year by Year by Rebecca Rupp
Barnes and Noble
Amazon

Homeschooling Gifted and Advanced Learners by Cindy West
Barnes and Noble
Amazon 

Happy homeschooling!