A good book to buy

This lady's blog gives me so many smiles. She has six kids and she does send them to school, and she has kids who do lots of strange things. She also has the guts to put her kids' videos of their strange behavior on her blog and youtube. I know I will probably buy her book, which comes out rather soon.
Honey? Are you reading this? I want this one preordered, along with Dance with Dragons, coming out just before my birthday. Here they are. Yup, I like my variety.

Drat. Ok, never mind, haven't figured out this error.
Look for "Because I Said So" by Dawn Meehan and "Dance With Dragons" by George RR Martin. Look them up on Amazon! I am so excited. So many books, only one life!

Prince Caspian movie May 16th

Here is why my son is completely unable to concentrate...

http://www.narniaweb.com/news.asp?id=1355&dl=14478175

Not the movie, of course. The book! I read him almost the whole series when he was younger, and now at age nearly eight, he is going through Prince Caspian for himself, in preparation for the movie. He agrees -- the actor in the movie is way too old. But it will still be fun to watch, and the special effects are just awesome. Like Lord of the Rings, at least they got a director who must have loved the books as much as the rest of us.

Hooray for the best books ever coming to life! I can't believe I have to tell Gabe to "stop reading", but he'll spend an hour on the couch in silence these days, which is kind of neat!

When curriculum attacks!

I have a confession to make:

I've never been to a homeschooling convention.

Whew. That feels so much better. Now you all know.

My first one will be this one: www.nwcatholicconference.com. I'd love to go to the one featured at www.washhomeschool.org, but it's always an inconvenient date for some reason. I also know that I, like most homeschooling mommies, am a sucker for curriculum. Our last homeschooling mom's meeting featured "What Worked, What Didn't" and of course that set me off. So this morning, I'm looking up what I want to use for Gabe and Brandon next year, and making my list of need vs. want. www.ourfathershouse.biz is a local business, and they have half of what I want, and Julia, the store owner, is offering 10% off and will meet you there at the conference if you order before the end of April! So I'm planning ahead so that I don't spend all my money. I am a heavy library user for a lot of the history books, too.

This year I am planning to loosely follow the Mother of Divine Grace curriculum, but supplement with Apologia science, Singapore Math, and CHC art. And I am NOT buying a bunch of classical music for the prices listed. I am going to try real hard to find these things cheap. We'll see what happens when I get there, but I'm brining my husband to talk sense to me when we go by the curriculum tables.

Here is what I want to buy, followed by the schedule for the conference. If you want to go, go to the website and get ready to pay a little more than $50 for the whole two days per family. I can hardly wait!

My list:

Can be ordered from Our Father’s House: $180 -10% = $162

4^th grade syllabus $30

Kindergarten syllabus $30

Prima Latina OR Latina Christiana with CD $30-$40? (more than this. Do we want to pursue latin at all? There are dvd’s and flash cards to buy too.)

Our Pioneers and Patriots with key $34

The Catholic Faith Comes to the Americas (Seton) $20

The Evangelization of the New World $30

REQUIRED: $50

Singapore Math $12 each

Exploring Creation with Astronomy (Jeannie Fullbright, Apologia Press) $35

A variety of WA history books, but can get at library. Must do hay maze this year.

OPTIONAL: $68 plus artist series

Art mentioned at OLOG “Learning to Appreciate Art” CHC $28.95

Mind Benders® A1 $10 each
Deductive Thinking Skills $9.99

A Weekend With… series $10 paperbacks

Leapfrog letter fridge magnet $10

The Drawing Textbook $8

Writing Road to Reading 5^th Edition $23

The SCHEDULE! (Sorry, it won't copy and paste the way I want it too, so match the times in order with the events...

Friday, May 2, 2008

9:00-10:00

10:00-11:00
11:15-12:45
12:45-2:00
2:00-3:30

4:00-4:45
4:45-7:00
7:00-10:00

Fr. Kurt Nagel - "Forming men of God: Theological reflections upon what it means to be and to raise Catholic men"
Lee Binz - The Home Scholar - "Homeschooling through High School"
Bonnie & Albert Landry - "Catholic Family Life: A Near Death Experience"
Lunch & Shopping
Camille De Blasi Pauley - "A Crash Course in Effective Public Speaking, and Why Your Child Should Master this Lost Art"
Dr. Joan Cotter - "Does it Matter How We Teach Math?"
Shopping & Dinner
Family Dance - Eastside Swing with Chris & Alison Evan

Saturday, May 3, 2008

9:00-10:00

10:30-12:00
12:00-1:00
1:00-3:00
3:30-5:00

5:30-6:30

Fr. Dean Henderson - "Athanasius - Model for the Catholic Family - Called to be in
the World, Not of the World"
Laura Berquist - "Catholic Home Education - the Classic Approach"
Lunch and Shopping
Stephanie Maricich - "Lay the Foundations for your Great Grandchildren's Legacy"
Anne Wilson & Amannda Schneider - "Using Education Coops when it Benefits your Family"
Divine Liturgy - Fr. Abraham Miller

Adoption/Birthday/Earth Day

Wow. What a day. I really do have to blog about how very special our family is and why today is just really cool.

First of all, today is the third anniversary of Brandon's adoption. I am trying to let him have as many of his favorite things as I can stand, so this morning I let him pick a movie. He picked Around the World in 80 Days with Jackie Chan, which we did actually receive many years ago from his birth mom through his sister, and never had watched. So we watched it. It's worth it just to see Arnold Schwarzenegger in his outfit of choice.

Next, we decided to have pannakakku for breakfast. It's a Finnish oven pancake. Brandon loves it. We put whipped cream on top.

I think we will do some small gardening today, in honor of Earth Day, of course. I got Brandon a dress up construction outfit from Costco, and it even has a level, which I need to finish the garden boxes. So we'll have to do that. The baby has a fever anyway, so I probably shouldn't go anywhere too exciting. I think he's teething.

Next on the agenda: It's Uncle David's 25th birthday. That means we need to make cards. I got him two books he'll need for when he moves out, so I hope he likes them. Francis says we need to buy one of them for ourselves. I keep buying it for other people, but never for me. Silly me.
Dave is going to karate tonight, so I have to make sure to give him presents and cake between 4-6pm. And guess what else? I got out the mixes to make Adobo and Sinigang and am thawing both pork and chicken as we speak. What are those, you ask? Why, they are Filipino dishes, of course. So this morning we are having Finnish (for me!) and tonight we are having Filipino (for Dave and Francis). Brandon loves Chinese food, so chances are, he'll be ok with Adobo. Sinigang, however, is apparently an acquired taste. It's a bit sour and our kids are not interested.

Sometime today I really have to consider going to JoAnn's for the things I need for Gabe's first communion banner.

So much to do, so little time. Our family is so cool. I never, ever, when I got married, thought I'd be cooking Sinigang and Pannakakku both on someone's adoption day.

100 Pinoy (Filipino) Things

I know this is going to be a REALLY LONG POST, but I'm putting it up there because my father in law emailed it to all of us, and I did get a chuckle or two even though I don't understand 7/8's of it. However, I am going to make a date of it and see if Francis can help me, and then I think it's worth a whole homeschooling geography unit, big time! History, too. Gabe decided he'd like to learn Tagalog (the main Filipino language) instead of just Spanish, and we've been using the King Co. library website to access Rosetta Stone's language software. His accent is good. We just got him the headset to he can practice into the mike. We will eventually just buy the darned thing, but it's 300 buckaroos, so we've been waiting to be sure what we want. We flit between Tagalog, Japanese, Spanish and French, and have considered Mandarin. But I think Gabe has voted to get into his roots on one side of the family, so I guess we might as well let him. Sadness. No Gaelic? Finnish? Rosetta Stone has those, too! :)
Enjoy the following...

100 VERY PINOY THINGS

1. Merienda. Where else but in the Philippines is it normal to eat five times a day?

2. Sawsawan. Assorted sauces that guarantee freedom of choice, enough room for experimentation and maximum tolerance for diverse tastes. Favorites: toyo't calamansi, suka at sili, patis.

3. Kuwan (Kwan), ano. At a loss for words? Try these and marvel at how Pinoys understand exactly what you want.

4. Pinoy humour and irreverence. If you're api and you know it, crack a joke. Nothing personal, really.

5. Tingi. Thank goodness for small entrepreneurs. Where else can we buy cigarettes, soap, condiments and life's essentials in small affordable amounts?

6. Spirituality. Even before the Spaniards came, ethnic tribes had their own anitos, bathalas and assorted deities, pointing to a strong relationship with the Creator, who or whatever it may be.

7. Po, opo, mano po. Speech suffixes that define courtesy, deference, filial respect--a balm to the spirit in these aggressive times.

8. Pasalubong. Our way of sharing the vicarious thrills and delights of a trip, and a wonderful excuse to shop without the customary guilt.

9. Beaches! With 7000 plus islands, we have miles and miles of shoreline piled high with fine white sand, lapped by warm waters, and nibbled by exotic tropical fish. From the stormy seas of Batanes to the emerald isles of Palawan--over here, life is truly a beach.

10. Bagoong. Darkly mysterious, this smelly fish or shrimp paste typifies the underlying theme of most ethnic foods: disgustingly unhygienic, unbearably stinky and simply irresistible.

11. Bayanihan. Yes, the internationally-renowned dance company, but also this habit of pitching in still common in small communities. Just have that cold beer and some pulutan ready for the troops.

12. The Balikbayan box. Another way of sharing life's bounty, no matter if it seems like we're fleeing Pol Pot everytime we head home from anywhere in the globe. The most wonderful part is that, more often than not, the contents are carted home to be distributed.

13. Pilipino komiks. Not to mention "Hiwaga," "Aliwan," "Tagalog Classics," "Liwayway" and "Bulaklak" magazines. Pulpy publications that gave us Darna, Facifica Falayfay, Lagalag, Kulafu, Kenkoy, Dyesebel, characters of a time both innocent and worldly.

14. Folk songs. They come unbidden and spring, full blown, like a second language, at the slightest nudge from the too-loud stereo of a passing jeepney or tricycle.

15. Fiesta. Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow is just another day, shrugs the poor man who, once a year, honors a patron saint with this sumptuous, no-holds-barred spread. It's a Pinoy celebration at its pious and riotous best.

16. Aswang, manananggal, kapre. The whole underworld of Filipino lower class mythology recalls our uniquely bizarre childhood, that is, before political correctness kicked in. Still, their rich adventures pepper our storytelling.

17. Jeepneys. Colorful, fast, reckless, a vehicle of postwar Pinoy ingenuity, this Everyman's communal cadillac makes for a cheap, interesting ride. If the driver's a daredevil (as they usually are), hang on to your seat.

18. Dinuguan. Blood stew, a bloodcurdling idea, until you try it with puto. Best when mined with jalapeno peppers. Messy but delicious.

19. Santacruzan. More than just a beauty contest, this one has religious overtones, a tableau of St. Helena's and Constantine's search for the Cross that seamlessly blends piety, pageantry and ritual. Plus, it's the perfect excuse to show off the prettiest ladies--and the most beautiful gowns.

20. Balut. Unhatched duck's embryo, another unspeakable ethnic food to outsiders, but oh, to indulge in guilty pleasures! Sprinkle some salt and suck out that soup, with gusto.

21. Pakidala or padala. A personalized door-to-door remittance and delivery system for overseas Filipino workers who don't trust the banking system, and who expect a family update from the courier, as well.

22. Choc-nut. Crumbly peanut chocolate bars that defined childhood ecstasy before M & M's and Hershey's.

23. Kamayan style. To eat with one's hand and eschew spoon, fork and table manners--ah, heaven.

24. Chicharon. Pork, fish or chicken crackling. There is in the crunch a hint of the extravagant, the decadent and the pedestrian. Perfect with vinegar, sublime with beer.

25. Pinoy hospitality. Just about everyone gets a hearty "Kain tayo!" invitation to break bread with whoever has food to share, no matter how skimpy or austere it is.

26. Adobo, kare-kare, sinigang and other lutong bahay stuff. Home-cooked meals that have the stamp of approval from several generations, who swear by closely-guarded cooking secrets and family recipes.

27. Lola Basyang. The voice one heard spinning tales over the radio, before movies and television curtailed imagination and defined grown-up tastes.

28. Pambahay. Home is where one can let it all hang out, where clothes do not make a man or woman but rather define their level of comfort.

29. Tricycle and trisikad, the poor Pinoy's taxicab that delivers you at your doorstep for as little as P3, with a complimentary dusting of polluted air.

30. Dirty ice cream. Very Pinoy flavors that make up for the risk: munggo, langka, ube, mais, keso, macapuno. Plus there's the colorful cart that recalls jeepney art.

31. Yayas. The trusted Filipino nanny who, ironically, has become a major Philippine export as overseas contract workers. A good one is almost like a surrogate parent--if you don't mind the accent and the predilection for afternoon soap and movie stars.

32. Sarsi. Pinoy root beer, the enduring taste of childhood. Our grandfathers had them with an egg beaten in.

33. Pinoy fruits. Atis, guyabano, chesa, mabolo, lanzones, durian, langka, makopa, dalanghita, siniguelas, suha, chico, papaya, singkamas--the possibilities are endless!

34. Filipino celebrities. Movie stars, broadcasters, beauty queens, public officials, all-around controversial figures: Aurora Pijuan, Cardinal Sin, Carlos P. Romulo, Charito Solis, Cory Aquino, Emilio Aguinaldo, the Eraserheads, Fidel V. Ramos, Francis Magalona, Gloria Diaz, Manuel L. Quezon, Margie Moran, Melanie Marquez, Monsour del Rosario, Ninoy Aquino, Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos, Pitoy Moreno, Ramon Magsysay, Richard Gomez, San Lorenzo Ruiz, Sharon Cuneta, Gemma Cruz, Erap, Tiya Dely, Mel and Jay, Gary V.

35. World class Pinoys who put us on the global map: Lea Salonga, Paeng Nepomuceno, Eugene Torre, Luisito Espinosa, Lydia de Vega-Mercado, Jocelyn Enriquez, Elma Muros, Onyok Velasco, Efren "Bata" Reyes, Lilia Calderon-Clemente, Loida Nicolas-Lewis, Josie Natori.

36. Pinoy tastes. A dietitian's nightmare: too sweet, too salty, too fatty, as in burong talangka, itlog na maalat, crab fat (aligue), bokayo, kutchinta, sapin-sapin, halo-halo, pastilyas, palitaw, pulburon, longganisa, tuyo, ensaymada, ube haleya, sweetened macapuno and garbanzos. Remember, we're the guys who put sugar & franks (horrors) in our spaghetti sauce. Yum!

37. The sights. Banaue Rice Terraces, Boracay, Bohol's Chocolate Hills, Corregidor Island, Fort Santiago, the Hundred Islands, the Las Pinas Bamboo Organ, Rizal Park, Mt. Banahaw, Mayon Volcano, Taal Volcano. A land of contrasts and ever-changing landscapes.

38. Gayuma, agimat and anting-anting. Love potions and amulets. How the socially-disadvantaged Pinoy copes.

39. Barangay Ginebra, Jaworski, PBA, MBA and basketball. How the vertically-challenged Pinoy compensates, via a national sports obsession that reduces fans to tears and fistfights.

40. People Power at EDSA. When everyone became a hero and changed Philippine history overnight.

41. San Miguel Beer and pulutan. "Isa pa nga!" and the Philippines' most popular, world-renowned beer goes well with peanuts, corniks, tapa, chicharon, usa, barbecue, sisig, and all manner of spicy, crunchy and cholesterol-rich chasers.

42. Resiliency. We've survived 400 years of Spanish rule, the US bases, Marcos, the 1990 earthquake, lahar, lambada, Robin Padilla, and Tamagochi. We survived Erap.

43. Yoyo. Truly Filipino in origin, this hunting tool, weapon, toy and merchandising vehicle remains the best way to "walk the dog" and "rock the baby," using just a piece of string. 44. Pinoy games: Pabitin, palosebo, basagan ng palayok. A few basic rules make individual cunning and persistence a premium, and guarantee a good time for all.

45. Ninoy Aquino. For saying that "the Filipino is worth dying for,'' and proving it.

46. Balagtasan. The verbal joust that brings out rhyme, reason and passion on a public stage.

47. Tabo. All-powerful, ever-useful, hygienically-triumphant device to scoop water out of a bucket and help the true Pinoy answer nature's call. Helps maintain our famously stringent toilet habits.

48. Pandesal. Despite its shrinking size, still a good buy. Goes well with any filling, best when hot.

49. Jollibee. Truly Pinoy in taste and sensibility, and a corporate icon that we can be quite proud of. Do you know that it's invaded the Middle East as well?

50. The butanding, the dolphins and other creatures in our blessed waters. They're Pinoys, too, and they're here to stay. Now if some folks would just stop turning them into daing.

51. Pakikisama. It's what makes people stay longer at parties, have another drink, join pals in sickness and health. You can get dead drunk and still make it home.

52. Sing-a-long. Filipinos love to sing, and thank God a lot of us do it well! 53. Kayumanggi. Neither pale nor dark, our skin tone is beautifully healthy, the color of a rich earth or a mahogany tree growing towards the sun.

54. Hand-woven cloth and native weaves. Colorful, environment-friendly alternatives to polyester that feature skillful workmanship and a rich indigenous culture behind every thread. From the pinukpok of the north to the malong of the south, it's the fiber of who we are.

55. Movies. Still the cheapest form of entertainment, especially if you watch the same movie several times.

56. Bahala na. We cope with uncertainty by embracing it, and are thus enabled to play life by ear.

57. Papaitan. An offal stew flavored with bile, admittedly an acquired taste, but pointing to our national ability to acquire a taste for almost anything. 58. English. Whether carabao or Arr-neoww-accented, it doubles our chances in the global marketplace. 59. The Press. Irresponsible, sensational, often inaccurate, but still the liveliest in Asia. Otherwise, we'd all be glued to TV.

60. Divisoria. Smelly, crowded, a pickpocket's paradise, but you can get anything here, often at rock-bottom prices. The sensory overload is a bonus.

61. Barong Tagalog. Enables men to look formal and dignified without having to strangle themselves with a necktie. Worn well, it makes any ordinary Juan look marvelously makisig (good-looking).

62. Filipinas. They make the best friends, lovers, and wives. Too bad they can't say the same for Filipinos.

63. Filipinos. So maybe they're bolero and macho with an occasional streak of generic infidelity; they do know how to make a woman feel like one.

64. Catholicism. What fun would sin be without guilt? Jesus Christ is firmly planted on Philippine soil.

65. Dolphy. Our favorite, ultra-durable comedian gives the beleaguered Pinoy everyman an odd dignity, even in drag.

66. Style. Something we often prefer over substance. But every Filipino claims it as a birthright.

67. Bad taste. Clear plastic covers on the vinyl-upholstered sofa, posters of poker-playing dogs masquerading as art, over-accessorized jeepneys and altars--the list is endless, and wealth only seems to magnify it.

68. Mangoes. Crisp and tart, or lusciously ripe, they evoke memories of family outings and endless sunshine in a heart-shaped package.

69. Unbridled optimism. Why we rank so low on the suicide scale.

70. Street food. Barbecue, lugaw, banana-cue, fishballs, IUD (chicken entrails), adidas (chicken feet), warm taho. Forget hepatitis; here's cheap, tasty food with gritty ambience.

71. The siesta. Snoozing in the middle of the day is smart, not lazy.

72. Honorifics and courteous titles: Kuya, ate, diko, ditse, ineng, totoy, Ingkong, Aling, Mang, etc. No exact English translation, but these words connote respect, deference and the value placed on kinship.

73. Heroes and people who stood up for truth and freedom. Lapu-lapu started it all, and other heroes and revolutionaries followed: Diego Silang, Macario Sakay, Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini, Melchora Aquino, Gregorio del Pilar, Gabriela Silang, Miguel Malvar, Francisco Balagtas, Juan Luna, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Panday Pira, Emilio Jacinto, Raha Suliman, Antonio Luna, Gomburza, Emilio Aguinaldo, the heroes of Bataan and Corregidor, Pepe Diokno, Satur Ocampo, Dean Armando alay, Evelio Javier, Ninoy Aquino, Lola Rosa and other comfort women ho spoke up, honest cabbie Emilio Advincula, Rona Mahilum, the women lawyers who didn't let Jalosjos get away with rape.

74. Flora and fauna. The sea cow (dugong), the tarsier, calamian deer, bearcat, Philippine eagle, sampaguita, ilang-ilang, camia, pandan, the creatures that make our archipelago unique.

75. Pilipino songs, OPM and composers. "Ama Namin," "Lupang Hinirang," "Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal," "Ngayon at Kailanman," "Anak," "Handog,""Hindi Kita Malilimutan," "Ang Pasko ay Sumapit"; Ryan Cayabyab, George Canseco, Restie Umali, Levi Celerio, Manuel Francisco, Freddie Aguilar, and Florante--living examples of our musical gift.

76. Metro Aides. They started out as Imelda Marcos' groupies, but have gallantly proven their worth. Against all odds, they continuously prove that cleanliness is next to godliness--especially when those darned political candidates' posters have to be scraped off the face of Manila!

77. Sari-sari store. There's one in every corner, offering everything from bananas and floor wax to Band-Aid and bakya.

78. Philippine National Red Cross. PAWS. Caritas. Fund drives. They help us help each other.

79. Favorite TV shows through the years: "Tawag ng Tanghalan," "John and Marsha," "Champoy," "Ryan, Ryan Musikahan," "Kuwarta o Kahon," "Public Forum/Lives," "Student Canteen," "Eat Bulaga." In the age of inane variety shows, they have redeemed Philippine television.

80. Quirks of language that can drive crazy any tourist listening in: "Bababa ba?" "Bababa!"

81. "Sayang!" "Naman!" "Kadiri!" "Ano ba!?" "pala." Expressions that defy translation but wring out feelings genuinely Pinoy.

82. Cockfighting. Filipino men love it more than their wives (sometimes).

83. Dr. Jose Rizal. A category in himself. Hero, medicine man, genius, athlete, sculptor, fictionist, poet, essayist, husband, lover, samaritan, martyr. Truly someone to emulate and be proud of, anytime, anywhere.

84. Nora Aunor. Short, dark and homely-looking, she redefined our rigid concept of how leading ladies should look.

85. Noranian or Vilmanian. Defines the friendly rivalry between Ate Guy Aunor and Ate Vi Santos and for many years, the only way to be for many Filipino fans.

86. Filipino Christmas. The worlds longest holiday period. A perfect excuse to mix our love for feasting, gift-giving and music and wrap it up with a touch of religion.

87. Relatives and kababayan (countrymen) abroad. The best refuge against loneliness, discrimination and confusion in a foreign place. Distant relatives and fellow Pinoys readily roll out the welcome mat even on the basis of a phone introduction or referral.

88. Festivals. Sinulog, Ati-atihan, Moriones. Sounds, colors, pagan frenzy and Christian overtones.

89. Folk dances. Tinikling, pandanggo sa ilaw, karinosa, kuratsa, itik-itik, alitaptap, rigodon. All the right moves and a distinct rhythm.

90. Native wear and costumes. Baro't saya, tapis, terno, saya, salakot, bakya. Lovely form and ingenious function in the way we dress.

91. Sunday family gatherings. Or, close family ties that never get severed. You don't have to win the lotto or be a president to have 10,000 relatives. Everyone's family tree extends all over the archipelago, and it's at its best in times of crisis; notice how food, hostesses, money, and moral support materialises during a wake?

92. Calesa and karitela. The colorful and leisurely way to negotiate narrow streets when loaded down with a year's provisions.

93. Quality of life. Where else can an ordinary employee afford a stay-in helper, a yaya, unlimited movies, eat-all-you-can buffets, the latest fashion (Baclaran nga lang), even Viagra in the black market?

94. All Saints' Day. In honouring our dead, we also prove that we know how to live.

95. Handicrafts. Shellcraft, rattancraft, abaca novelties, woodcarvings, banig placemats and bags, bamboo windchimes, etc. Portable memories of home. Hindi lang pang-turista, pang- balikbayan pa!

96. Pinoy greens. Sitaw. Okra. Ampalaya. Gabi. Munggo. Dahon ng Sili. Kangkong. Luya. Talong. Sigarillas. Bataw. Patani. Lutong bahay will never be the same without them.

97. OCWs. The lengths (and miles) we'd go for a better life for our family, as proven by these modern-day heroes of the economy.

98. The Filipino artist. From Luna's magnificent "Spolarium" and Amorsolo's sun-kissed rice fields, to Ang Kiukok's jarring abstractions and Borlongan's haunting ghosts, and everybody else in between. Hang a Filipino painting on your wall, and you're hanging one of Asia's best.

99. Tagalog soap operas. From "Gulong ng Palad" and "Flor de Luna" to today's incarnations like "Mula sa Puso"--they're the story of our lives, and we feel strongly for them, MariMar notwithstanding.

100. Midnight madness, weekends sales, bangketas and baratillos. It's retail therapy at its best, with Filipinos braving traffic, crowds, and human deluge to find a bargain.

and thats...
100 VERY PINOY THINGS

--
We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations. CHUCK SWINDOL

We are what we repeatedly do; excellence then is not an act, but a habit. ARISTOTLE

Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. GEORGE CARLIN

Carmen C. San Jose
My other e-mail: fatlola56@yahoo.com
My Chat site: YM: fatlola56
Mobile phone: +63916.699.8959

Captain's Log -- It's snowing

ARGH.
It is snowing. It is April 18th, 2008. This is not ok. Really, really not ok. Except at least I didn't plant much stuff yet. Just strawberries, blueberries and a peach tree. The pumpkin seeds just went in, but they'll be ok. There are other things as well, but they are all covered til transplant time.
La Nina alright. Wow.
NO MORE SNOW!
I want to be a beach bum. Now. Waaaah.

Lasik and cars

What a day!

Francis got Lasik surgery done today. It went great, but I don't think he anticipated the follow up pain today. He said it's like sandpaper in his eyes. Ouch! He's sleeping now, and he has to put eye drops in whenever he isn't sleeping. Three different kinds. But he did say that he came out to the waiting room (very shwank, by the way) and he could see license plates across the street and what they said on them. Minutes after surgery. Wow. This is the guy who can't see the tv very well from 10 feet away. Follow up and everything costs 3600 bucks. Wow. But hey, what better way to spend your IRS refund, huh?

We've also been trying to buy a car. We've had some luck, but mostly not. Then I remembered my cousin is a car mechanic, and it took me a while to remember that we are going to CA, and we could buy a car from him. Boy am I slow. He has a jetta, so we'll consider it. Needs some body work, but if its insides are happy and it isn't a smoker car, we just might go for it. His family friendly price is very good. Apparently this particular Jetta has a fan club, so we'll see if it's what we want. It just makes me miss my vanagon. Meanwhile, we're going to look at an Infiniti Q45 tomorrow, but it's more expensive. Then again, it's right here down the street, not in San Francisco. I just want a car!!

What a good year. Never ever could I have expected that we could pay for a car, lasik and an RV trip, AND get completely out of consumer debt in one year! Come to think of it: six months! That is crazy talk!

Hooray for finally breaking through to the other side.
Thanks, God!

yet again, a change of hubby's schedule

"Hi Hon, I have bad news."
I still twitch when he says that. It used to be "My contract is ending, time to job hunt again."
Now it's, "My schedule is changing, would you like this, or this?". So I have no right to whine.
But still. With one car, I have hopes of making appts and keeping them. So now instead of job hunting, it's time for serious car hunting.
For inquiring minds, we are changing to Sunday-Thursday, 7-3. Friday and Saturday off.
The good news is, they say this will be for two months. And we'll be gone for 10 days of it.
Anyone know of a cheap Toyota? I put three emails into craigslist. We don't have money to pay for lots of repairs or upkeep, and we're aiming for the $3000 range.
It needs to be a commuter and go mostly to the park and ride, but sometimes an hour commute each way.
Any suggestions? We know about NW Auto Trader, too.

tee hee political website... sort of

Not a bad idea at all. Something we can all agree would be productive, no matter who we plan to vote for, or even if we don't plan to vote. :)

http://www.folduscandidate.com/

Homeschooling a sin? Wow. I'm in trouble.

I'm stealing a post from the DHM at www.heartkeepercommonroom.blogspot.com. Wow. I just wish logic and history were taught, or that people were still interested in learning it. Then we wouldn't have all these silly arguments, I would hope.
Enjoy!

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Homeschooling is a Sin....

Over at Principled Discovery I found a link to this annoying mischaracterization of homeschooling. A few weeks ago it was dangerously prone to abuse, and now it's a sin, a rejection of community, and disobedience to God and state. He compares children to tax dollars, stopping just short of saying that we should send them to public schools because we are to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's (and while he does stop just short of saying that, I am not sure why, given his other arguments):

But things change too fast now for that kind of result-oriented education. Now we must learn how to learn so that we can adapt to our ever-changing environment (ever tried to teach your parent or grandparent to use a computer or an iPod?).

Similarly, formal education was formerly for the societal elite. But in a democracy, education is for all, with the understanding that the more educated we all become, the more humane we will be toward one another (this, of course, is open to debate).

So it seems to me that to withdraw our children from public education is to not play our (God-given) role as missional members of our society — like we can’t just choose to withhold our taxes. We give our children all those vaccinations when they’re young not necessarily to protect them from polio (since the chances of any one of my children getting it is exceedingly small) but because we live in a society, and part of the contract within the society is that we will never again let polio gain a foothold.

So I can’t think, “I’ll just pull my kids out of the public schools — what difference will one less follower of Jesus make in a school full of hundreds of kids?” I don’t, as a Christian, have the option to “opt out” of the societal contract.

Right. Because every five year old is a grounded, solid, influential follower of Jesus, and besides, it's a five year old's job to evangelize the public school. And all homeschoolers hide out in the basement and have zero involvement in the community. And the reason Tony's parents who were publicly schooled have trouble with iPods is, um, something to do with why you shouldn't homeschool. This is a man whose understanding of life before, oh, the last ten years, is as rooted as a daisy with a two inch stem. There are, of course, no options whatsoever for community involvement for families outside of public school. Childless couples, couples with grown children, single people with no children, clearly, if they are not working in the public schools they are not 'missional.' There are no opportunities for community service or involvement outside of the public school. No chances to volunteer at the library, the soup kitchen, the homeless shelter, the nursing home, the crisis pregnancy center, the animal shelter, or anywhere else. You couldn't possibly take your kids to the park to pick up litter, to take cookies to the neighbors, to deliver sandwiches and water bottles to the homeless guys on street corners, and you could not ever, ever hold so much as a conversation at the grocery store with members of your community during school hours. Missional opportunities also cease during summer break, because it's all about public school.
So when somebody traveling through town wants to tell your kids about life as a Polish Jew hiding from Nazis in France, you have to say no if you're a homeschooler.
None of the service activities here count if they are done during school hours.
None of these count unless they are done outside of school hours.
When the homeschooled daughter of friends of ours was able to sit with a dying neighbor during the day while the husband worked, allowing the woman to stay at home where she wanted to stay, I guess that was avoiding being part of the community, too.
When Jenny goes to clean widow ladies' apartments and visit them during school hours, she's violating her contract with society.
When you are available, because you are at home with your children, to care for your neighbors, for a woman with a new baby, for the neighbor who needs an emergency babysitter while she takes a child with a broken arm to the hospital, you had little idea that you were violating your contract with society, too- did you?
And when you are out with your children in the community during school hours and people stop you to ask questions about what you're doing and why, to compliment you on the children's behavior, to ask questions about what you believe, well, that is the direct result of you refusing to obey God's best will for you and put those kids in public school.

Some people do live in a bubble, and I don't know any homeschoolers in a bubble as hermetically sealed as the one wrapped around Tony Jones appears to be.

Posted by Headmistress, zookeeper at 4/10/2008 10:22:00 AM 1 comments Links to this post

Smockity Frocks

This is a blog I stumbled on and I liked her post, and felt uninspired myself, so I had to post it here. Smockityfrocks is on blogger, too.
I just thought this story and photo were a keeper!

As an aside, I have to get a filling redone this morning, Grace has to go to the hematology department (vampires) at Children's Hospital and get "poked" to test her blood and see if we need to know anything more about that hospital visit in February, and then next week, unbeknownst to him, Brandon is getting a filling, too, and they are giving him nitrous, because they already figured out by cleaning him that he is Not Fun in the dentist chair.

I'm definitely not telling him. You think this is less than kind? You don't know Brandon. To tell him would be like torture for a week, for all of us. Maybe when he's older, he'll be able to handle knowing more things ahead of time,
but that day has not yet come.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Guess Who Lost Her First Tooth Today?

If you know our family, you are probably doing a mental inventory of our kidlets and thinking, "Wait a minute. The only ones who haven't lost any teeth yet are the 2 year old and the 3 year old."

And you would be right.

The 2 year old had a run in with a tree this evening while we were having our semi-weekly fish fry. The tree won.

When I got to her, I saw that her mouth was very bloody and there were NO TEETH IN THE FRONT. Upon closer examination, I found that her teeth were indeed still in her mouth, but shoved so far up and into her gums, they were barely visible. Her top lip was extremely distorted by the rearranged teeth.

My husband immediately called the dentist at home, and he and a visiting uncle drove her the few blocks to the dentist's house. He stepped out onto the porch with his gloves on, while my husband held the girl, and tried to persuade the teeth to return to their rightful places.

One came right out and another is still in place, though at a very odd angle. We are to take her in during office hours for an x-ray just to make sure there is nothing broken.

The dentist said it was the worst case of a child's mouth injury he has seen in 30 years.

meanderings...

I thought to myself, I really should blog. It's been a little while. But what shall I say? I guess I could start with this:
I went to Olympia to see Rachel and Matt and their son Peter and dog Daisy, and also Rachel's parents, Ferne and Mark. They are terrific. We went to Izzy's and we had lots of time to talk, and it was not even a bad car trip there or back, which is saying something. Our kids often make those trips miserable. Well, Grace did pee her pants about five minutes from home, but really, it was quieter than usual.
Rachel says I have ADHD when I talk. I told her it's all because I hang out with Eileen. So there you have it. Eileen is my excuse.
Our kids want me to replay the songs from the movie, "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou" over and over. They have good taste, don't they? Especially the one about going down to the river to pray. Gabe is so funny.
Francis has a lasik appt. for Wednesday so they can talk about what they'll be doing and when. Hooray! He'll be so happy.
We don't have second car yet. I really want one, but I think Francis wants to look out his eyeballs correctly first, and so I'll just have to be patient.
I've been finding that you get what you pay for with houses. I saw one for sale that was very cheap for the location, but a creek runs through the basement on occasion, and I'm not sure I'm ready to work on that. Upgrading this house is my first priority. But five bedrooms in Edmonds was awfully tempting. Really. ARGH.
I am waiting to find out if Francis can get the time off, but I think we're gonna RV to CA June 6-17th. It might be slightly different. We might leave on the 17th instead, but we'll be going, anyway.
Ok, I've put off my day enough now. Between this and Facebook, I can really procrastinate with the best of them!

Autism/Asperger's webcast

Wow. I've never done a webcast before, but this popped up on my email from Exceptional Parent magazine, which my mom used to subscribe to and I recently went looking through for information.

I've heard Tony Attwood speak before and he's incredibly engaging and helpful. Temple Grandin is autistic herself, and she is very talented and has been very successful. I'd love to see more information for adults. We seem to have caught up with the kids, but the adults are still in a lurch when it comes to holding down a job and things of that nature. It's a hard road, but not nearly impossible.

Here it is:

EP LiveOnline & Future Horizons Present Two of the World’s Leaders in the Autism Field Autism & Asperger’s Syndrome An Outstanding Online Conference July 17 & 18, 2008 from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CST Dr. Temple Grandin Dr. Grandin will share insights from her new book: Autism & Aspergers– the Way I See It. She will offer practical strategies that educators and family members can use to help those with autism become successful. Dr. Tony Attwood Dr. Attwood's all-day presentation will explore Cognitive Understanding. He will cover social relationships, strategies to reduce bullying and teasing, sexuality in adolescence, behavior challenges for girls and more. Also Featuring Exciting Presentations on EFFECTIVE BEHAVIOR STRATEGIES with Maria Wheeler, M. Ed. and the popular Young Adult Panel Either Day only $95, both days $175 TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR EARLY BIRD SPECIAL FOR SAVINGS! Register before April 20th, either day only $80 or $150 for both days. CEU credits for ASHA and APA members as well as a cerfificate sent to educators who can use it to apply for credit in their own jurisdictions .

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K12 Alerts

Jamee, Shel Silverstein's evil twin...

So, I sent that poem to three lovely ladies, and one of them wrote me back. I should have expected. This is the same person who once wrote "An Ode to Cocoa Puffs". I know I have it somewhere. Have I mentioned I have a paper problem?

Anyway, I may not reach June's status when I "grow up", but Jamee always has. Maybe that's why I like her. I miss you Jammooo!
Love,
Yon Fool

Jamee's Version-- April Fool's Day 2008

When I am an old woman I shall stand barefoot in the wet lawn
In my favorite pajamas and sing off key with the birds.
And I shall pick every fluffy dandelion and “foof” it all over the yard
And wipe my muddy hands on the guest towels.
I shall learn to speak Gaelic and smile at the grumpiest people I know
And I will laugh when the wind tangles my hair and I won’t brush it out.
I will stand in the rain with no coat on and I will warm up with hot chocolate,
Several cups overflowing with extra marshmallows and peppermint sticks.
I shall set the TV to classical and jazz music stations
And play along on the piano
And be full of God’s love.

You can wear stuff that doesn’t match
And clothes that were never in style
And use words that never existed
And no one will know that you know.

But now we must keep our loud voices down
And pull weeds and keep things in order
And let our neighbors sleep and not be a bother.
We must be on time and invest our money in 401Ks.

But people who know me already know
That I’ve been practicing ahead of time.
They won't be shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to go barefoot.

In Honor of June, my favorite poem

When I Am Old I

Shall Wear Purple

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple

With a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired

And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

And run my stick along the public railings

And make up for the sobrietry of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain

And pick flowers in other people's gardens

And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

And eat three pounds of sausages at a go

Or only bread and pickles for a week

And hoard pens and pencils and beer mats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

And pay our rent and not swear in the street

And set a good example for the children.

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

~Jenny Jacobs ~

RV idea a little too late...

My mom emailed me this morning to tell me that our friend June Brush passed away in her sleep this morning. She and her husband Joe were near 90 years old when they died, about a year apart. I wanted to see them one more time, but I never got the chance. I was planning an RV trip for the month of June, ironically, but it wasn't soon enough. Hopefully I'll catch a few other people before they go. June babysat me and was the grandma on our street to everyone. She will be missed by many, many people. I always wanted to be like her when I "grow up", meaning when I'm old. She was fantastic. She gardened, she played with all the kids, she was such a happy person. Always smiling and glowing with energy. I am praying for her and Joe. They never did darken the door to a church, and we never asked why. Their son died when he was about to be married, and the lady he was going to marry married someone else. When they had two kids, those kids became the grandkids of Joe and June. They are about my age. Since we were neighbors in CA, we used to hang around together when the grandkids were over. Apparently right now, Tim and Randy are both travelling. I don't know if they know yet.

Prayers for Joe and June. May they be in Heaven, even if they never knew Jesus, because they were certainly some of the best souls on the planet. If I could hug them, I would, but I guess I'll have to wait.