Happy Leap Day!

Our calendar is 365 days, but it actually takes 365-1/4 days for the Earth to orbit the sun, so every four years, we add a day to February. You probably already know this, but I find it fascinating that they were able to figure all of this out without the use of technology. Back in the BC/AD years, they figured out the calendar based on nothing more than astronomer's observations. That's a pretty incredible feat, don't you think?

Where Was Common Core When I Was in School?

I have always hated math. I took it because I had to and I retained the knowledge only long enough to pass a test. If I had ever had a nice math teacher, I might have actually enjoyed math, but every math teacher I had ... without exception ... was mean, sometimes hateful, and bordered on sadistic.

I got a B in algebra in college, which robbed me of my perfect 4.0. I needed an A on the final to get an A in the class. An A was 92 points. I scored 91. I talked to my teacher and asked her if, since I only missed an A by one point and was a single mother of three young children (ages 2, 4, and 6), was going to school full time, AND working full time, could she find it in her heart to give me that one silly point, give me an A, and preserve my 4.0?

She said no, that there were 33 students in the class and 24 of them got A's, and that if I had applied myself more, I could have earned an A, too. That might well be true, but how many of them were juggling as many balls as I was? I didn't beg for that one lousy point, but I might have had I thought it would do any good. I could tell from the tone of her voice that her answer was no and it wasn't up for discussion. Conversation over.

Had that woman had even one ounce of compassion, she would have seen that I did try. I did study. I did apply myself. But she was adamant ... I hadn't earned an A and my grade would stay a B. I could understand her not showing me any mercy if my final score was low, but I was only one lousy point away from an A! She cemented my life-long distaste of math.

And yes ... I'm still bitter.

With the new math standard in Common Core, there are no longer absolute truths ... 3x4 can now equal 11 so long as a student can effectively explain how they reached that answer. One question on a Common Core math test was, "Tell how to make 10 when adding 8+5."

The student wrote, “You cannot make 10 with 8+5."

The teacher replied, “Yes you can. Take 2 from 5 and add it to 8 (8+2=10), then add 3.”

That makes no sense. Even with the teachers help, I still get 13! With rules like that, I could have aced math, as I could have easily explained every wrong answer I ever had!!!

This is Sad

Above is a screenshot taken of a tweet from a local "watch" account that posts 911 dispatches to police, fire, and medical personnel. It's particularly informative when there is an accident, as you know to avoid that area.

This tweet is one of the most heartless things I've ever read. If this man were begging customers for money or looking into their cars as if he's looking for something to steal, I could understand them wanting him to leave, but by their own admission, he wasn't doing anything wrong. It's bad enough that he has no home ... now he's not even welcome in their parking lot? Have they no compassion?

Homelessness makes most people uncomfortable, myself included. It's kind of like, "There but for the grace of God go I". There are a lot of reasons someone is homeless. Some are drug addicts or alcoholics. Some just got out of prison or jail. And some just had a string of really bad luck and don't know how to crawl out of the hole they've fallen in. Until you know why someone is in the situation they are in, it's unfair to judge someone for their circumstances in life.

This man's plight, regardless of why, breaks my heart. And whoever called 911 to have him removed from their premises, in my opinion, is just plain cruel.

Baby Got Back ... Literally

To be fair, she's got belly, too!

Two Dozen Roses from Thing 2

Thing 2 came home from work yesterday with two dozen roses in a beautiful vase for me ... just to make me happy! I'm a very lucky mama :)

Another Fortune Cookie Let-Down

I've had this fortune long enough that I have either already been rewarded ... i.e., my talents are minuscule and my reward so slight that I failed to notice it ... or the fortune cookie industry is just toying with me.

My Grade School Health Teacher WAS Right!

Little W is starting to eat a little baby food now. He's a good eater, gobbling up anything on his spoon.

I guess Mrs. McCutchan was right ... vegetables really do put hair on your chest ... er ... face!

Who Needs Toys

... when you've got feet?

First Cook-Out of the Season

Yesterday the temperature reach 75º, so Things 2 and 3 ran to the grocery for provisions, pulled the grill out of storage, and grilled burgers. All I had to do was cut up the tomato and onion! None of us care for cheeseburgers, so for the first time, I didn't have to worry about stray cheese contaminating my patty! 

Things 3 and 2
I love that my kids aren't just siblings ... they're friends.

My little grandson was over yesterday, too. He was kind enough to wait until we finished eating before waking from his nap. We sat on the porch with him in his walker (his tiny little legs don't reach the ground yet, but he likes sitting up and having toys within his reach). Thing 2 stood behind him with a blanket to shield him from the sun. After months of staring out the window with awe, little W finally got to go outside. He's always happy, but he was particularly happy to be on the other side of the window.

Thing 3, W's daddy, strapped on his baby backpack and we took a short walk. When we got to the end of the street, Thing 2 put on the backpack. We have to take turns because we all want to hold him/wear him/feed him, etc. Oddly, the only thing we don't fight over is who "gets" to change his diaper! I didn't get a photo of Thing 3 "wearing" the baby, but I did get one of Thing 2.

This time next year, little W will be walking and there will be no holding him ... he'll be too busy exploring the world he had only been able to view from afar. I can't wait to take walks with him holding my hand and discovering the beauty of the world ... which means I get to rediscover the world's beauty through the eyes of a child. If you want to know the things you take for granted, go on a walk with a little one ... they will point out all the amazing things adults no longer see.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I guess those April showers are good for more than just May flowers!!