what are you doing right now?

[chiver78]

Aug 6, 2024 14:08:59 GMT -5 notagain said:

When I first read this I thought gira said she was singing the allueta song
I thought dang when did missy learn french(I know allueta is spelled wrong)

lmao!

and you were close. it's alouette 🙃

[Pink Cashmere]

I am finally starting to feel a little more like myself. Thank goodness! I’m not all the way back to “normal”, but “better” is a start.

Mister is taking 2 weeks of vacation this month and he keeps saying we’re going to run away for a couple of days. We haven’t done that since before COVID. He is adamant that he’s taking the whole 2 weeks off work, and turning his work phone off. He just started learning how to take a vacation right during the last year or 2, so we’ll see if he actually does it. He has started ignoring his work phone these last couple of weekends though, which is a start.

Yesterday soon after he got home, he read a work email that upset his nerves. I told him “it’s not urgent and you are off the clock. Don’t let work interfere with enjoying your evening. Deal with work again tomorrow morning”. He said “You’re right” and put his work phone away. If there is a real emergency like the building is on fire or something, his supervisors have his personal cell number and can still reach him, even if he is ignoring his work phone.

We have still been doing better in some ways. He seems to be getting back to his “old self”. I like it. I am still a little wary though, because I don’t know what caused it.

YD came back to our house yesterday. Mister told me Sunday that she was coming yesterday. I mentioned that in my counseling session today and my counselor asked if I felt like YD and I should have a conversation. Absolutely NOT, I am still firm on not having a conversation with them unless a professional is present. I will politely say something to her directly if there is something that needs to be addressed regarding the household, instead of taking my concerns to Mister like I’d been doing. But talking to try to hash things out, nope.

[andi9899]

Macy decided to stay upstairs and not follow me downstairs. I opened the fridge to get some fruit before go to the gym. I looked over and she was now downstairs staring at me from the other side of the kitchen. I called her a fat bitch and shared my fruit. We can be fat bitches together.

[MarionTh230]

I had the best time hanging out with my kid yesterday!  We do things together pretty regularly. But, it was nice to have an entire day where we could do whatever we wanted and just ignore chores, responsibilities, errands, and all of life's little annoyances.  

Since second grade ending up being a complete dumpster fire, I've been having severe anxiety about sending her into third grade.  Had meet the teacher last week and I wouldn't say it went well.  Sometimes I just wish I could wrap her up and keep her in my pocket and never send her out into the real world.  Life doesn't work that way though, so I had better figure out how to deal with it sooner rather than later.

[soupandstew]

Today has been pretty low key after the intensity of last night's online and phone discussions about my volunteer commitment.  For breakfast I fixed a stove-top frittata with spinach, shallots and sun-dried tomatoes.  Reconciled a bank statement.  Took a lovely 30-minute nap.  Got our electrician coming tomorrow at 8:30 am to repair/replace a non-working landscape light.  

[TheOtherMe]

Did you end up resigning?  

[soupandstew]

Aug 6, 2024 17:09:11 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Did you end up resigning?  

With respect for the president's request I will stay until August 31.  He asked me to continue until December 31 as a member of 2 committees which is problematic legally if I don't remain on the board too.  At this juncture, I will probably just hang on until 12/31.  As much as I don't want to, I also don't want to create additional complications for the president who has faced an uphill battles all year.  I also don't want to create a vacant seat that would allow a potential 8-person majority to install a temporary replacement.  I don't like local politics, but I do understand them

[soupandstew]

Aug 6, 2024 7:08:54 GMT -5 countrygirl2 said:

wow, hubs is mellowing in his old age.  We are getting the roof and heat pump and he told me to go ahead and have flooring put in the bedrooms. I told him trying to keep this place "show ready" and dealing with the other is more than I can do.  We will have carpet put in our bedroom and probably DD's too for now. She doesn't want carpet but we don't have time right now to put in laminate or hardwood for her and the flooring is too dirty to use, yuck, no surprise knew that the first time we looked at it. And the expense of putting either in is outrageous, so those we would do ourselves.

Hubs is starting to retape and bed the garage and get it ready for painting. He said he doesn't want to move stuff in and try to do that with all the drywall dust.  He can't right now but he will put shelving all around it for things we don't use often, Christmas decorations and items like that. Those folks lived there 20 years and never finished the garage inside.

He said next year we are going to screen in half the deck and make a workshop on the other part, its at least 50 foot long. Then he wants to put up solar panels, I'm surprised he wants to do all this. He chuckled, and told me the house was very pretty but not very practical but he isn't unhappy. Son has been over talking with him and I can see now that is going to be good for both of them. Something they have both needed for years. Hubs said we are now 5 miles from son instead of 3.

The only 2 rooms that need painted are the bedrooms, the rest needs washed down. We decided we want to get in the house and cut some of our expenses. But hubs said its going to be in the 90's next week so AC here for us. We are getting estimates for the roof and heat pump on the 12th, so that's good. They did the work here and it was great.

I'm going to try washing the outside windows with Dawn, it's just I have to rinse them but that's ok. I bought a mop to reach them. I may put dishwasher rinse in the sprayer and see if I can keep from getting in behind the shrubs trying to dry them and maybe it will just rinse off for now. All the shrubs need trimmed back but not till fall. Can only do so much at once so need to space it out even if I want it all done at once.

I slept yesterday went to bed at 9:30 and  up at 4 for about an hour, I'm going back to bed. It's 58 out but hubs said its to get in the 90's by the end of this week so we won't move yet. But I'm going to start taking things over. We left the babies over there.

Today I'm making hair appointments and getting new cat beds and a scratching post deal for them if I can find what I want. Then take care of other issues after our hair is done. Drivers  license, bank accounts, and check with Indiana on Medicaid cut off.  Back to bed.

I'm glad your HOA allows these changes that will make the structure function better for you.  How effective is solar there in WA given the difference in weather conditions and cloud cover?

[Pink Cashmere]

I had a fairly productive day today, I did a lot of laundry and took a lot of stuff to the trash outside. That is more than I’ve done in a few weeks. The trash included cleaning my refrigerator, so that was a deal too. I cleaned the kitchen yesterday, so there wasn’t much to do in there today.

Now I am ready to just relax in hopes of having a good evening/night, so I hopefully feel okay tomorrow morning. Mister is on his way home from work and YD left a couple hours ago with her boyfriend.

I did ask Mister if he saw on the cameras how YD was dressed when she left the house. He said no, but he has had an issue before with how she dresses sometimes. Today, when she left, she had on some short shorts that looked to me like pj bottoms and what looked like fuzzy houseshoes. 

Mister has already made it known that he has issues with how she dresses, and went farther than I would have, by saying what he’s said about her clothing choices.

The way she was dressed and the fact that she had a bag with her, I feel like she is probably not coming back tonight. 

I don’t care about her doing what she does, as long as it doesn’t disrupt my household. Mister has already had a blowout with her and her Mom about how she dresses, and I’m not interested in trying to involve myself with that. 

So she can leave the house in a bikini, and if her parents are good with that, I don’t care either. My only concern is what goes on in my household.

[raeoflyte]

Aug 6, 2024 16:47:54 GMT -5 MarionTh230 said:

I had the best time hanging out with my kid yesterday!  We do things together pretty regularly. But, it was nice to have an entire day where we could do whatever we wanted and just ignore chores, responsibilities, errands, and all of life's little annoyances.  

Since second grade ending up being a complete dumpster fire, I've been having severe anxiety about sending her into third grade.  Had meet the teacher last week and I wouldn't say it went well.  Sometimes I just wish I could wrap her up and keep her in my pocket and never send her out into the real world.  Life doesn't work that way though, so I had better figure out how to deal with it sooner rather than later.

Did you end up changing schools or hoping new grade will be better at the same one? It's so hard when they're aren't good options.

[MarionTh230]

Aug 6, 2024 17:56:03 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

Aug 6, 2024 16:47:54 GMT -5 MarionTh230 said:

I had the best time hanging out with my kid yesterday!  We do things together pretty regularly. But, it was nice to have an entire day where we could do whatever we wanted and just ignore chores, responsibilities, errands, and all of life's little annoyances.  

Since second grade ending up being a complete dumpster fire, I've been having severe anxiety about sending her into third grade.  Had meet the teacher last week and I wouldn't say it went well.  Sometimes I just wish I could wrap her up and keep her in my pocket and never send her out into the real world.  Life doesn't work that way though, so I had better figure out how to deal with it sooner rather than later.

Did you end up changing schools or hoping new grade will be better at the same one? It's so hard when they're aren't good options.

Same school.  I did actually have hope that third grade would be better.  Those hopes were crushed like a spider under my shoe at meet the teacher.  Teacher has zero experience with third grade.  Which by extension means zero experience with the ELA/Reading curriculum our district introduced last year.  Teacher is actually certified which is a step up from second grade.  But, teacher only has experience in K-2 special education.

To add to everything, Kiddo has been officially labelled as gifted.  While we've known she was gifted since she was 3, I was completely going along with my head in the sand about it.  DH has no idea what we are in for with a kid who's brain doesn't work like 90% of the rest of the world.  It certainly presents a lot of challenges when the school sticks your kid in a class where 20-30%of the kids can't read at grade level.  And then tells you, well, your kid will get pull out services.  Ok, well, then, when my kid runs circles around your inexperienced teacher when she's bored out of her mind all day, don't call me. 

Yeah.  That's why my anxiety is sky high.  Realistically, the best option is to either homeschool or send off to the 'gifted' school.  But neither of those options seem realistic right now.  So I just keep putting one foot in front of the other and hope for the best.  

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Made the Costco run today instead.  As usual, it was a zoo.  I much prefer going to Burlington.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

That is so unfortunate on your local education! DD1 went through the public school gifted program from 3rd through 8th. In 1st & 2nd some of her classes were in the grade or two up.

When I started school, I was reading at the same level as my oldest brother two grades ahead of me, so I was put into all of the language classes my brother was in.

Can something like that be done for your Kiddo, or can Kiddo be tested into a grade up so she can stay challenged instead of bored?

[MarionTh230]

Aug 6, 2024 19:03:42 GMT -5 Cheesy FL-Vol said:

That is so unfortunate on your local education! DD1 went through the public school gifted program from 3rd through 8th. In 1st & 2nd some of her classes were in the grade or two up.

When I started school, I was reading at the same level as my oldest brother two grades ahead of me, so I was put into all of the language classes my brother was in.

Can something like that be done for your Kiddo, or can Kiddo be tested into a grade up so she can stay challenged instead of bored?

We don't know yet.  To be fair, we live in a state that is either 49th or 50th in education.  This gifted thing has just made things more complicated than we originally thought it would be.

They haven't yet detailed what pull out services look like.  We haven't met the gifted teacher yet or discussed the gifted curriculum.  I have not even broached the subject of differentiation with her classroom teacher.

There are options.  Whether or not this school, and this teacher, and this principal will give us the options we believe are adequate is still to be determined.  Our district only offers gifted education for grades 3 through 5.  Anything in grade 6 or higher is just accelerated academics.  Which, is better than nothing I guess.  It just means they don't exactly have a good focus on the students in grades 3-5 that are not performing below grade level.  The school (and the district) spend a lot of money, time, and metrics on those kids below grade level.  Makes things quite tricky for a student like Kiddo.

We'll see how it goes.

[TheOtherMe]

My school district didn't have a gifted program.  I was bored out of my mind from kindergarten through senior year.  I was not challenged academically until college.

I was sent to kindergarten at 4 because I could read, write and do arithmetic.  That's because I knew how to keep score at bowling and cribbage.  Games teach more than just the game.  

My reward for being bored in 2nd grade was to sit in the coat closet and write my numbers to 1,000.  I have no idea of how many times I did that.  It taught me nothing.  I felt like I was being punished.

The problem with me being sent to school at 4 was I was socially used to only my cousins because of where we lived.  I didn't know how to make friends and don't think I ever learned to do that in school.  I was socially lost in high school.  

[chiver78]

I found Ratatouille on Freeform. pretty sure this is actually the last movie i saw in a theater. anyway, I'm winding down.we will all be more functional tomorrow.

[NoNamePerson]

Aug 6, 2024 19:38:14 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

My school district didn't have a gifted program.  I was bored out of my mind from kindergarten through senior year.  I was not challenged academically until college.

I was sent to kindergarten at 4 because I could read, write and do arithmetic.  That's because I knew how to keep score at bowling and cribbage.  Games teach more than just the game.  

My reward for being bored in 2nd grade was to sit in the coat closet and write my numbers to 1,000.  I have no idea of how many times I did that.  It taught me nothing.  I felt like I was being punished.

The problem with me being sent to school at 4 was I was socially used to only my cousins because of where we lived.  I didn't know how to make friends and don't think I ever learned to do that in school.  I was socially lost in high school.  

  I sat in the coat closet in second grade only because they didn’t have detention in elementary school! I loved school, made good grades but was a discipline problems from kindergarten on

[busymom]

I was fortunate to have gifted programs in the schools I attended.  Starting off with an advanced reading program in elementary school.  In junior high, more opportunities for advanced classes, but then I missed out on some good life skill classes, like I missed most of home ec, for example.  High school I was focused on classes that would get me into college, but AP courses weren't available then, so I didn't shave off any time in college like my DD did.  Unfortunately, the high school counselors weren't much help in directing towards careers, as they were older & pushed the girls towards traditional careers like teaching or office work.  I'm glad DD & her generation have many more options.  

[NastyWoman]

Aug 6, 2024 19:49:12 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Aug 6, 2024 19:38:14 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

My school district didn't have a gifted program.  I was bored out of my mind from kindergarten through senior year.  I was not challenged academically until college.

I was sent to kindergarten at 4 because I could read, write and do arithmetic.  That's because I knew how to keep score at bowling and cribbage.  Games teach more than just the game.  

My reward for being bored in 2nd grade was to sit in the coat closet and write my numbers to 1,000.  I have no idea of how many times I did that.  It taught me nothing.  I felt like I was being punished.

The problem with me being sent to school at 4 was I was socially used to only my cousins because of where we lived.  I didn't know how to make friends and don't think I ever learned to do that in school.  I was socially lost in high school.  

  I sat in the coat closet in second grade only because they didn’t have detention in elementary school! I loved school, made good grades but was a discipline problems from kindergarten on

Looks like I was the lucky one in school. In elementary school we had no gifted program. Nor anything for those kids who were behind the curve for that matter. However, the say teachers kept the kids who were bored from causing trouble in the very large classes (true boomer here in classes that had 45 - 50 kids) worked very well for me. Each class had its own mini library. Once you were done with whatever assignment you were allowed to read whatever you wanted. I loooooooved reading, still do, so I became really fast and accurate as there was no reading if you had errors.

Now it would probably have been better for me if there had been more challenging work but that was not to be. The books made me love school: all those books and then there was the quiet environment that was not to be found at home with six siblings

[countrygirl2]

Little guy was pulled out last year. I don't know if he will just dumb down and give up or what. I thought this system had a lot more, but who knows.

DD and I finally got our hair fixed, it t o o k forever. We were there from 4 to 7:00, I was exhausted. Mine is dyed and trimmed, DD's is so pretty, and we have set up a regular appointment again, so it doesn't get like this again.

Tomorrow going to go see about getting DD and my drivers license, and maybe set up a bank account for her and I.  I also found a flooring store just 2 doors down from McD's I'm going to check out. We need to get those bedrooms with new flooring, I just can't deal with those awful rugs.

We let the kittys out for a bit and Smoke already caught a shrew and killed it, my little hunter is back at it. They both stayed in our tiny yard but we didn't leave them out for long. I was carrying Smoke by the truck and he was wiggly, he sure didn't want back in there. He has had enough of the truck. They were good boys, hope they hang close, guess we will find out.

Soup, we have not asked for permission yet to screen in the deck or anything, but since it is in the back and not visible to anything, I doubt if it will be an issue. Of course, if it is we won't do it.  

Hubs is going to ask to create another parking spot too, we see many people there who have so again do not think that will be an issue either. It's just they want property maintained, clean, and neat.

Going to clean up, done for today. I feel better tonight but will I tomorrow.

[daisylu]

DH mentioned early last week that he was looking to get a pair of slides for wearing around the house. He still can't walk barefooted, his slippers are too thin soled, and he was tired of taking shoes on and off. He showed me a pair of Skechers that he wanted to look for. 

After the Oofos discussion here I suggested he take a look at them. They delivered Saturday morning and he can't stop raving about them! The arch is incredible! He even told his physical therapist about them yesterday. This is a man who mocks flip flops and the like! Surgery and age is catching up to him. 

[finnime]

Good morning, illustrious invisipeeps, preparing for the next days and year to come. Welcome to Wednesday. Nice alliteration, welcome Wednesday. I hope your day sates every itch and leaves you content and well.

Yesterday was surprisingly productive. I got the house ready for DSis to bring her dog by but she decided to bring Gretel with her to Maine. She'd miss her too much. So the house is in some order after I operated on a clog in the vacuum cleaner. Plus DH and I went through the large order of prints that came in. When the mats get here we'll mat them, ready for the next shows.

I also spent a few hours reworking our website. It looks much better I think. And I culled my pictures and threw in some current ones and recategorized a bunch.

It looks like the weather will be problematic on Saturday. The festival organizer, the Mystic Chamber of Commerce, is going to meet again Thursday to determine if a change in schedule is needed. Flooding is the big concern. DH and I are also thinking that high winds will be an issue. We'll see.

It's raining right now and will continue to shower for the next hours. Yesterday was overcast in the early morning, but I caught some vestiges of sun brightening the clouds:

[finnime]

GT programs didn't really exist when I was in school although the better teachers did differentiate.

DD was in gifted programs that didn't quite go far enough for her. She acted up. She also had a few teachers who conflated "gifted" with "well-behaved".

We moved and one thing that really worked was the highly gifted program that DS was moved into. He did very well, starting college with one year of credit in the bank and an understanding that he could do whatever he wanted academically. He also made some very solid friendships.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

I remember DD1 being a bit outraged with the middle school gifted program. She felt that there was no reason a lot of material in her various subjects couldn't be provided in the mainstream classes. She really believed most of the kids outside of the program could have handled the work, and in all likelihood would have kept the kids academically challenged instead of bored and acting up.

How many times do we read about Teachers of the Year that use advanced materials to challenge all of their kids or use hands on teaching in lieu of rote busy work required by various Boards of Education?

[greenthumb59]

Gorgeous photo @finnme!

[Opti]

Aug 7, 2024 4:10:01 GMT -5 finnime said:

GT programs didn't really exist when I was in school although the better teachers did differentiate.

DD was in gifted programs that didn't quite go far enough for her. She acted up. She also had a few teachers who conflated "gifted" with "well-behaved".

We moved and one thing that really worked was the highly gifted program that DS was moved into. He did very well, starting college with one year of credit in the bank and an understanding that he could do whatever he wanted academically. He also made some very solid friendships.

I think this is part of the problem with people in general not just teachers. There was no true "gifted" program when I went to school. There were however upper tracked classes, first a couple in math in Jr High, and then more intentionally in HS. I had problems with teachers early on and my mom homeschooled me in addition to what I got at school until she too returned to teaching.

I was independent at a very young age, mom says day three after I was born, because I did not allow her to dress me as if I were a doll. People often have unrealistic expectations because they don't know or in many cases wish that's how it worked. I was special from the start and I suppose if I had been a dog I might have been a Siberian husky. Smarter than average, quite verbal, and very active. 

My elementary school which I think my parents had picked intentionally was only my school for the first part of kindergarten. We upgraded homes and I got a newer K-5 school because I now had two sisters. I think even my dad forgot that fact. So my new school was mostly unknown and mom had not prepped the teachers nor known them like she had with my very first school, or kindergarten part 1. This is too talky and I need to prep for ride#3, Opti goes to the grocery store with county transportation. I hope this time it does not take an hour for me to get back home. The county has picked routes that home everyone located west of my home grocery store to the one I work near. I am almost equidistant between both grocery stores, roughly 1.6 miles. It is almost always faster to go to the one I am going to now, as it is a right turn out of the complex, a right turn at the light and them a straight shot to the light by the grocery store. The other one involves one or more risky left hand turns plus downtown speeds in a downtown constantly under construction. 

[MarionTh230]

And just like that, I'm the mother of a third grader.

Threw up this morning due to the stress while I was getting ready.  Managed to get Kiddo's hair done how she wanted it - bow and all.  Got the obligatory first day of school pic in front of the front door.  Was entertained by the car line mess on the first day.  Managed to get all the way home before I started crying.

Trying to get packed up and head into my office.  Only now I have to deal with an upset kitty kat.  Brooks was cranky last week since DH went back to work.  Kiddo and I were home though so we were able to entertain him and cuddle him and he managed to adjust.  When I walked back in the door this morning without Kiddo he was not happy.  He's currently expressing his displeasure at this situation.  Brooks loves his humans.  I'll see if I can cuddle him some and get him a little relaxed before I go into work.

[giramomma]

I was put in the gifted program in school. It was really a joke. Our high school had 3 AP classes. We had advanced english, and the best you could do in math was pre-calc.

DH was in it too.

Our "gifts" are different. He's like math/numbers/logic smart. My gifts are all the touchy-feely ones. Problem solving, critical thinking, having a decent amount of emotional IQ, deep listening for understanding, not listening for responding. 

It would be nice if our schools got to the point where they could really do differentiated learning. We're starting to see more of that in math at the girls' private 4k-8 school, which I think is amazing. It's not done in a punitive fashion, either. Like, you aren't told you are dumb because you aren't doing geometry in 8th grade. There's room for you to come where you are, and just improve yourself. 

The kids' public high school does an amazing job, too, of ensuring there's a place for you, no matter where you are. For that, I am just so grateful.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I don't remember gifted programs in elementary school or middle school.  I think those were in their infancy back in the 90s.

Same with HS.  We had honors classes which were limited.  The advanced/college credit classes through IWCC were a pilot program when I was in HS and also were really limited choice wise.

We did have the Tucker Center for the trades.  Those have since been folded into the high schools themselves.

Nowadays they have a college track and a trades track.  Gwen can graduate with an associates or enough credits to transfer in as a junior to a 4 year university.  Or she can choose a trade and they have classes specifically designed to prepare her for that career.

In elementary school everyone is on a track but it is individualized instead of it being the same across the board for everyone like it was when they first started No Child Left Behind.  They meet you where you are with a goal to get you to X by the end of the year.  So if you start out below average for reading when you come in the goal is to get you to average before the end of the year. 

Abby is beyond average in reading so her teacher challenges her with harder books from the library. 

With Gwen the teacher and I pushed the librarian to allow Gwen to check out books two grades above because she was bored with what she was "allowed" to read and her scores proved she could "handle" it.  We both agreed it was dumb we had to do that but the librarian had a stick up her butt for some reason.

I REALLY like "new" math myself at least how it is applied in our schools.  You're taught there is more than one way to solve a problem, how you get there doesn't matter as long as you get to the correct solution.  If you need to use visuals have at it.  If you can memorize it have at it.

When I was in school it was either you do it the teacher's way or you were wrong.  It wasn't my brain is wired different it's I was too stupid to do math and they pretty much gave up on me.  To this day I have a complex about math.

[raeoflyte]

Aug 7, 2024 5:03:37 GMT -5 Cheesy FL-Vol said:

I remember DD1 being a bit outraged with the middle school gifted program. She felt that there was no reason a lot of material in her various subjects couldn't be provided in the mainstream classes. She really believed most of the kids outside of the program could have handled the work, and in all likelihood would have kept the kids academically challenged instead of bored and acting up.

How many times do we read about Teachers of the Year that use advanced materials to challenge all of their kids or use hands on teaching in lieu of rote busy work required by various Boards of Education?

At my kids district they still have advanced academic tracts, but separate from those the "gifted" program is starting to focus on how their brains work differently and how that might help them in some ways (*cough* western school settings) and what challenges it presents and how to manage some of those. I love that it's less about being smart and more about utilizing your natural talents. Then the plans for the GT focus on individual goals, some academic but also a social/emotional or a leadership goal.

The program has evolved in just the 3 years between my 2 kids too. It's not just more homework. The program dc is in is just starting and I doubt we'll see much at the middle school level, but they're working on expanding.

It opens up more doors. Struggling with emotional regulation doesn't say anything about a person's understanding of advanced math. I don't agree that challenging those kids academically fixes that issue, but being bored certainly doesn't help.