Comfort Reads discussion
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Chit Chat
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Daily Chat
Lisa wrote: "That's a pretty small earthquake (barely at the moderate level) so I'd be surprised if there were serious injuries/injuries. Do you know if it was on the New Madrid fault? Maybe too far North for t..."
No injuries or damage or anything...just freaked us out. Most people are saying that they thought something hit their house due to wind. Anyway, the only reason it was a big deal in our house is because my autistic son can't wrap his mind around it. I'm sure I'll be hearing about this for about 2 years...poor kid.
No injuries or damage or anything...just freaked us out. Most people are saying that they thought something hit their house due to wind. Anyway, the only reason it was a big deal in our house is because my autistic son can't wrap his mind around it. I'm sure I'll be hearing about this for about 2 years...poor kid.
Jeannette wrote: "Well, they won't be loving it in June! The Governor is considering letting the schools skip Spring Break, or go on Saturdays."
Exactly, June will be a nightmare if it keeps up. We have friends in Maryland who don't have a scheduled Spring Break anyway (ever), so I wonder what they'll do.
Exactly, June will be a nightmare if it keeps up. We have friends in Maryland who don't have a scheduled Spring Break anyway (ever), so I wonder what they'll do.
Jeannette wrote: "If I see one more snowflake, I might scream. We have no place to put the stuff we have shoveled off the drive and sidewalks anymore ..."
Okay, this made me laugh (not because I don't feel for you) because my neighbor seems to have just thrown in the towel on this issue. She pulled down her driveway today and got stuck in that snow that piles up at the end from the plows. Instead of trying to get her car out (which doesn't seem that hard really), she just left her car there. It's been there all day, hanging out halfway into the street. Nobody can get by, including the plows. She and her daughter went back inside and her daughter skipped school. It's ridiculous.
Okay, this made me laugh (not because I don't feel for you) because my neighbor seems to have just thrown in the towel on this issue. She pulled down her driveway today and got stuck in that snow that piles up at the end from the plows. Instead of trying to get her car out (which doesn't seem that hard really), she just left her car there. It's been there all day, hanging out halfway into the street. Nobody can get by, including the plows. She and her daughter went back inside and her daughter skipped school. It's ridiculous.
That is too much! Time to call the police and have her towed, which is what they would do here. You just have to face facts and get out a shovel and clear the stuff out. (I am, of course, laughing and shaking my head at the mental picture of your neighbor.)
The schools have asked the governor to shorten the required days from 180 to 175, I think, but he doesn't want to do that. I think they will extend the school day by an hour for the rest of the year. Don't see how that will work, either. Good that I homeschool -- No snow days for my kid! (cackling, evil mother!!)
The schools have asked the governor to shorten the required days from 180 to 175, I think, but he doesn't want to do that. I think they will extend the school day by an hour for the rest of the year. Don't see how that will work, either. Good that I homeschool -- No snow days for my kid! (cackling, evil mother!!)
My thoughts are with all of you suffering in this crazy weather! I, thankfully, am in Northern California and, while we did have some pretty bad weather (by our standards) a few weeks back, things are pleasant now.
Christine, I'm with your son. Change is hard. AND, the earth is not supposed to MOVE!!! (I'm really scared of earthquakes, although ones that size are nothing around where I am - in California where Kathryn is.)
It's just going to be cold here in the upstate of S.C., but up in the nearby mountains of N.C. (part of our TV viewing area) they have blizzard warnings up for tonight. They've had everything barring the kitchen sink tossed at them so far this winter.We've been very lucky in comparison.
Edited to add: I'm reminded of the snowy winter (the snowiest I can remember) we had when I was ten, and we had to go to school on Saturday most of the spring as a result. Ugh!
Jeannette wrote: "That is too much! Time to call the police and have her towed, which is what they would do here. You just have to face facts and get out a shovel and clear the stuff out. (I am, of course, laughi..."
You homeschool??? I homeschool!
You homeschool??? I homeschool!
Lisa wrote: "Christine, I'm with your son. Change is hard. AND, the earth is not supposed to MOVE!!! (I'm really scared of earthquakes, although ones that size are nothing around where I am - in California wher..."
Yep, what is with the moving earth? haha! Actually, he thinks earthquake=Haiti....that's where the processing stops.
Yep, what is with the moving earth? haha! Actually, he thinks earthquake=Haiti....that's where the processing stops.
Christine wrote: "Jeannette wrote: "That is too much! Time to call the police and have her towed, which is what they would do here. You just have to face facts and get out a shovel and clear the stuff out. (I am,..."
Cool! Both kids?
Cool! Both kids?
Yes, both. Emma is returning to school in the Fall when she starts high school though. She's been homeschooling since our last move (too much moving and disruption during middle school). Benjamin has been home since 1st grade because the Maryland schools wanted him in a self-contained placement (long story...just had to do it). What about you?
Lea is a 15 year old high school junior (I bumped her up, skipping 8th grade). She has always been homeschooled, she's been doing online high school for most of her classes this last year, plus classes at the community college. (I started online classes in 9th grade.) I understand (not in the details, maybe) about your son. I'm glad you were able to keep him home with you.
Christine wrote: You homeschool??? I homeschool!
Do you think we were separated at birth? lol
Do you think we were separated at birth? lol
Jeannette wrote: "Lea is a 15 year old high school junior (I bumped her up, skipping 8th grade). She has always been homeschooled, she's been doing online high school for most of her classes this last year, plus cl..."
My daughter does online homeschooling too! (This is very weird...we are like cosmic sisters)
Emma has done Calvert online for her entire middle school program.
My daughter does online homeschooling too! (This is very weird...we are like cosmic sisters)
Emma has done Calvert online for her entire middle school program.
We chose Keystone and we have been very happy with it. I tried Calvert for elementary grades, but they were too "schoolish" back then, they even made you buy Calvert pencils. I'm glad you liked their program.
Lea has attended classes at the Community College and is taking online Lit: Major British Writers this semester. Next comes the ACT and college..... (my baby)
Lea has attended classes at the Community College and is taking online Lit: Major British Writers this semester. Next comes the ACT and college..... (my baby)
Christine wrote: "Yep, what is with the moving earth? haha! Actually, he thinks earthquake=Haiti....that's where the processing stops. "Maybe a book about earthquakes in general, including the little ones??? Or a show? I don't know how he learns best.
A book is actually the way I was planning to go with it. Good idea! (we're so smart...aren't we, Lisa?)
Jeannette wrote: "We chose Keystone and we have been very happy with it. I tried Calvert for elementary grades, but they were too "schoolish" back then, they even made you buy Calvert pencils. I'm glad you liked t..."
Haha! Calvert pencils? Well, we get a few with our textbook order, but we don't use them. Calvert's online classes have been really good for Emma. However, she is looking forward to going back for high school. Her math skills have really advanced with the homeschooling though. It's been a great thing for her.
Haha! Calvert pencils? Well, we get a few with our textbook order, but we don't use them. Calvert's online classes have been really good for Emma. However, she is looking forward to going back for high school. Her math skills have really advanced with the homeschooling though. It's been a great thing for her.
Christine wrote: "A book is actually the way I was planning to go with it. Good idea! (we're so smart...aren't we, Lisa?)"Great minds and all that. Hope you find a book he likes that's also reassuring and educational both.
Hi Ladies! Sorry, I didn't realize that I left off after mentioning my worry about my brother and fiance. Thanks for checking on me, that was very sweet :)
The boys got home at 3am on Sunday, so all is well. We got absolutely dumped on here, and being almost on Lake Michigan we got more than others just a mile away. We don't have anywhere to go with it either, so we just snowblow it all down the driveway until we end up snowblowing it into the street. We have a long skinny driveway, and along one side is our house, and along another side our neighbors put up a fence this past summer, and it comes up to our driveway. Ugh!
Honestly, didn't feel the earthquake (oops). I guess that new bed we got a few months ago is pretty good :)
Paula, I hope the boys got back before the big snowfall.
Paula wrote: "Hi Ladies! Sorry, I didn't realize that I left off after mentioning my worry about my brother and fiance.
Thanks for checking on me, that was very sweet :)
The boys got home at 3am on Sunday, so..."
Hey Paula,
Look at post #476. I didn't comment on it at the time, but I'm glad your fiance was travelling with your brother and not your boyfriend! lol
Thanks for checking on me, that was very sweet :)
The boys got home at 3am on Sunday, so..."
Hey Paula,
Look at post #476. I didn't comment on it at the time, but I'm glad your fiance was travelling with your brother and not your boyfriend! lol
Jeannette wrote: "Paula wrote: "Hi Ladies! Sorry, I didn't realize that I left off after mentioning my worry about my brother and fiance.
Thanks for checking on me, that was very sweet :)
The boys got home at 3am..."
That is too funny! I remember thinking that had to be a typo.
Glad to hear from Paula, I was thinking about her this morning and wondering if something was wrong.
Thanks for checking on me, that was very sweet :)
The boys got home at 3am..."
That is too funny! I remember thinking that had to be a typo.
Glad to hear from Paula, I was thinking about her this morning and wondering if something was wrong.
Re. Post # 476 - that is hilarious! What a bad typo! No, brother and fiance. I think I'm still too used to referring to Mike as my boyfriend that my fingers really wanted to type boyfriend and as soon as I hit a b-word it came out :)
They hit some bad weather in Pennsylvania, and just ended up grabbing a hotel room sooner than they expected. Both have driven cross country multiple times on their own, but it was still enough to make me nervous. I told them both this is the reason the President and Vice-President of the US aren't allowed to travel in the same vehicle - too much at stake! They just laughed :)
Gundula wrote: "Paula, I hope the boys got back before the big snowfall."And yes, they got back before the snowfall here, too.
Thanks for the concern everyone - makes me feel really good to have people who care enough to check up on me!
Paula wrote: "Re. Post # 476 - that is hilarious! What a bad typo!
No, brother and fiance. I think I'm still too used to referring to Mike as my boyfriend that my fingers really wanted to type boyfriend and as..."
Nice to know you have two men in your life that love you and that you love back! And they like each other, too!
No, brother and fiance. I think I'm still too used to referring to Mike as my boyfriend that my fingers really wanted to type boyfriend and as..."
Nice to know you have two men in your life that love you and that you love back! And they like each other, too!
Lisa wrote: "Christine wrote: "A book is actually the way I was planning to go with it. Good idea! (we're so smart...aren't we, Lisa?)"
Great minds and all that. Hope you find a book he likes that's also reas..."
What grade-level is your son reading at, Christine? I was thinking that you might want to get a book about the Earth and plate tectonics (DK, or Usborne). He might get into the science behind earthquakes, and that might make them less frightening. He'll know that the earth does move and why. (we are big into science books at my house).
Great minds and all that. Hope you find a book he likes that's also reas..."
What grade-level is your son reading at, Christine? I was thinking that you might want to get a book about the Earth and plate tectonics (DK, or Usborne). He might get into the science behind earthquakes, and that might make them less frightening. He'll know that the earth does move and why. (we are big into science books at my house).
He is in 5th grade and reads at grade level. I probably should mention that he has an obsession with weather and climate. He actually has to be limited to checking the weather to twice a day, otherwise that's all he would do.
I love Usborne! I'll look at what they have today.
I love Usborne! I'll look at what they have today.
It's so cool to find homeschoolers here!!! Hooray! :-) I was homeschooled all the way through high school and I plan to homeschool my own kids, when I have them.
Christine wrote: "He is in 5th grade and reads at grade level. I probably should mention that he has an obsession with weather and climate. He actually has to be limited to checking the weather to twice a day, oth..."
I'll check what I have, too. He might find it very interesting.
I'll check what I have, too. He might find it very interesting.
Kathryn wrote: "It's so cool to find homeschoolers here!!! Hooray! :-) I was homeschooled all the way through high school and I plan to homeschool my own kids, when I have them."
Good for you! It's encouraging for me to "meet" adult homeschooled kids!
Good for you! It's encouraging for me to "meet" adult homeschooled kids!
Kathryn wrote: "It's so cool to find homeschoolers here!!! Hooray! :-) I was homeschooled all the way through high school and I plan to homeschool my own kids, when I have them."
That is so cool!
That is so cool!
Mod
Lee wrote: "I'm just jumping in here to say Me Too! Me Too! I was so happy to meet Kathryn who is awesome. She is an inspiration to me as a homeschooling mom. "Awww, thanks! ;-) I am very happy and honored to do so.
Here is a website that we have used and enjoyed for homeschooling:
Brain Pop
I don't know what they charge; we get this with our online school. But they offer a free trial and some free movies.
Brain Pop
I don't know what they charge; we get this with our online school. But they offer a free trial and some free movies.
Different topic-There's a strong chance I'll be travelling to France in mid-April for work, but don't speak a word of French other than 'merci.' It's not a requirement that I know anything, but would love to learn some basics so I'm not a total monolinguist.
Does anyone have any suggestions about language learning books/CDs/materials that have worked well? Would appreciate any recommendations. Thanks!
Here is a link to Langenscheidt. I haven't used it, but my husband is learning Norwegian with their material.
Berlitz French
Look around the site; they sell software, too, and they aren't outrageous.
Nice travel benefits at your job!
Berlitz French
Look around the site; they sell software, too, and they aren't outrageous.
Nice travel benefits at your job!
Thank you, Jeannette! Yes, the travel is nice, but the hours are excruciating - I tend to average about 4 hrs of sleep/night when I travel. I still love the travel part, though - there's just so much to see in the world!
Oooh la la, Paula! We found our partially remembered high school French helpful when we were in France (although most people in tourist areas speak English), and indeed, whenever we've traveled to Quebec, where many people don't speak English. Once, when we were in the mountains north of Montreal, my husband told our waitress that I had been bitten by a blackfly, which is why my eye was very red and swollen. But as he didn't know the word for "blackfly" he tried to say black fly - mouche noir. It came out as mouchoir, which is a tissue. We still tease him about that.
Paula wrote: "Thank you, Jeannette! Yes, the travel is nice, but the hours are excruciating - I tend to average about 4 hrs of sleep/night when I travel. I still love the travel part, though - there's just so mu..."
Take me with you. I only remember about three words in French from high school (and they are random objects), but I could help you eat and shop! Think about it...
Take me with you. I only remember about three words in French from high school (and they are random objects), but I could help you eat and shop! Think about it...
I lived in Germany for two years and learned the language while I was there. I wanted to try out some new slang I had learned at a party. I wanted to say "hau rein" (drink up) but instead I said "hau ab" (get lost, or get out of here). The one guy looked at me and said (in German) "But, this is my brother's house." Talk about embarrassing. I have lots of stories like this behind me -- learning and using a new language is great fun!
Jeannette, That's really funny, at least in retrospect.
Jeannette wrote: "I lived in Germany for two years and learned the language while I was there. I wanted to try out some new slang I had learned at a party. I wanted to say "hau rein" (drink up) but instead I said ..."LOL, Jeannette! Good for you for trying though. My German is no longer very good, since I came to Canada when I was 3. So when I'm in Germany, people often tell me to just speak English. Gee, I do try!
Lisa wrote: "Jeannette, That's really funny, at least in retrospect."
It was funny because this guy and his brother were both "jokesters". The one brother always harassed me about my nasally accent in German. I opened my mouth and everyone knew where I was from. :(
It was funny because this guy and his brother were both "jokesters". The one brother always harassed me about my nasally accent in German. I opened my mouth and everyone knew where I was from. :(
Gabriele wrote: "LOL, Jeannette! Good for you for trying though."
I can still get by, but I'm rusty. Talk with the in-laws once a week. Still make mistakes and throw in English when I have to!
I can still get by, but I'm rusty. Talk with the in-laws once a week. Still make mistakes and throw in English when I have to!
Jeannette, we have "Toronto Deutsch", which is a mixture of German and English words. It's funny, but when I start talking to my German cousins in English, I get to a point for a while, where I can't speak easily in either language! My German cousin tells me the same thing, that she forgets her German.
I think it's really a skill that one is born with, that knack for languages. When I came home tonight and told my fiance, I asked if he knew any French. He immediately broke out into a song in French that he remembered from a play in high school. Ask him where he left my car keys, however, and he's totally stumped. Kudos for anyone who tries, I say. It's always so humbling to me when I travel and meet so many people who are bilingual, whereas I can't even remember Spanish from high school classes! Well, except 'donde esta la biblioteca....' That one stuck for some reason ;)
I met people in Germany on their fifth language and second alphabet! Learning German was a lot easier for me compared to someone from Korea or China.
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Comfort Reads
Books mentioned in this topic
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Jane Austen (other topics)Rebecca Stead (other topics)
Ken Jennings (other topics)
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A couple of years ago when we had enormous amounts of snow here in Southern Ontario, my hometown - where my brother still lives - experienced a municipal strike, so the snow plows weren't out at all. For weeks! The kids had at least 8 snow days during that strike and the town was huge mess.