A New Journey - - Me vs. Standardized Testing

I began a crazy journey yesterday.  I'm ready to take on the State of Texas and our education system.

I'm nervously-excited about it.  I guess I'm lucky because my oldest is a third-grader.  If there was a time to take a stand, now is the time.  We're not in a "have-to" position this year.  We aren't in threat of being held back.  But a test is still "on the books" for us this year.  In just a few weeks.

My son is STRUGGLING in math.  Big time.  But is he in math tutorials after school?  No.  He's in reading tutorials.  Why?  Because third grade does the reading portion of STAAR this spring.  Coincidence?  Hardly.

It all started to click with me late Saturday night.  A friend posted a link.  It snowballed for me from there.  Research.  Notes.  Questions.  Conversations.

What's that?  B's gone all activist?  Yep.  The rumors are true.  I'm not looking to *cause* trouble.  I expect I will.  And I expect to catch a lot of flack.

In the end, I have to be a voice for my children.  And I don't think that teaching to a test and wasting valuable instruction time on this stupid STAAR test is worth it.  I'm sick of the expectations put on our kids, teachers and principals.

Homework shouldn't be sample test questions.

We shouldn't get all worked up and have a practice test day.

I'm super pissed at myself for not educating myself sooner.  I just took the school's word for it.  We "have to."

No.

We have rights.  I will stand up for my kids.  I have a voice.  I can be loud.  I will be loud.  I will be heard.

My name is B.  And it's time to make some changes in Austin.  I am tired of sub-par education.  I'm ready to be bold for my kids.  Teachers - - I hope and pray that you can get back to the business of educating our kids.  I don't blame you.  I love you for following your calling.  Let me help you do your job.

Observations from today's walk...

I decided to walk to pick the kids up from school.  Here are some random thoughts and observations:

1.  I saw a squirrel's tail.  Just the tail.  I'm guessing the rest of the squirrel was in about equal shape as the rogue tail.

2.  I HATE it when my girly parts try to eat my shorts.  Maybe someday when my thighs quit rubbing together I will achieve this dream of walking without digging.

3.  I am thisclose to freestyle walking.  I must have an awesome playlist because I wanted to get my groove on whilst walking.  Several times.

4.  On that note, the song "Gangsta's Paradise" made me rap while I was walking.  Justin thought that was totally un-funny.  And un-cool.  And he begged me to stop.  I told him to keep up with my pace and I'd shut my pie hole.

5.  Not everyone scoops their dog's poo.  Lucky for me, I pay attention.

6.  It's officially spring.  TAKE YOUR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS DOWN.  I'm about two weeks away from Christmas caroling your house.  And I do not sing pretty.

7.  If you are in your 20's and driving a Caddy, I assume you either inherited it from an old, dead loved one or you are a drug dealer.  Or both.  Either way, slow your butt down.  There are kids playing in this neighborhood.  And please don't sell them drugs.

8.  The buzzards flying overhead during my walk was just a touch unnerving.

9.  Kind of a bad day for Cam to have to walk home.  He had a busted tennis shoe.  I guess we'll be going to buy a new pair this weekend.  Yay.

That's all I can remember right now.  It was good times.

Just Between Friends Sale

Let me first say this - - I freakin' love JBF.  Seriously.  I love it.  I will admit something though.  I don't sell stuff.  But I am SO thankful for the ladies that do.  Because this girl LOVES to shop there.  And that's what I plan on doing.  I. Am. Shopping.

We are only two weeks away.  TWO!!!  Put it on your calendar.  Tell Sandy and her crew that Becky sent you.  Here are some details about the sale:

HUGE KID’S GEAR SALE!! You can shop, sell, volunteer, and advertise your business!

JUST BETWEEN FRIENDS: 

Shop, Sell, Save, Smart!

Find all you need for your growing family at Just Between Friends SPRING 2013 Sales Event! Children/Teen/Maternity Clothing, shoes, accessories, cribs, changing tables, swings, Port-a-cribs, strollers, toys, bassinets, high chairs, movies, exersaucers/walkers, books, maternity/nursing items, crib/twin bedding, games, office/household furniture!

WELLS FARGO PAVILION

4608 Grape Creek Road  76903

Exclusive Pre-Sales: Thursday, APRIL 4th Check the website for details of how YOU can attend!

Friday, APRIL 5th  10am-7pm Open To the Public
Saturday, APRIL 6th 10am-5pm (new merchandise) Open To the Public
Sunday, APRIL 7th 10am-4pm (½ Price Sale) Open To the Public

Cash/check/Visa/MC/Discover

Benefits, in part, New Bridge Family Shelter

www.jbfsale.com/sanangelo
www.facebook.com/jbfsanangelo

 

SHOP.SELL.SAVE.SMART!

Social Media - - Taking a Break

You know - - sometimes life just gets in the way.  And distance isn't our ally.  We get busy.  And when friends move away, we have to find other ways to sustain our friendships.

At first it was social media.  Which, in the beginning, worked great.  

Now?  Not so much.  She's sick of it and so am I.  It's so dang consuming.  Facebook is a time-sucking vortex.  I own that.  There is little face to face or personal interaction. And everyone knows everything.  How many times, just today, did the phrase "I read it on Facebook" find its way into a conversation?  I can think of at least once.  Just today. 

I'm beginning the process of backing way the heck off.  The problem is, it's how everyone stays "in the know" with what's going on in our lives.  It's a fast way to get information out there to the masses.  I figure if it's important enough, someone will let me know.

Something else that's made me want to back up are teenagers.  They've taken over Facebook and Instagram.  And Pinterest.  I don't have anything to hide.  But if I want to say the word "ass" then I need someplace to say it and not get reprimanded.  Yep, I'm 42.  And yes, I've been reprimanded (as kindly as possible) for saying "ass" this year.  Go figure.  I'm sick of tip-toeing.

Bottom line - - if you're still around here and someone like has a baby, gets engaged, has a major car wreck or even dies, would you tip me off?  Otherwise, I might miss it.  If someone checks in at, oh, I don't know, Starbucks or Wal-Mart - - I don't need to know.

I even took Facebook off of my phone.  

This seems to happen to me this time every year.  Baseball season kicks in, end of school festivities begin and life gets insanely busy.  I'm cutting back the fluff this year.  Again.  I remember it helping in years past.  If only I could keep the momentum.

So - - here's to more blogging.

And Diet Coke with Splenda.  I haven't had one all day.  And that's just messed up.  Plus I'm thirsty.

Structure and Planning

I crave structure.  Not rigid structure.  But a plan.  If the plan changes, and I have enough notice, I can handle it.  Even with little notice, I can cope.  I may grumble.  But I'll deal with it.

Here's where things go wrong - - failing to make a plan.  Especially if it involves my kids.  Cameron flies by the seat of his pants.  He's just like his daddy.  (I married a smart, handsome, sexy beast of a man.  But a planner - - he is not.  Chalk that one up to God's sense of humor.)  So no big thing.  Justin, however, is just like his mama.  Poor kid.  He likes to know what's going to happen and when.  No detail left out.  The more details, the better.

My dilemma:  we have "plans" tomorrow night.  But we don't know what that plan is.  If he doesn't know how things are going to pan out for the evening, he's going to dwell on it while at school.  I need him focused at school.

Ugh.

Justin and I need to learn to live with spontaneity.  We need to find the joy in that.  How does one transition from planning to "eh - - whatever?"  If you know the answer to this, let me know.

Colton Dixon

I just bought his album on iTunes.  Wow.  LOVE his style.  I'm not going to give in and start watching AI.  Not my thing.  But I will listen to what my peeps suggest for new music.  And this one was spot on with my taste.

Amazon linky

Good stuff.

Snarky Mood

Dear Lady on the local consignment Facebook page,

Nobody wants your over-priced, Fisher-Price, garage sale stuff.  Quit bumping it to the top.  Have a garage sale.

Sincerely,
Me and everyone else from San Angelo

ADD

Some doctors just suck.

There's no other way to say it.

Just because he (our now ex-pediatrician) doesn't personally believe in a diagnosis, that is recognized WORLD WIDE, doesn't mean that the condition doesn't exist.

It is not a behavior issue.

He doesn't need to be disciplined.  He doesn't need to be spanked.  (Not for this anyway.)

There should not be a stigma attached to it.

It is real.  We live it every day.

The doctor officially sucks in my book and I will never let him touch either of my children ever again.

I'm so sad that our awesome pediatrician left his practice.  But I understand why he did it.  We had so many good years with him.  And I really could have used his reassuring words and attitude during the past few months.

I'm learning a lot about ADD.  And I feel terrible for not being more proactive before.  I just didn't think it was the issue.  I couldn't have been more wrong.  The important thing is that we are on what seems like the right track now.  Hopefully the tiny human can feel like his life is finally making sense and has some order to it.  We'll see.  I will always be one of his biggest cheerleaders.  And I vow to be his advocate until I take my last breath.

It's not the kiss of death.  It's not the end of the world.  We are dealing with it.

So - - Dr. Sucktastic - - bite me.  Both cheeks.

Happy Moment and Soapbox Moment

It's here!  It's here!  Casi Cielo is here.  IN MY HOUSE!

I'm on my second cup right now.  They even have it in K Cups this year.  Those I plan to stock up on and ration the heck out of.  Like, I might even take my pistol out of the gun safe and put my coffee in there.

Well, I won't do that.  I guess I have to be responsible.  But where to hide my precious coffee?  Hmmmmm.

I didn't watch any of the inauguration stuff yesterday.  Why?  It's not out of hate.  I don't hate President Obama. (I don't particularly like him.)  I hate the direction he's taking and has already taken our country.  But I don't hate him.

Look, I'm about as patriotic as one gets.  And I am glad we live in a country where there's a peaceful transition of power.  (Even though nothing really transferred this time.)  I love to watch anything with pomp and circumstance.  It makes me weepy.  But yesterday - - I just couldn't.  I had zero desire to watch him. It's not that I'm a sore loser either.  I watched his last inauguration.  I was in awe of it.  I was proud that our country could finally put race aside.  But this time, I just couldn't watch.

Keep in mind, I went and listened to Bill Clinton campaign for Hilary.  It was one of the coolest things I've ever done.  I didn't care that I didn't agree with him.  I wanted to be a part of history.  I felt patriotic going to hear him speak.

So don't mouth off and call me unpatriotic because I didn't watch yesterday.  That pisses me off.   I love this country.  I pray for our leadership and for our country.  Not watching yesterday was a choice I made.  If you made the choice to watch, good for you.  And I mean that.  But don't climb up on your high horse and look down on me because I made a choice different from yours.

I'm just saying.

/rant

Pinterest Isn't Really Evil

I have to say, Pinterest is a much bigger time suck than Facebook.  I truly believe this.  But, I have to say, how stinkin' brilliant is a virtual bulletin board.  Organization, no clutter, funny, shudder-worthy and helpful.  All wrapped up in one little place.

I've tried a few recipes.  I've had a few of my own personal Pinterest fails.  But let's not dwell on those.

I want to talk about seriously kicking some butt with the help of Pinterest.

Today's subject:  cleaning grout.  When I saw the pin, I re-pinned it.  This morning, I mixed up the ingredients.  And oh mylanta.  It works.  It cleans the grout, y'all.  Seriously.  Water, ammonia, vinegar and baking soda.  I can't believe how gross that grout was.  I haven't finished the kitchen yet.  But when I do, I'm off to do the bathroom.  (Boys, urine, ick.)

Follow me on Pinterest if you're interested.  But just a head's up, sometimes I re-pin some irreverent stuff.  Feel free to follow only the boards that apply.  If you are easily offended, stay away from the following boards:

True Story
Just Funny
Just Say It
What the What?

The rest should be pretty tame.  But if you're in for a good laugh at often immature humor, follow the four boards mentioned above.

Okay, I'd love to stay around and wow you with my cleaning skills.  But I have some grout's ass to kick. Later.

(Yes.  I just said ass.  If you don't like it, you are more than welcome to quit reading here.)

Toodles.

Casi Cielo

I wonder how much longer until my favorite blend comes out. I'm on pins and needles waiting. It's my favorite thing about the new year. I love the smell of a good Guatemalan blend brewing. Mmmmmmmmmm.