Ta Da Tuesday PWYC

[Lady Maverick]

I was wondering what happens to the ones you mentioned who have no one to help at all, and cannot do the project. Did the teacher give some alternate assignment or do they just have to take a zero?

If they don't build a catapult the alternative assignment is writing 400 definitions. This project is 40% of the grade in that class. It is going to be a big deal if DD14 takes a zero. The catapult or definitions are due tomorrow at 10am. DD14 is still hopeful about catapult so isn't doing the definitions. DS17 & GF are going to contact DD49 to see if they can pick the catapult pieces up tonight and bring it here to finish it with DD14. DS17 is more stressed about the catapult project failure than DD14. His big brother protector side is showing.

DSonIL has been released from ER after receiving a pain shot. They think the nerves are regenerating causing his discomfort. DSonIL had 1/2 lung removed a couple weeks ago. He goes Thursday to meet with oncologist to find out chemo/radiation treatment plan and schedule. He REALLY wants to do this catapult project and is still planning on putting the final touches on it in the morning and delivering it to DD14 at school before her 3rd hour. I applaud his want-to but not sure that determination will enable him to push through.

DD14 seems to be handling the set-back well. She is making lemon bars to take and share with her friends tomorrow.

DS17 has accepted a job to tear out 1/2 mile of barb wire and fence poles. That is huge project to tackle but he thinks it won't be too big for him. OH to be young and full of energy, strength and determination. I have experience in tearing out barbwire fence and know exactly the challenges he is going to face. I suspect he will learn much from this project and will remember doing it for the rest of his life.

[Lady Maverick]

DH and I teamed up this morning to strip our bedding and wash everything. DH still wants to be in charge of the laundry so I helped carry everything to the washer area and let him be. Many hours later he declares everything is washed and dried. We go to reassemble the bedding but there are pieces missing. How can that be?

DH has changed clothes 6 times today. I have no clue why but he is happy so I'm just observing.

I found the club crackers in the spice cabinet. The spoons were put in the cabinet utensil organizer instead of being put in the drawer. Interesting.....

[Harriet]

ooooooo.... .. careful, careful, protection, protection LadyM's ds. That is an unforgiving job. Tough clothes, jacket, gloves, well-charged cell phone.

Aside from the creativity aspect, I think the catapult project at 40 percent of the grade is just too stressful.

Yipes, Mystery, that sounds like a harrowing driving experience today. Glad you are all home safe.

This would have been my late dsonil's birthday, so ddolder and boys were doing their usual memory stuff. They have certain snacks and watch one of their Dad's favorite movies. Sadly, she somehow burned the peanut butter no-bake cookies. She was down about that, but they are popping popcorn and planning on Ghostbusters of some incarnation.

When ds got back, he
opened the storage building for us! Yay! Access. That was getting to be a real worry.
brought my tree in for me
set it up completely, including the lights working.

The remote for lights has stopped working and doesn't respond to new batteries, even. Sigh. But it is a small inconvenience to go over to the tree to change the blinking, if we want to. It's just not very old, and wasn't cheap, so I'm a little miffed over it.

After put-away work in the sewing room (no, not all done, but getting there), I took some photos of some of the recent creativity that has kept me sane recently and posted in Arts, Crafts and Needlework.

Vacuuming - Twins', I felt a little naughty, but I did wear a mask, and stopped when I finished just the project area I was working on, just where I'd said I would stop. Otherwise, rug sweeper and Swiffer broom.

I have eaten an entire can of carrots today. The recipe with brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and orange juice was marginal. Made it palatable.

[Lady Maverick]

****Big sigh of relief****
DD49 just sent a video of DSonIL testing the completed catapult. They will deliver it in the morning.
I am so very glad it worked out.

[Nancy]

LM & family YEA!

I spent the afternoon knitting up a swatch to see if it might work for sock yarn I think it might.
Also was watching a final 2 episodes of struck by lightening.
Glad I did not go to the store I was considering b/c there was a parade today for the Vetran's that could have been some troublesome
traffic congestion. This afternoon was some fun I've enjoyed it.

After the sun set I did vacuum the bedrooms. Glad for that progress.

Had dinner.
Did dishes
dozed off a bit.

Too cloudy to see the Northern lites here.

[lucylee]

I am certainly glad to see that the catapult is finished and working, but I agree with Harriet:

Aside from the creativity aspect, I think the catapult project at 40 percent of the grade is just too stressful.

I don't think I ever gave a single assignment that counted that much. Of course, I know English is different -- the biggest things my 9th graders ever did were research papers, and I gave multiple grades on that -- note cards, outline, bibliography, final product -- I think those were all separate grades, and counted the same as tests. I especially hate the idea that something that almost certainly requires adult help would count that much.
BUT -- all's well that ends well, right? And I ESPECIALLY admire both ds's concern and desire to help, AND dd's easy-going attitude about it all. You and LordM have raised some amazing kids, LadyM.
* I'm also glad dsil felt well enough to get this finished for DD. I hope all goes well for him as he begins his treatment.
(((HUGS))) for what must be frustrating as you "observe" LordM.
Just curious -- why do they think dd needs PT?

I am also wishing y'all lived closer, LadyM. I need someone to remove a barbed wire fence here. (And a chain link fence, which I imagine will be much more expensive.) Mine isn't nearly as long as a mile and a half, though. Just from the road to my house, makes a turn in front of my house.
Neighbors across the road just took theirs down -- and may have done it themselves; they have a large tractor. I probably should check with dbil before doing anything; the fence is on my half of the pasture we share. I don't foresee any future livestock needing to be fenced in. When we built, dfil had cows, and then dsisil had horses, but no one has had anything here in over 10 years. We have a man who cuts the hay and keeps the hay. (DXsisil says he is making a killing off us, but as long as dbil doesn't want to charge him, I guess I'm fine with this arrangement.)

Is there something going around, Twins? (((HUGS))) for you; hope your sore throat feels better soon. Likewise, (((Blessed's dd)))
I started getting a headache this afternoon and I haven't been able to do anything today except sleep. Dgrands have pretty much managed themselves. Then tonight, DGD started coughing. DDIL just asked if I would be able to keep her after she takes her to urgent care tomorrow.
I had already decided I would probably skip chair yoga, but I will just take dgd with me to get a mammogram -- I have an appt at 1:00 p.m. I'm getting it done here at our local used-to-be hospital (everything is closed now except the outpatient services) and it usually takes almost no time. (The speed doesn't make it any less unpleasant, but at least I'm in and out quickly.)

(((HUGS))) for ddolder and the boys, Harriet.
Your complaint about the tree remote is one of the reasons I have not bought a pre-lit tree. Dmom has had nothing but trouble from hers and it was very pricey.
But I do dread putting the lights on the tree.
Don't over-work yourself, Harriet!

I just remembered -- in college, I outlined an entire textbook to avoid a failing grade. That was a stupid assignment too. On the first test, the professor came in put our grade distribution on the board. Two F's. I had known the test was extremely difficult for me, but I'm thinking as she's writing: "Boy, I feel sorry for those two." Well, y'all guessed it; I was one of the two. It was past time for drop-and-add, and I don't think she gave us but one other test the entire semester. I went to her office and told her I could NOT fail this class... and she told me not to worry... and that was her solution for those of us who were struggling -- outline the entire textbook. It was a psychology class. I filled a pretty large binder with the outline, and stayed up basically all night the night before it was due. So ridiculous. I hated that class. The professor went to school with Elvis Presley. That was the only interesting thing about it.

Mystery -- I know that was a scary drive! And you certainly must have needed your Rx after all that!!! (I have a friend who showed up at the OB-GYN a day early because she had misunderstood her appt time. She said she told them she would be back the next day, but if they didn't give her her rx for her "crazy pills," she was going to come across that counter and strangle somebody. LOL. I can skip my Paxil for a day, but if I try to skip it two or three days, I start crying at the least little thing.
Oh -- I am alone now, enjoying NCIS and keeping up with Auburn's basketball game on the phone app. Tomorrow, I'll have DGD for most of the day, will pick up DGS after school, and they'll be with me till 6:00 pm when we all go to church. (I suspect "all" will be dgs and me.) I have to do school pick up the rest of the week, because DS is going out of town tomorrow around lunch time and will not be back till late Sunday night. But ddil will do the morning school drop off so I'll have the school day free. (Unless dgd is sicker than I think!) DDIL gets home around 4:30, so I'll only have them an hour or so Thursday, and then Friday DGD will spend the night, because Friday is "her" night.

I'll just wave big to everyone and say goodnight. I know I've talked long enough. Hope you all have a good day tomorrow!

[Kittykatt]

So glad the catapult is a success, LadyM! That was sooo much work by everyone.

It reminded me a little of one of the numerous times when the government here tried to "improve" the exams pupils take when they're 16 by scrapping the old GCE qualifications (which wer mostly exam based) and introducing the new GCSEs, which to begin with had as much as 50% as assessed coursework and projects. This of course greatly favoured those students who had parents and family able and willing to help their offspring, and discriminated against those kids whose parents couldnt/ wouldn't help them. The GCSE has been constantly tinkered with offer the years, reducing the coursework, changing the way the grades are allocated etc.

The latest suggestion I've read (hidden among the widely broadcast I mention to introduce V levels as a post 16 vocational qualification for less academic, more practical students, to sit alongside the traditional academic A levels) was for some.certificate of achievement for those kids who can't manage GCSES. This truly proves there is nothing new under the sun. Traditionally, the qualifications at 16 have always been GCEs for the academic kids and Cases for the less academic kids. (The CSaes were scrapped at the same time as GCSEs were introduced). So we would be effectively.retuening to that system, just under a new name.