Beneath the Wraps

       Jaime had the most awesome kindergarten teacher.   We both loved Miss Webb.   She had the ability to teach all the children on their own level.   Of course it helped to have parents volunteer whenever the children were put into groups.     and would have liked to finish the year.   Jaime was in the learning advanced group.   She was in the top three academically. Miss Webb had given those children a composition notebook which they used to communicate.   Often she would comment on what they had written or use a prompt to get them started.   Jaime rarely ever needed a prompt.   What an imagination my child has! Sadly we moved and put Jaime in another school. Miss Webb continued to communicate with Jaime via my facebook account – or so I ’ m guessing.  There is evidence of conversation but all in my handwriting instead of theirs.  It has been a fun treasure to explore. I scanned this check list.  L...

            I believe it was Corey’s senior year in high school when the student directory came out.   On the cover was an art student’s work depicting the mascot and school spirit.   He had signed his artwork “Zion” as he had with many (if not all) of his other pieces.   It wasn’t meant to stand out as the main theme of his drawing but rather blend into the design.   However an instructor who was anti-religion especially anti-LDS had discovered the “hidden” Zion and made such a great fuss over it that it drew much more attention to the drawing and the word than was intended.               It’s quite a small example of how even negative criticism can be used to boost something positive.   Take the Lincoln Project ( here ) for instance, a group of former Republicans no longer affiliated with the party either by choice or perhaps they were asked to leave.   Each m...

Earlier this week I found this post of a friend’s timeline.   Trump’s campaign was built on hate, so what’s his problem?   Oh, could it be that the public schools are closed?   Get them reopen so that we can promote hate!   Trump is going to bully himself right out of office.   What exactly is going through his head threatening the country about reopening schools ( here and here ) My sister asked my opinion about what to do about returning to school.   At first I thought I would leave the decision up to Jenna, but the more I think about it, the more miffed I am.   What is Trump’s game plan here? Is he hoping to kill off teachers by exposing them to a wide variety of germs?   Like they don’t have enough to deal with – now they have to stop their lessons to remind students to to keep their masks on, don’t touch other children, don’t play with the Plexiglas . . .” Come on. I sent my sister this email this morning. “My post today will be about...

          Valentines Day is a non-Federal holiday full of traditions and legends which may or may not be true.   There were at least two, perhaps three, patron saints who bore the name St. Valentine.   Their lives ended in tragic massacres; perhaps it was the way they lived that got the Valentine’s celebration started.   There are many websites to choose from when “Valentines” is the subject entered into a search engine such as Google.   I have never been much into the Valentine spirit.   The concept behind Valentine’s Day seems noble enough, but the commercialism is what keeps the holiday alive and I could do without that.  No one gets off of work or school in honor of Valentines. https://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day             President’s Day was created in honor of George Washington, first president of the United States.  President’s Day was initiall...

          February 14 was the deadline for the short essay contest through the University.   The topic to write about one of the following: Most memorable class or instructor, most valuable lesson or how the university changed my life .   I guess I could have gone for the third one and stayed with the 150 word maximum limit .   But I was certain that I would have well more than 150 words for the others. Recently I have gone back to revisit some of the discussions that were posted.   I notice that I got a late start on the discussions in my first two classes.   I had wondered why as I have always been among the first to post to a discussion but then remembered that unlike most of my classmates who had actually started on Monday, I was not given the opportunity to do so until Wednesday.   (That definitely feels like a run-on sentence) There had been a miscommunication on the parts of administration an...

             The earth spins around as it faces the sun and away from the sun.   It takes 24 hours to complete each spin.   We call the spin cycle of 24 hours a day.   While the earth spins, it also circles around the sun.   It takes 365 ¼ days to circle the earth.   Thus a full year is 365 days except every four years when we have a February 29 added to the calendar. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/02/26/leap-day-february-29-calendar/80618064/              The earth has a northern hemisphere and a southern hemisphere – each experiencing seasons opposite of one another.   For example, someone from Minnesota may comment about how cold it is and how much snow they’ve had to shovel while someone in Indonesia may express how hot and muggy it is.   Both of these examples were posted the very same day – though maybe roughly twelve hours apart as one was expe...

How many of your elementary school teachers do you remember?   Did you have a favorite?   Least favorite?         I had three different teachers in kindergarten alone.   The names in order were Mrs. Cannon (I don’t remember her at all but had recorded her name in this post ) Miss Nelson (I have no idea what the correct spelling was) and Ms. Wambsley.   I may have liked the first two okay, but hated Ms. Wambsley (I can’t remember for certain if she was a Miss or a Mrs.   I would imagine a Miss as I can’t visualize anyone would purposely pursue a marital relationship with the witch)   I must have mentioned somewhere that she was so horrible that even the parents didn’t care for her or unique methods of teaching – or attempting to rather.         My first-grade teacher was Mrs. Godown I believe.   There were four first grade instructors – each new to the district the year I was in first grade.   They h...

                As an accountant major, I am required to take 25 accounting classes                 Thus far I have had 22 classes, 11 instructors -                                 one of them four times.   Two of them three times.                                          Three of them two times and six of them only once.   There are three who have had flair for making accounting better than completely boring.            ...

                Wednesday is generally my busiest day with school.   Generally.   When the libraries reopened and had asked for volunteers, I said I could - however I couldn't be scheduled.   Sometimes Mondays will work for me, but not always.   I could volunteer on Fridays regardless of my scheduling - however, no one else can work that day; therefore, the library is closed.             I said I could substitute, which I have done before, but not for a long time.   I told them when I might be available and when I would not.   Wednesdays and Saturdays are definite NOs as I am trying to finish my schooling by Wednesday or Thursday and Saturdays are for family.             Wednesday is also the designated day for potluck luncheons on 2nd Wednesdays every month and...

There is a haze outside covering the sky.   It reminds me of those Claritin commercials where the scene was not quite as clear until the individual took the drug that would relieve all allergies and related symptoms (Claritin does not work on me; I might as well be taking candy).   The haze outside is from the smoke related to the fires I didn't believe were all that close to us.   The air is breathable, I suppose, but not pleasant.   Still easier on me than the gunky air in Salt Lake City. There is a haze over my eyes.   It cannot be blamed on the smoke.   My thoughts are fuzzy due to the subjects of the week.   Last week I was required to turn in two essays.   The 600 words were worth 120 points.   The 750 word worth 100.   Two more essays required for this week - 600 words worth 120 points and 750 words worth 50 points.   What's up with that?   It hardly seems worth the effort or research.   Gads. And th...

            Modern Technology in some aspects has made our lives easier, but at the same time has seemed to create more challenges - particularly when there is a glitch or breakage.  Last week I had both my laptop and pc on my desk.  I could seem to receive the internet on my pc so long as my laptop was near - like an insecure child unwilling to go through with it on its own.  Oh, brother.              I've been using Internet Explorer on the PC as chrome seems to provide a tremendous amount of pop-ups (even though the blocker is set to BLOCK)  which is extremely annoying when taking an exam.  But lately I've been having issues with explorer as well.  I don't know why, but I have never liked Firefox.  And I can't open Yahoo in the PC at all.               I've be...

                I have just completed and turned in my assignment for my psychology class.   I should be working on my discussion post for my other class.   I am at such a loss as to come up with a scenario or a situation that makes sense in my mind.   The lecture does not take place until tomorrow.   I HATE when the lecture is on Wednesday.   I would like all my lectures on Monday - but not on the day that the lecture is due.             There are pre-recorded lectures from another instructor.   I don't follow his instructions as well as I do my own.   And though I can tell from her post what it is that is expected for the discussion post, I am still at a loss.   Writing a post for my blog won't help the situation either.   Many emotions have been triggered since I started this psychology class.    ...

He graduated with a BA in graphic arts the October before we moved to Oregon. He had planned on walking in the graduation ceremony the very day that he and Jenna came to Oregon to start unloading furniture. I went to my uncle's funeral. For over a year he's been online, creating plans for a business.   He took his assignments seriously and did the research as though he were really going to start a business here.   Except for just one week, his business plan focus was always on starting an adult day care which this area is in great need of.   It hasn't been done before.   It sounds like a good idea, but he doesn't have the funding.   He has done the research and had even sent out surveys.   We call it "sunk" investment. He graduated with his masters last month.   He would like to walk across the stage in June. It would be so nice to see the family again, but I fear it will be a repeat of our visit to Utah this...

          As I have already mentioned, I had started two classes on Labor Day this month.   One in managerial accounting and the other in financing.   My accounting class seems like a refresher course as there is some familiarity within the topics. It also feels like a prequel to my financing class and I wish I had it BEFORE my financing class and not side-by-side as I tend to get the two mixed up and have actually turned in one assignment for one class into the other.           Fortunately I have really good instructors in both classes who have been able to give me feedback right away instead of waiting until the end of the week as was the case with my last instructor who did announce ahead of time that his grading day is Sunday and that is it.           I am having the hardest time with the subject at hand.   Valuation principals...