things to do on a Thursday

[lunabee34]

1.

8:00-9:00 read Bunnicula chapter three; draw a picture of Bunnicula at the fridge; write about what was unusual about the tomato

9:00 nature walk; the mated hawks flying overhead; crisp, cool morning after last night's rain

9:30-10:30 math with Josh

1:00 pick up sticks in the yard

We managed to pick up Fiona's packet put together by her teacher; I was pleased to see that the worksheets are similar to what we've we've been doing except that they ask her to cut out and glue stuff; so we did Day 1 of the packet for the afternoon. Good thing I bought workbooks; she's going to blow through the packet pretty quickly.

Emma's rocking along, doing her stuff.


2. Josh's new laptop arrived yesterday, and he immediately began working on getting his classes online; he'd been getting stuff together on paper before then. Not only did we need the second laptop just for logistical purposes (two people cannot both work full time on the same laptop) but also because ever since our institution went to that multi-factor authentication thing where you have to get a text to sign into your email and other university accounts, we can't toggle between accounts on the same device. If he logs into his stuff on my laptop, it won't let me log into mine without trying about a billion times and getting a million text messages. It really was not going to work for what we need to do, and we are very lucky to be able to afford to afford another laptop on short notice. So that's sorted.

3. I have everything up for my class except the lectures. I am so proud of myself. I figured out how to record audio announcements using this headset I got for a video meeting like two years ago and never used again, and I figured out how to record video lectures using my webcam. So tomorrow, I'm going to record those and get them up, and then everything will be done for my courses. Whew!

4. Emma is reading The Great Gatsby for her Honors English class, so I decided to read along with her. The last time I read it was, I believe, in grad school first year, so 2001. Before that, I'd only read it once in 8th grade. I'm also slogging through this horrible collection of Corso poetry; I liked the other collection well enough, but this one is nigh unreadable (to me).

5. I was so stoked about the Westworld premiere. I was really worried it wouldn't be as good transplanted into a new environment, but it exceeded expectations.

I am so intrigued by this future where everything is decided by algorithm and if it decides you're just mediocre, you get no chances for anything. Love all the dystopic elements of only talking to AI, of automated therapy, of apps to commit crimes.

I want the big reveal of whoever is running the AI that runs everything (dad's unnamed mysterious partner) to involve an already known character. I'd like it to either be the man in black or Ford somehow, but I suspect they're going to intro a new character.

Love every single thing Dolores is doing. She is so ruthless and destructive and cool. That little flick where she swishes her LBD into the long, Grecian number is *chef's kiss.*

Can't wait to see how she and "I need to find someone real to survive" Caleb are going to interact.

Super intrigued by whatever is going on with Maeve. Is she the Maeve we've been watching so far or an earlier/different version?

6. executrix sent me a box of books. Yay!!

Comments

[tamsin]

Sounds like your kids are being troopers.

Yay for books! What did you get?

[lunabee34]

I won the kiddo lottery. I am so lucky.

I got

A Thousand Beginnings and Endings (retellings of Asian myths/legends)

The Industrial Muse (lit crit of 19th century working class lit)

The Visitors (novel)

Alternative Alcott

Alcott bio

A Perfect Fit: Clothes, Character, and the Promise of America

Minders of Make Believe (lit crit of children's lit)

Are Girls Necessary? Lesbian Writing and Modern Histories

Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations of Wuthering Heights

[tamsin]

I think they are pretty lucky with their mom too.

What a cool selection! Going to check a few of them out for myself.

[misbegotten]

No lie, Amazon recommended this to me yesterday. It made me smile.

[lunabee34]

It is such a cute book. I'm having fun revisiting it. It was a childhood favorite. :)

[misbegotten]

It's one of the few children's books that I still own (though not a childhood copy -- one I acquired several years ago).

[kore]

I love Gatsby -- it's one of my favourite books. sholio had an interesting discussion of it a little while back.

[executrix]

isiscolo is aggregating humorous things about the grim situation. One of them was "Day 1 of homeschooling: two children suspended for fighting, teacher disciplined for drinking on the job."

[lunabee34]

Ahahahhaahhaha.

That sounds about right.

[lunabee34]

I only remember bits and pieces of it. So far, I'm enjoying the writing but don't find any of the characters likable. I'm only two chapters in. Emma's reading a chapter a day, so I thought I'd match her.

[nyctanthes]

Can you come here and homeschool my kids? This sounds great!

Is there massive whining?

[lunabee34]

LOL

No whining. Fiona basically likes everything we're doing, so she's okay with it. I expect her to start to antsy in the coming days. She's very social, and I know she will start to miss playing with other kids. But she doesn't really balk at doing the work.

A Dissenting View

[executrix]

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/opinion/coronavirus-home-school.html (this should be not-paywalled, because NYT and Wall St J said their COVID coverage is free).

Re: A Dissenting View

[lunabee34]

It is paywalled for some reason, but I could read it through my uni library.

I completely agree with her in that I'm not doing this because I think Fiona will fall behind or that it will put college out of her reach one day (sheesh! catastrophize much?). If all she did was lay around and watch TV and read books, she'd be fine academically.

I'm doing it because we are all going to go stir-crazy if we don't have regular physical activity, and I know from past experience that letting Fi watch too much TV or do much screens makes her really ill-behaved and miserable. It's to keep her from going antsy and to give us all some structure and routine, which to be fair, I personally need to not lose my mind.

If Fiona was older like the author's kids, I probably wouldn't be doing this regimented thing with her. We're not with Emma. I'm just letting her manage her own shit. LOL

[princessofgeeks]

All this sounds great except....

BUNNICULA?

WTF?

[zulu]

You've never read the hare-raising tale of a vegetable's worst nightmare, and the intrepid cat and reluctant dog who solve the case (and stake veggies with toothpicks?). It's really awesome - the sequels less so, though I have a fondness for The Celery Stalks At Midnight.

[lunabee34]

I really love Howliday Inn. That one cracks me up.

I've only read Bunnicula, The Celery Stalks at Midnight, and Howliday Inn. There are others, though, and I think Fi has at least one of them.

[lunabee34]

zulu said it better than I could.

It is an incredibly funny book with one of the best narrators ever.

[independence1776]

I'm glad what you're doing with Fiona's working. Congrats on getting so much done!

[lunabee34]

Thank you!

*hugs*

I feel pretty on top of everything.

[amejisuto]

Just what every parent at home wants to break out- glue. LOL. Good luck with that.

Glad Josh got his own laptop! That should make these weeks easier for you!

[lunabee34]

LOL

She was very good with it. I only had to wipe off the seat of the chair. :)

[amejisuto]

That's good. I'd hate to hear of you glued to your laptop or something else. LOL.

[cathexys]

Thought of you when I saw this: https://stories.audible.com/start-listen

(I just bought myself a year of Audible to get more books!!! :)

[lunabee34]

That is so awesome. Thanks for linking.