annie blog

Academics Are Not Just Academics

around these parts.

Most of y’all know that my oldest son is dual enrolled at the local junior high and with me, at home. Home is where we work on reading, comprehension, writing, math, reasoning and other assorted academics. My son refers to these things that we do at home as BLASTED ACADEMICS.

So, I thought, just to be funny I would write “Blasted Academics” on the cover of the planner that lists the things that he must accomplish with me each day.

The boy must have the last word, it seems, if you read his scrawl here (thank you, God, for typing…where would my son be without it?):

P.S. I’m sick of academics!!

He tells me what he really feels, that one.

I Figured Out Something Today
about our dog, Conan.

The background info here is that he asks to go out all the time. When it is time for him to come in he doesn’t immediately respond. (He always comes for Jon, of course, because he knows who the paterfamilias is.)

Today opened the back door and I called him in. He looked over at me, and then continued to bark ferociously at the bassett hound strolling by on the road. “Conan!” I yelled. And, then, because someone has a temper, I stomped my foot. The second my foot hit the floor Conan dashed toward the door like the ground underneath him was on fire.

I tried it the next time I had to call him in and it worked like a charm.

Part of me wishes that he didn’t respond so readily to my stomping — part of me is glad that something works.

Though, I have a feeling the Dog Whisperer wouldn’t approve.

I Figured Out Something Today
about our dog, Conan.

The background info here is that he asks to go out all the time. When it is time for him to come in he doesn’t immediately respond. (He always comes for Jon, of course, because he knows who the paterfamilias is.)

Today opened the back door and I called him in. He looked over at me, and then continued to bark ferociously at the bassett hound strolling by on the road. “Conan!” I yelled. And, then, because someone has a temper, I stomped my foot. The second my foot hit the floor Conan dashed toward the door like the ground underneath him was on fire.

I tried it the next time I had to call him in and it worked like a charm.

Part of me wishes that he didn’t respond so readily to my stomping — part of me is glad that something works.

Though, I have a feeling the Dog Whisperer wouldn’t approve.

I Figured Out Something Today
about our dog, Conan.

The background info here is that he asks to go out all the time. When it is time for him to come in he doesn’t immediately respond. (He always comes for Jon, of course, because he knows who the paterfamilias is.)

Today opened the back door and I called him in. He looked over at me, and then continued to bark ferociously at the bassett hound strolling by on the road. “Conan!” I yelled. And, then, because someone has a temper, I stomped my foot. The second my foot hit the floor Conan dashed toward the door like the ground underneath him was on fire.

I tried it the next time I had to call him in and it worked like a charm.

Part of me wishes that he didn’t respond so readily to my stomping — part of me is glad that something works.

Though, I have a feeling the Dog Whisperer wouldn’t approve.

I Got A Phone Call Yesterday,

I answered, “Hello.”

A voice said, “Is your refrigerator running?”

I said, “Son, why are you calling me from school?”

He said, “Hey Mom. Have you seen my math book?”

Would you have said that joke to your mom if you had been instructed to call her when you were in school and your teacher was standing right there? I know that I wouldn’t have.

But then, I am not wired up to be a buster.
He is.

I Got A Phone Call Yesterday,

I answered, “Hello.”

A voice said, “Is your refrigerator running?”

I said, “Son, why are you calling me from school?”

He said, “Hey Mom. Have you seen my math book?”

Would you have said that joke to your mom if you had been instructed to call her when you were in school and your teacher was standing right there? I know that I wouldn’t have.

But then, I am not wired up to be a buster.
He is.

I Got A Phone Call Yesterday,

I answered, “Hello.”

A voice said, “Is your refrigerator running?”

I said, “Son, why are you calling me from school?”

He said, “Hey Mom. Have you seen my math book?”

Would you have said that joke to your mom if you had been instructed to call her when you were in school and your teacher was standing right there? I know that I wouldn’t have.

But then, I am not wired up to be a buster.
He is.

My Sweet Little Bird

Look, y’all, at this darling little bird that my wonderful friend and college roommate, Kathleen, sent me.

I just love it.

I don’t know how Kathleen does it, she’s got 6 children and still managed to get this done and mailed to me before Christmas. I didn’t even get around to sending a Christmas email. I am pathetic…

Anyway, back to my sweet little bird. I got it right before we were headed out the door on the way to Mississippi/Alabama and only had a moment to admire it and put it on the tree before I started throwing suitcases and gifts into the car. Today I was taking the tree down and thought to myself that I just wasn’t going to pack my little bird away with my ornaments. It didn’t seem right to me. So, now it is hanging on the wall above my computer monitor with some of my other favorite things.

Makes me smile every time I see it.

Thanks, Kathleen!

My Sweet Little Bird

Look, y’all, at this darling little bird that my wonderful friend and college roommate, Kathleen, sent me.

I just love it.

I don’t know how Kathleen does it, she’s got 6 children and still managed to get this done and mailed to me before Christmas. I didn’t even get around to sending a Christmas email. I am pathetic…

Anyway, back to my sweet little bird. I got it right before we were headed out the door on the way to Mississippi/Alabama and only had a moment to admire it and put it on the tree before I started throwing suitcases and gifts into the car. Today I was taking the tree down and thought to myself that I just wasn’t going to pack my little bird away with my ornaments. It didn’t seem right to me. So, now it is hanging on the wall above my computer monitor with some of my other favorite things.

Makes me smile every time I see it.

Thanks, Kathleen!

My Sweet Little Bird

Look, y’all, at this darling little bird that my wonderful friend and college roommate, Kathleen, sent me.

I just love it.

I don’t know how Kathleen does it, she’s got 6 children and still managed to get this done and mailed to me before Christmas. I didn’t even get around to sending a Christmas email. I am pathetic…

Anyway, back to my sweet little bird. I got it right before we were headed out the door on the way to Mississippi/Alabama and only had a moment to admire it and put it on the tree before I started throwing suitcases and gifts into the car. Today I was taking the tree down and thought to myself that I just wasn’t going to pack my little bird away with my ornaments. It didn’t seem right to me. So, now it is hanging on the wall above my computer monitor with some of my other favorite things.

Makes me smile every time I see it.

Thanks, Kathleen!