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Archive for April, 2008

10 things I wish I knew before the ACT or SAT test

April 25th, 2008 at 02:57 am

This is the time of year that students are taking their ACT and SAT tests. It has been over 30 years since I took mine. Here are some tips that I wish I knew then, that I know now. (Having spent sometime in the classroom on the teaching side as given me some insight)

1. The night before the test, eat a good healthy balanced supper, and get to bed early.
2. Eat a healthy breakfast the morning of the test. (Do not eat donuts and chocolate milk)
3. Slow down the week of the test. Many schools split the testing out over several days. During the time of the testing, slow down your lifestyle some—skip the ball practices. Give your brain time to slow down and rest.
4. Take healthy snacks to eat during the test. Foods such as carrot sticks, raisins, granola, non-messy finger food type of snacks.
5. Go to the bathroom BEFORE the test starts.
6. Be prepared. Take plenty of #2 pencils with you, as well as an eraser. Also, have a couple Kleenex in your pocket. If you take a calculator, make sure it is the allowed type.
7. Before hand, review the basics of math and English. The rest of it falls into place much easier if you know your basics. Start your review a month before, not the night before.
8. Stay focused. Keep your mind on your test. Don’t spend too much time on one problem-if you need to, skip it and go on.
9. Remember, tests are repeated each year. Make it your goal to improve your score next year.
10. Don’t blow off these tests. I knew students who didn’t show up to take them. Your college placement can depend on these tests. Some states, such as Missouri offer scholarships, based on your tests results. You may not be planning on college now, but may change your mind in a couple of years.

Refund

April 24th, 2008 at 09:15 pm

I called the credit union. The state refund came last week (3 days after it was efiled). The federal is due to be deposited tomorrow.

DH needs to change his withholdings big time. Its April and he has already paid all that we should have to pay for this year in taxes. When we got married, he never changed it-so instead of showing a wife and housefull of daughters, he was still just claiming himself......

So far this week, Monday, Tuesday and today have been no spend days. Friday may be also unless I go buy some plants. I have the planting itch, but its too wet to plant in the garden yet, but I can do my flower pots.

3rd no spender in a row

April 16th, 2008 at 11:45 pm

Spent nothing Mon, Tues or today.

In fact, Mon and today I never left the house, so no fuel used either.

Today it has been in the 70's, so I turned off the heat and opened windows.

Tomorrow and Friday should also be ns days, but Sat and Sun we will be out of town for a 4H event, so we will spend some on gas. However, we are staying with relatives instead of 2 nights in a hotel, and I plan on taking a cooler for our meals on the road and while at our event. So, it will be a cheap trip except for fuel.

The worse of it came after the all clear ...

April 11th, 2008 at 05:24 pm

The all clear sirens sounded last night, so I relaxed some and finally went to bed. We survived rather well.

But, between then and the time I got up this morning things changed.

The metal burn barrels were blown over, the trampoline from the back yard is now in the front yard, part of the girls playhouse roof and soffet is damaged--probably hit by the trampoline, trash is everywhere, a barn door is partly pushed in, and some shingles are questionable. A few trees lost branches also. We got hit with very high winds--in the 55-58 mph range and nothing was damaged. So, what ever hit us after I went to bed was more powerful than that.

And, I managed to sleep through it all. The weather radio was on, but it never toned a warning.

I am glad my car was in the garage--otherwise, the trampoline would have been on top of it--there are marks showing it hit the ground right where I normally park.

The trampoline went up a hill and over a 2 story house to get to where it was now.

Pizzas and Tornados

April 11th, 2008 at 04:48 am

Today was the last day to use the book it free coupons from Pizza Hut for the girls. I had another for a free pizza if you bought one. So, we ended up with 5 pizzas for a total of $15. Not to bad. Of course, we could have made it at home for probably $10. Meat here has gone up and DH likes meat lovers, the last time I made a meat lovers pizza at home, I could have almost bought the pizza cheaper after buying the meat ingredents....

It had been storming off and on all day. We had not been home from getting the Pizza more than 30 seconds when it hit. I had just put my car in the garage and boom. I was going to pull the tractor out of the barn and put DH pickup in, but was afraid to for all the lightening. Something about being in a metal barn and driving a tractor with a metal front loading bale spike sticking up in the air like a lightening rod, kind of nixed that idea.

A tornado touched down not to far away--in St Joseph. It took out 1 house and that was all. The house was right in town. Witnesses said it came down, picked up the house, moved it over and dropped it back down on the sidewalk. One person was mildly injured. A good part of NW MO lost some of their electric. Ours flickered, but stayed on.

Last week I completed a storm spotter/tracker class. I was all geared up to make my first report with tonights storm, but we didn't have anything to report. We had hail, but it was under 3/4 of an inch (we only report 3/4 of an inch or more), and we had 55 mph winds, but they already knew that because it was on TV. Actually TV said 60 mph, but my little weather dodad outside said 55.

DH (on nights now) woke up at 4pm, and takes one look at the cows and tells me we are in for a big storm later. He had not checked the TV or radio for the weather--he could just tell by looking at the cows and the way the were acting. The cows predict the thunderstorms very well, while the horses do a better job of advising when it will snow. You may laugh, but you can tell by the way they act, where the go in the pasture and which direction they turn as to what is going to happen weatherwise.

I never even left the house today

April 10th, 2008 at 04:52 am

and it felt kind of good. (no fuel used either!!!) Today was also a no spend day. Tomorrow should be as well. However, Friday we may go to the FFA fundraiser in town. It is our towns 175th anniversery this weekend with a parade on Saturday.

It has been cool and raining off and on most of today. In fact. I don't think the sun ever came out. We had light though--the girls have been doing electrical experiments. You know, the old ones where you use a potato or lemon for a battery?? The also were able to get the light to come on with using an egg, a pickle and a lime.

DH is working a 12 hour overtime shift today-acutally, he is working 2 of them this week, leaving him with only 1 day off. He will be one tired pup by this weekend.

Evidently, I am not an adult....

April 8th, 2008 at 08:07 pm

DD5 wanted to do a science experiment, but started crying. I asked her what her problem was, and she told me the book said she had to have an adult present and since my husband was sleeping, she could not do it....

What am I? Chopped liver???

The highschool had 4 boys hang themselves almost 2 weeks ago at the school. 2 died. Students have been told they are NOT to discuss it in public. Kids have told me counselers have not been brought it. It has not been on the news. I feel that as a parent and a tax payer have the right to know this. Earlier this school year another boy also hung himself. The boys have ranged in age from 8th grade thru 12th.

I find this rather disturbing in a small town of less than 3000.

Several more families have now pulled their kids out of school to homeschool as a result. One parent told me she has notified the state board of education about the happenings. What is this world coming to?

Busy week

April 6th, 2008 at 08:13 pm

Yet, it seems like not much got done... I did get the taxes taken it. My new car developed an issue Friday, so it is back at the dealers and they have given me a loaner till it is repaired.

We took a horse Saturday to get shots and a coggins test. It was 4H day, so we got huge discounts--it only cost me $30 as opposed to about $75 elsewhere. Getting the horse to get into the trailer was interesting--it was his first time out this year, and it was very windy--not a good combination to load up.

My sister in law, and dd1 have decided we are having a garage sale in 2 weeks, so that will keep me busy for awhile. They are going to Ireland next month after dd1 graduates from college, so this will go into their trip fund.

I now have $30 in gift cards from Home Depot, so I went by after church and picked up some paint color strips. I am wanting to paint the master bath and put up tile. I have the tile left from my house remodel at my rental to use, but I will need some more for a border-I just have to decided on the color.