It's always best to follow the recipe...
courtesy of... lolpix.com
Beverly Hills PD...
courtesy of... extremefunnypictures.com
courtesy of... icanhascheezburger.com
14 January 2010
Friday Fotos: 1/15
Beverly Hills PD...
courtesy of... extremefunnypictures.com
courtesy of... icanhascheezburger.com
12 January 2010
Studying for Semester Finals
My oldest is about to embark the first time on a very scary journey: taking her high school semester finals. Before this time, she would be able to take her exams in the comfort of her own room, but now that she is in high school, she needs to go to a testing center to take them. Then, for the next two days, she will be taking exams in each of her six subjects. Currently, she feels overwhelmed by the task ahead of her and it is my job to help her over this hurdle. So, I felt it timely to bore all of you with how we are going to go about acing these tests. On a serious note, I would ask that you all please pray for her; she can really use it. Hopefully this information will help...
Studying for your exams:
Three important words: organize, organize, organize. You need to organize all of your course materials and study guides. Make sure everything is in one place and easy to get at. This may seem like a simple step and it is, but it is less intimidating to work from neatly stacked papers rather than a box stuffed with them.
The first thing you should do is remember that your teachers are there to help you to learn and succeed, not try to see you fail. If they supply a study guide, use it! They know what's on the exam, so use whatever weapons they give you.
Once you have all your study guides, take a moment to sit back and take a breath. Studying for multiple exams can be very intimidating, but just remember to take it one course at a time.
Set aside a block of time for each class and concentrate on only one class for that period of time. Try to do just one unit per day, per course.
Start at the beginning of the term and review each lesson in that unit.
If possible, try and review your old exams.
If possible, redo some of your old assignments (math).
Actually write down what you read (if you are working from a study guide, just answer the questions that are in the guide). However, you do need to actually write it down, as this will help you retain the knowledge.
I have found that actually teaching (speaking out loud) the information helps me to retain the knowledge. Imagine that you are teaching the information to someone and if no one is around, teach your favorite pet or stuffed animal.
If you get tired, take a break and do something else for ten or fifteen minutes.
Oh, and take it from someone who knows: cramming does not work, so don't leave your studying for the last minute. If you have a week or more to prepare, use that time! If you try and leave everything to the last minute, you will find yourself hopelessly overwhelmed (again, I've been there).
I realize that all this is obvious, so why even bother writing about it? Yes, it is obvious, but when you are on the other side of the exams, sometimes it is the obvious things that we need to be reminded about.
If you know of any other tricks or tips, please let me know.
Studying for your exams:
Three important words: organize, organize, organize. You need to organize all of your course materials and study guides. Make sure everything is in one place and easy to get at. This may seem like a simple step and it is, but it is less intimidating to work from neatly stacked papers rather than a box stuffed with them.
The first thing you should do is remember that your teachers are there to help you to learn and succeed, not try to see you fail. If they supply a study guide, use it! They know what's on the exam, so use whatever weapons they give you.
Once you have all your study guides, take a moment to sit back and take a breath. Studying for multiple exams can be very intimidating, but just remember to take it one course at a time.
Set aside a block of time for each class and concentrate on only one class for that period of time. Try to do just one unit per day, per course.
Start at the beginning of the term and review each lesson in that unit.
If possible, try and review your old exams.
If possible, redo some of your old assignments (math).
Actually write down what you read (if you are working from a study guide, just answer the questions that are in the guide). However, you do need to actually write it down, as this will help you retain the knowledge.
I have found that actually teaching (speaking out loud) the information helps me to retain the knowledge. Imagine that you are teaching the information to someone and if no one is around, teach your favorite pet or stuffed animal.
If you get tired, take a break and do something else for ten or fifteen minutes.
Oh, and take it from someone who knows: cramming does not work, so don't leave your studying for the last minute. If you have a week or more to prepare, use that time! If you try and leave everything to the last minute, you will find yourself hopelessly overwhelmed (again, I've been there).
I realize that all this is obvious, so why even bother writing about it? Yes, it is obvious, but when you are on the other side of the exams, sometimes it is the obvious things that we need to be reminded about.
If you know of any other tricks or tips, please let me know.
10 January 2010
The Cat Who Got into Everything
The little angel
My wife and I are about ready to kill a Siamese. Ever since Yum Yum woke us up this morning, the second time after being fed, she has been getting into absolutely everything. This little monster currently has five little plastic springs that she just loves to play with, but they've just disappeared. We looked under the couch, the chairs, the bed, but we just can't find them. So being spring-less, she began chewing on the Christmas tree (I know, it should've been taken down weeks ago, but we just love having it up) and if she isn't doing that, she is playing with the blinds, the cords, our iPod headphones, using my Total Gym for a scratching post, knocking the Dvd's off of the table, trying to steal my pen, or walking over the keyboard...I think you get the general idea. We usually squirt her with some water (we have a squirt bottle for just this purpose), but she just shakes it off and finds something else to get into.
It all started at around 7:00AM when she came pouncing on our bed and began to tear around over the top of us. My wife decided to get up and go into the living room, but did Yum Yum follow her? Nope, she continued to run over the top of me, attacking my feet and head for a good ten to fifteen minutes. Finally, growing bored with this, she took her show "on the road" and went to distract my wife. While my wife was wrapped-up in her blanket and trying to read the Bible, Yum Yum got right to work and began chewing on the tree. Unwrapping and grabbing the bottle, Mary walked over to the tree and squirted her. Back to the couch and just as she got wrapped up, Yum Yum renewed her assault on the tree.
This went on a few more times and I guess it finally sunk into that tiny Siamese mind to stop playing with the Christmas tree, because she stopped and began playing with the blinds and those tantalizing cords that hang beside them. The only good part about this change of venue, is the fact that my wife doesn't have to get up off the couch to "discipline" the little darling.
Fast-forward a few hours and my wife is in the kitchen preparing food for our birds. She has a bag of peas in her hand, when she hears the tell-tale sign of a cat trying to climb a tree. As Mary turns towards the tree, the peas go flying out of the bag and all over the kitchen and dining room floors; Yum Yum goes flying into the bathroom and thus earns her first, well-deserved, timeout.
After about ten minutes, she is released from her self-imposed prison and you would have thought that she may have learned her lesson, but no it was back to the mischief, which continued until just about an hour ago. She is now stretched full-length on my wife's blanket, dreaming no doubt, of other mischief she can get into.
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