Give Me 5 Monday - Random Things I've Never Done

Becca over at BeccA's Buzz has started the Give Me Five Monday meme back up! Here's what it's all about:

The 'Give Me Five' Monday meme is designed to share fun information with each other in a simple short list! Here's how it works. Each week, I will put out a random topic from my list of topics and you share 5 answers of your choice on the given topic and link back here! You can add photos, links or stories or just a simple list of your own of 5 things that relate to the topic as it pertains to you and your life experiences. It doesn't have to be in any order of importance unless otherwise specified.

Today's topic is: Give me 5 Random Things you've never done before

1. I've never jumped out of an airplane (but I want to)
2. I've never crocheted a baby blanket (and since I never learned to crochet, I most likely never will)
3. I've never starred in a television show (like that would ever happen!)
4. I've never written a book (my dad has, though - it's all about his life, and I really, really, really need to stop reading all these library books and read that one)
5. I've never been part of a marching band (Cory is, though, and he loves it!)

If you'd like to participate in the Give Me Five Monday meme, post your list, visit BeccA's Buzz, and sign in.

To the Fair!

We'll be heading to the Wisconsin State Fair tomorrow. Cory has to work from 3:30-10:30 so we'll just take him to work, drop him off, and spend the time he's working hanging out at the fair. If he had his license I suppose he could drive himself to work, and we could stay home, but we always enjoy running around the fair. We like looking at the animals, so maybe I'll have some new critters to share for Camera Critters next weekend. We also always have to look at all the gadgets and gizmos and infomercial type products for sale, usually taste some wine, pick up as many free samples as we can, and listen to some music along the way. Oh, and then there's the food. I will not be trying the new chocolate covered bacon, and I would not be trying that even if I did eat pork, but I'm sure we'll find something good to eat. I especially like the food in the Wisconsin Products Pavilion, because I love seeing the foods that are grown and produced in Wisconsin. The Golden Guernsey booth where Cory is working is in there too, so of course we'll have to stop by and say 'Hi' to him a couple times.

While we're walking around the big expo center I'll debate whether or not to sign up to win some Branson vacations, a kitchen makeover, or a new car when I see the entry forms. I usually decide not to sign up because I know I'll never win, and all I'm doing is giving them my information so they can call me and try to get me to attend some timeshare presentation or something I do not want to do. Sometimes the prize is good enough I just have to try - after all, it's the State Fair and anything can happen, right? I'll be sure to let you know if I win anything. Mostly I figure it's a day to spend hanging out with my husband, and that's good whether I win anything or not.

If I talk nice to the guy at the Golden Guernsey booth, I might get free milk though...

Time to Study for the ACT

I heard about this on the news last November and posted it because I knew it would come in handy. Cory will be taking the ACT next month, and I'm expecting him to spend as much time as possible on this site between now and then.

I'm also posting this again for anyone else who has a student who needs to study for the ACT or SAT.

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MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin students can study for their SAT and ACT exams for free on a new state Web site.

KnowHow2GoWisconsin announced Friday that its Web site now has tutorials and interactive practice sessions for the two college entrance exams as well as the graduate school exam known as the GRE.

The program paid for with a federal grant includes a vocabulary builder with more than 2,000 words that adapts to each student's abilities.

KnowHow2GoWisconsin is a partnership of Wisconsin public schools, colleges and universities that aims to help more students go to college.

KnowHow2GoWisconsin

This looks like it's going to be really helpful. Besides the test prep, the site is supposed to help students know what they should be doing now to get ready for college. There are a lot of great resources on the site, too. I'm looking through this site wondering why no one told us about it before. Were we somehow supposed to find it on our own? I do wish the school would do a little more to make sure the kids have the resources they need to be successful.

Time to get serious about this whole college thing. Like they say, "There are lots of steps 2 take and this website can help. It’s never too early–or too late–2 get started on the road 2 college."

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Camera Critters (#70)

Good thing we have a critter living in our house, or I wouldn’t be able to participate in this meme every weekend.  I never seem to get out and get pictures of any other critters.   I just take pictures of this one:

She’s just so cute, my camera just points at her automatically!

Camera Critters is a fun weekend meme hosted by Misty Dawn.Visit the Camera Critters headquarters and join in. There are all kinds of great critter pics to see.

Looking at the Sky on Friday - 25

I’m so glad there’s a meme like Looking at the Sky on Friday, because it means all the time I spend looking at the sky, and taking pictures of it, has a purpose!  Click the badge for more info.
I love watching birds soar and small planes fly.  It must be absolutely amazing to fly!  For now the best I can do is find some swing sets and swing as high as I can go, right up to the clouds. Maybe someday, flying lessons… but for now I just take pictures of the planes that fly over.

If you enjoy skies as much as I do, be sure to check out Looking at the Sky on Friday.

It's State Fair Time Again

The Wisconsin State Fair started today, and that means Cory is working for the next couple weeks. This is his 3rd year working the Golden Guernsey booth at the fair, and he really enjoys it. The days are long, and there's a lot of standing, but it's a pretty easy job selling milk and greeting people. This year he even has the gel inserts for his shoes the first day! Last year he suffered through day one and then he and his dad stopped at Walgreens before his shift the second day to buy some inserts. Those things really do make a difference! Too bad they can't have some GelPro mats for everyone to stand on.

He's working again tomorrow and then Sunday. I took him and dropped him off this morning because he didn't have to work until 11:30, but on most days he has to be there at 8 or 8:30am, so his dad will swing by there and drop him off before heading to work, and then pick him up again after work. There may be some waiting around either before or after work, but he'll figure out something to do. Beth mentioned tonight that she really wants a cream puff, but she's probably not going to make it to the fair. I told her to ask her brother, nicely, and give him some money, and he can go get one for her between the time he gets off work and the time his dad picks him up. It won't take long, but it will give him something to do at least one day.

Anyway, it's a busy schedule for a couple weeks, but pretty decent money for a young man. I'm not sure what he's got planned for his money this year, probably not a big purchase like a PS3, but definitely some Pokemon cards, maybe some posters, maybe some books, and who knows what all. He does always manage to find something to spend it on.

Band Camp and Cookout

Cory had band camp this morning. It's a really abbreviated version of band camp - when he first started marching band in 8th grade they had a week of all day band, 10am-5pm, and then a second week from 10am-2pm. They took a day off and went to Noah's Ark at the end of the first week and had a pizza party or something fun the 2nd week, but there was also a lot of playing and marching practice. This year it's more of a get to know the new band teacher, see what the coming year is going to look like kind of band camp, and it only lasts 2 days, 9am-noon.

This is the 2nd year in a row they are starting out with a new band teacher. Hopefully this one can stick around for a while, though since Cory is going to graduate, it won't really affect him. It would be nice to get a little continuity and support in the band program, though. We had a get together cook-out this evening for all the band students and their parents, both middle school and high school, so everyone could meet the new teacher and to let the parents know how important their involvement is. It sounds like we will get at least a few more involved with the Band Boosters and helping out, so that's great. The new teacher seems really nice. It's her first full-time teaching job, and she's full of enthusiasm and ideas and hopefully will be really good for our band.

Early Morning Drama

So the phone rings at 4:19 this morning. It's Beth. All she says is, "I need Dad." I'm asking, "Where are you? What's wrong?"

Turns out she was right outside. She wouldn't tell me what was wrong, just that she needed her dad - "Tell him to run. I need him now!" OK, he's coming but he needs to put some shorts on first.

About then we heard Tim's car roar away, Jeffrey got to the front door, and Beth is all hysterical. Tim's drunk, she tried to take his keys so he couldn't drive away, but he grabbed them and took off. I'm not really sure what happened after that because Jeffrey came back and got dressed, grabbed his wallet and keys and was going to go look for Tim or something, but in the meantime Tim came back. They took his keys and made him sleep in the basement, and he was not happy.

What I'm not happy about is that Beth didn't bother to call first - before she got in the car and let him drive her home drunk. Her dad has told her repeatedly that she can call and he will come get her, but NO, she climbed in the car with the drunk idiot and then called once he actually got her home safely, because she didn't want him to drive any more. Why even bother to call then? My first reaction was that he got her home safely, why should I even care about him? Why? Except, of course that he could hurt someone else on the way home.

So, of course, it was the right thing to stop him from driving - though seriously, why bring him into the house? Take his keys, give him a blanket, and let him sleep in the car. I guess I just don't feel the need to be nice to some idiot who supposedly loves my daughter but shows such complete disregard for her safety. Honestly, I think this kid is bound and determined to ruin his life, and if Beth doesn't watch it he's going to drag her down with him. Does she really want to live like this? Is that boy ever going to grow up?

A Couple Things that Bug Me

• People who sign in for memes, but when I visit their blog I can't find a post for that meme.
• People who want to advertise on my Entrecard, but haven't actually visited my blog and dropped their card.
• and the inappropriate use of apostrophes.

Ok, I'm done - for now.

Camera Critters (#69)

Jeffrey and Cory have been building a deck this summer. Last Sunday they got the framework for the pergola built. Now all it needs is the boards on top, which we still have to buy. Check out the photos if you’re interested in seeing the deck as it was built.

Last night after dinner, grilled steaks and corn which we enjoyed on the deck, Beth put Tillie up on the pergola framework, and she explored the whole thing.

She contemplated jumping onto the roof of the house:

but decided against it.

Camera Critters is a fun weekend meme hosted by Misty Dawn.Visit the Camera Critters headquarters and join in. There are all kinds of great critter pics to see.

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