Established 27 June 2006, originally it was "My Little Contribution" [to the internet], and was mostly just for my mom. 💕 She's gone now, it's just me here with my random thoughts and interests and hopes and dreams, and for-real the struggles!
Am I My Own Weakest Link?
Spring Break 2012 Day 2 Sunday
So he brought her home for a quick bite to eat, and I took her to the ER, where she was seen after an incredulous five minute wait (we had been quoted 1½hrs), and her chin was butterfly-stitched (which could have been done at the urgent care place, probably much cheaper).
So we got a late start to NB's, enjoyed a "cooked in the yard" dinner, then enjoyed some family Jenga! AJ lasted but one round, then needed to be put to bed due to unsportsman-like conduct. Grandma & Grandpa & Uncle Dre & Phoebe enjoyed several more fun-filled rounds before NB sent us home so I could finish my homework.
I was completely unsatisfied with my paper, but I submitted it at midnight when it was due.
Note to self: do not schedule anything during the last week of school.
Spring Break 2012 Day 1 Saturday
By early Saturday Phoebe was ready to head STRAIGHT to Grandma & Grandpa's hotel for some pool time! I let her pack her swim stuff, but insisted we go to NB's so the plan of the day could come together with the inputs of all involved. :) AJ had a rough day and wasn't up to pool play, so we chatted the day away, enjoyed a Pizza Hut dinner, and then snuck off to the pool without AJ. When I asked Christopher if he wanted to swim he said no, so I stayed dressed, but took him and his swim trunks with us to the pool to watch Phoebe & Grandma play. I think I heard Phoebe say "Grandma, watch me!" about a million times. :) Then Christopher got interested, so I got him changed and deposited him into the water with Grandma. I'm glad I didn't get in too, because Christopher clung to his Grandma with hugs and smiles and play like never before. They both seemed to really enjoy it.
Then as the pool closed and I attempted to wrangle up the wet munchkins, Phoebe banged her chin on the edge of the pool. :( It didn't bleed much, and she didn't cry at all, but I know chin injuries hurt. Grandpa put a band-aid on it and we headed home. Christopher again stayed asleep through the transition, but Phoebe got her chin re-bandaged by Daddy and stayed up to watch the Kid's Choice Awards (KCAs). She has already suggested that we might have to move to California when the time comes so she can attend "Hollywood Arts" (the high school where fictitious Victoria Justice and her friends to go school).
Math Discussion 1.1
Example 1. Suppose it is girl scout cookie season. :) You have committed to buy ten boxes of cookies from your own daughter, and also to buy three boxes from every other girl scout that comes to your door selling cookies. The total amount of cookies you buy does not depend on how many boxes you buy from each girl, but on the number of girls that come to your door. Therefore, the cookies you buy from your own daughter can be considered fixed, and the cookies from other girl scouts can be considered variable. If your total cookie purchase (in boxes) is expressed as y, and the number of girl scouts you buy cookies from is expressed as x, then y = 10 + 3x.
- Solving the x-intercept for y = 10 + 3x (y = 0)
0 = 10 + 3x
-10 = 3x
-(10/3) = x
-3.33 = x
x-intercept is (-3.33, 0) - Solving the y-intercept for y = 10 + 3x (x = 0)
y = 10 + 3*0
y = 10 + 0
y = 10
y-intercept is (0, 10)
- Solving the x-intercept for y = 2*5 + 20x (y = 0)
0 = 2*5 + 20x
0 = 10 + 20x
-10 = 20x
-(10/20) = x
-0.5 = x
x-intercept is (-0.5, 0) - Solving the y-intercept for y = 2*5 + 20x (x = 0)
y = 2*5 + 20*0
y = 10 + 0
y = 10
y-intercept is (0, 10)
- Solving the x-intercept for y = 2(31-x) + 4x (y = 0)
0 = 2(31-x) + 4x
0 = 2*31 - 2x + 4x
0 = 62 + 2x
-62 = 2x
-(62/2) = x
-31 = x
x-intercept is (-31, 0) - Solving the y-intercept for y = 2(31-x) + 4x (x = 0)
y = 2(31-0) + 4*0
y = 2*31 + 0
y = 62
y-intercept is (0, 62)
OMFG @ Remedial Graduate Math :{
Algebra Review:
~Natural Numbers. Ok, got it.
~Whole Numbers. Ok, got it.
~Rational Numbers. Ok.
~Irrational Numbers. Wtf.
Properties of Real Numbers:
~Commutative, Associative, Identity, Inverse, Distributive. Had to refresh my memory, but ok.
Polynomials. Ok.
Addition & Subtraction. Now that's what I'm talkin' about! :)
Rules of Parenthesis. I remember those.
Multiplication & the FOIL Method: First, Outside, Inside, Last. Had to re-learn that. Shit.
Order of Operations. Thanks to building Excel formulas, I know that.
Properties of Exponents:
~Product, Quotient, Power of a Power, Product of a Power, Quotient to a Power, Zero Exponent, Negative Exponent, Inverse. WTF!! Shit!
Radicals. Huh?
Factoring. Simplifying - I can get w/that.
Greatest Common Factor. There's a formula for that? I always did that in my head, formula makes no sense. What's a "prime" factor?
Factoring Patterns. "When factoring polynomials there are common patterns easily recognizable..." Easily recognizable MY ASS.
Properties of Rational Expressions:
~Cancellation, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction. Ok.
Rectangular Coordinates and Linear Equations. Thanks to Excel, this is not totally foreign.
Point-Slope Form. I f'ing hate Algebra.
Slope-Intercept Form. Who needs math anyway.
Business Applications of Linear Equations. Finally, maybe this can be made useful somehow.
~Forecasting. Supply & Demand makes sense - but these formulas?!? Shit!
~Break-even Analysis. "Suppose that you are selling popcorn." Yeah, suppose that. I don't need math to sell popcorn.
THIS SEMESTER IS GONNA SUCK. :{
The Incredible Shrinking Stephanie
I'm short, and fat! I am hoping this photo, combined with the uncomfortable fit of most of the clothes in my closet, will help motivate and propel me into some sort of fitness/weight-loss regimine. There's this nice 2½-mile lake trail - right in my neighborhood! I really need to get out there. Me and Sydney. 5am. I remember how good it feels to start my day with exercise.
Lunch w/Rado
He didn’t answer in writing, suggested I call to setup a meeting. I was reluctant, it took 2yrs for us to cross paths for lunch. His explanation: JAG had it out for me, but he didn’t say why.
Even at 41yo, I didn’t have the courage to press him on why. He was still active duty, a Battalion Commander, I figured he wasn’t yet completely unencumbered - if he ever would be, I’d have to ask again after he retired.
Grades So Far
Caretake This Moment
“Caretake this moment.
Immerse yourself in its particulars.
Respond to this person, this challenge, this deed.
Quit the evasions.
Stop giving yourself needless trouble.
It is time to really live;
to fully inhabit the situation you happen to be in now.”
~Epictetus