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Our Daily Thread 8-27-13

Good Morning!

On this day in 1859 the first oil well was successfully drilled in the U.S. by Colonel Edwin L. Drake near Titusville, PA.

In 1889 Charles G. Conn received a patent for the metal clarinet.

In 1921 the owner of Acme Packing Company bought a pro football team for Green Bay, WI.  J.E. Clair paid tribute to those who worked in his plant by naming the team the Green Bay Packers.

In 1938, Robert Frost, in a fit of jealousy, set fire to some papers to disrupt a poetry recital by another poet, Archibald MacLeish.

In 1945 American troops landed in Japan after the surrender of the Japanese government at the end of World War II.

And in 1984 President Ronald Reagan announced that the first citizen to go into space would be a teacher. The teacher that was eventually chosen was Christa McAuliffe.  She died in the  Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986.

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Quote of the Day

“If we try to engineer outcomes, if we overturn tradition to make everyone the same, we ruin society. If we upset tradition to allow for an equal shot at the starting gate, everyone wins, except for the charlatans and would be dictators.”

Ben Stein

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Today is Megan Garrett’s birthday.

It’s also “The Captain’s”

And it’s Jeff Cook’s as well.

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Anyone have a QoD?

45 thoughts on “Our Daily Thread 8-27-13”

  2. First? Good morning, all. I was four years old in 1975 and absolutely loved this Captain and Tenille song! I can remember belting it out, standing on my sister’s bed. I also loved James Taylor’s music, especially “Honey don’t leave L.A.” and Michael Martin Murphy’s “Cosmic Cowboy” and John Denver’s “Grandma’s Feather Bed.” I used to be the first one up in the house as an elementary student. I’d go downstairs and get my big sister a cup of coffee, take it to her room and then she’d play some of my favorite songs while she drank the coffee in her bed, with me snuggling beside her. Good memories. Thanks, A.j.!

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  3. Hey there, Jo! Hope you had fun this evening.

    I slept fitfully as Becca came down around midnight with a fever and ended up sleeping in my bed. I was afraid yesterday that she was coming down with something. Guess I’ll be taking her to the doctor today, even though I think it’s just a cold, so that I can get a doctor’s note for her absence from school. Evidently, a parent’s word isn’t good enough anymore. If they miss more than 10 days throughout the school year, they need doctor’s excuses for the absence to be excused. This policy makes me so mad. After all, to whom do the children belong? The parent or the state? I really don’t like public school!

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  4. However, my doctor doesn’t require a doctor’s visit to issue a medical excuse. I can call them and explain the situation and they will write a note to the school. At least my doctor trusts my judgment, even if the school doesn’t.

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  5. so nice to have an understanding doctor.
    still needing more rain here, though we got a little last night. Enough to wash the dust off my van. 🙂

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  6. Becca has an appointment next week for allergy testing. I’m dreading it, but it can’t be helped. She snores like an 80 year old man, even when she’s not ill. And, though her cough has improved significantly (she’s no longer vomiting from coughing since the round of steroids), it’s still there. They’ve all but ruled out asthma (which is great), but don’t know what’s causing it.

    Older daughter (L.) had a “friend” spend the night last night b/c both of her parents were out of town on business. This “friend” (B.) treated her badly last year and only seems to contact L. now when she needs something (a ride to school or Bible study, a place to stay). I’m afraid my heart is pretty hard concerning this girl. She really hurt L. and I’m having a hard time forgiving her. However, B’s mom died from cancer when she was nine and her dad remarried a couple of years ago. The stepmother treats B. differently than she does her biological daughter who is the same age as B. I feel sorry for B., but don’t want her to hurt L. again. This is the last year they will attend the same school, as L. will attend a private, Christian high school next year and B. will go to our local public school. L. is quite forgiving by nature, which is a good thing. I just hope she protects her heart.

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  8. We are going through the gospel of Mark. Tonight we discussed Jesus’ answer to the rich young ruler who asked, “What must I do…?”

    I am ready to get off line for the evening, but there has still not been a morning check in from Chas!

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  9. Good evening Jo. It’s Tuesday, Chas has been up and had breakfast and is drinking coffee. He slept untill 7:00 this morning. I mean really slept, not lolling around in bed.

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  13. Jo, did you see my message last night? I didn’t hear anything official yet, but Karis posted on FB that her mom is now with the Lord.

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  14. OH, Linda, Somehow I got a FB notice about this. I am in a “Follower’s of Jesus” group on FB and this was mentioned yesterday. I will have to go back and find the post. NOW isn’t the world smaller still?

    ANNMS, One ACOA to another. “B” doesn’t have her real mother. She is hurting and hurt people; hurt people. Love her through the hurt.

    Mr. P’s Baby Boy came over late yesterday afternoon and we went to Big Daddy’s on the River to eat. He gave his dad a very nice pair of sunglasses. I wouldn’t mind a pair but I cannot have expensive sunglasses there is a thereom in the universere that the more expensive a pair of sunglasses are the more the likelihood I will lose them or destroy them. The less expensive they are the more likely I will have them for years and years.

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  15. Dr. Hendrik Willem van Loon wrote a history book called The Story of Mankind in 535 pages. He starts off with this:

    “High up in the North in the land called Svithjod, there stands a rock. It is a hundred miles high and a hundred miles wide. Once every thousand years a little bird comes to this rock to sharpen its beak.
    When the rock has thus been worn away, then a single day of eternity will have gone by.”

    Nice try, Bill, it comes close but it doesn’t tell what eternity is. (This from yesterday’s WV.) I suspect that mankind is the only species, natural or spiritual, that has the concept of time. “Time” is an artificial construct. Man defined time in order to record change and to regulate his life cycles. God surely knows how we value this, but is not, Himself, concerned with time. A while back, I saw a video of light from a star that was 35 million light years away. That means that there was a star 35 million years ago that sent out a bit of light. We don’t know it’s status now. Never will.

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  16. Good morning. 🙂 Love the music today! A very musically talented young lady in our church (well, actually, she’s away at college now, majoring in music) sings the Megan Garrett piece beautifully.

    Ann, I enjoyed reading your post about the music you loved! I really liked the Captain and Tennille song, too, when it was popular — and it still made me smile today, as well. And I didn’t see until now how much the Captain looks like a friend I had in college.

    Friends of my husband and I have their own band, and they play a lot of Alabama, including “Play Me Some Mountain Music”. That brings back so many great memories of hubby and me going to hear our friends play when we were dating.

    Thanks for the memories, AJ. 🙂

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  17. When I was student teaching high school vocal music, I met a friend of my supervising teacher, also employed at the school where I was assigned, who had been a finalist in the teacher-in-space program. I forget how many applicants there were for that program, but it was a lot, and she was among the final five to be considered before Christa McAuliffe was selected. My supervising teacher told me her friend had been really bummed when she didn’t get picked.

    I would have never met this lady if she had won, as I didn’t start student teaching there until only a matter of weeks after the explosion of the Challenger.

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  18. Good Morning all….we had an early morning power outage and I tell you I was going through coffee withdraw….a spoiled one I am…after sitting here for two hours of no electricity and no coffee, I was going to head over to Starbucks…alas the power came on and I ran to the coffee maker….life is good…with coffee in hand! 🙂

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  19. Ann, my neighbors were complaining of the same policy you mentioned re: absences past a certain number requiring a doctor’s note. Their son missed quite a few days of school last year, and they were told the same thing: past, I believe, either 10 or 11 absences for sickness, they would need documentation by a doctor. They got so mad at that policy that now this year, both of their school-age children are enrolling in online public school, which is more flexible as to when one “attends”.

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  20. 6 arrows: Yes, I absolutely abhor public school. I honestly don’t even believe in free public education, so it is a real sore spot in my life. Unfortunately, Hubby strongly disagrees with me and has basically insisted the kids go to our local public schools, which are (hilariously/ridiculously/sadly) rated “exemplary.” Public education has become a travesty, imHo. It is appalling what constitutes an exemplary education in Spring, Texas these days. I try to supplement her learning with short, extra lessons at home in math and grammar, but it’s hard to combat the worldview of the school when she’s there for seven hours a day. Sorry. I’m on my soapbox. Hubby has almost agreed to allow L. to attend a Lutheran High School beginning next fall. I am so relieved as the high school we’re zoned to is a tad rough and enormous–it’s the sixth largest h.s. in the state! L. prefers small schools and would like to attend a school where her values are supported. She says the language in the hallways of the local junior high is appalling and that many talk about their sexual escapades in the locker room. The environment was so different at a Church of Christ school she attended K-6. The kids were much more sheltered in sixth grade at the private school vs. 6th graders at public school. We can make this comparison b/c she did 6th grade twice, once at each school, b/c she skipped third grade (the school urged us to have her test out of third grade as she was extremely bored in first and second; this turned out to be a huge mistake socially, as she wasn’t as mature as her peers. So, to rectify this enormous parenting mistake, we put her back in sixth grade when she transferred to public school). She’s in all A.P. classes and still says there is often chaos in the classroom. I’m so happy that Hubby is leaning towards letting her go back to private school. I’d appreciate your prayers for this.

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  21. 6 arrows: In our district, if a child is absent more than 10 days/year, said child must have a doctor’s note for any subsequent absences to be excused. I have a hard time with man-made rules/authority and this did not sit well with me at all. But, I played their game and luckily have an understanding physician. When I started bringing her in for the vomit virus and the common cold, she said I could just call her nurse and they would provide the necessary documentation for the school. She’s been our doctor since Becca was born. When she was 3, they tested her for Cystic Fibrosis b/c she was ill so frequently. Fortunately, she didn’t have it, but it was a scary time. She still catches things easily, and, yes, she takes vitamins and washes her hands frequently (at least in my presence). The attendance lady treats me with disdain when I bring in the notes. She still made straight A’s last year, so I’m not worried about it affecting her education, yet. But it would be great if we could get her immune system built up. It’s no fun to be sick a lot. I was sick frequently as a child and still catch things pretty easily.

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  22. Kim: I know I should love her! And, I thought I did before she stabbed my child in the back and acted in a hateful manner towards her. She has never apologized for her actions. L and B quit talking for a couple of months. I thought it was over. But, a couple of weeks ago, B. started texting L. again. L. decided to let bygones be bygones and has resumed her friendship with her. I don’t trust B. not to hurt L. again. I know the kid has it rough–her step-mom does not seem like a kind woman and her dad travels extensively for work. As a matter of fact, when she needs a place to stay b/c they will both be out of town, she has L. ask me–her parents don’t call or bother to give me contact information. I have their cell phones, but that’s it. To me, that’s not being very protective of your 13 year old daughter and I assume it makes her feel funny to have to invite herself over to our house. But, even though I feel sorry for her, I’m having a very hard time forgiving her. I know this isn’t right, it’s just honest. I’m praying about it. If she had hurt me, I’d be able to let it go–but she hurt my daughter.

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  23. I must get off the computer and get ready to take Becca to the doctor. Otherwise, they’re going to wonder if I need an education on personal hygiene! Besides, I think I’m talking to myself at this point. Sorry to dominate the thread–I’ve had too much coffee and am feeling especially chatty this morning. I drank one more cup than usual, but we have large mugs and it hit me all at once. Oh well–at least I’m not tired anymore! Y’all enjoy!

    Oh! I have to make one more comment. After seeing something on Facebook about Miley Cyrus’ performance on the VMA awards, I googled it this morning. It made me so sad for her and for all the little girls who grew up watching her. It was tragic, really. That is one misguided young woman. Some day she’ll probably be a mommy and her kid will be able to google that performance. So glad the internet wasn’t around to chronicle all of my bad choices as an adolescent/young person!

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  24. Morning all, at least for 8 more minutes.

    The Miley thing is just sad. A waste of talent. I guess she decided to be the new Madonna, and seeks shock value. It would be nice if she had an adult to speak with her about her behavior. She really needs a talkin to.

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  25. It’s still morning here, at least for six minutes more.

    It’s 88° in my classroom. We get out in 20 minutes. Heat wave. You’d think the school board would agree to let us bring air conditioners for the two weeks we need them.

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  26. Our classroom (outside) is in the sixties this morning. People are allowed to wear jackets and hats and gloves. Phos can attest to that even though her classroom was inside. We don’t use an air conditioner.

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  27. Just got back from the doctor. Becca has ear infections in both ears. Thankfully, her doctor put her on Ceftin, a strong antibiotic. She was still running a low-grade fever at the doctor, so no school tomorrow either. I now have the coveted doctor’s note. Glad I took her in–so much for it just being allergies!

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  29. Yeah, that is hot. I hope Peter is home in air-conditioning by now. It’s 78 in here, but it’s not humid so I don’t have the air on yet. It’s not too bad. I will put it on when I start cooking though.

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  30. Annms,

    Poor kid. 😦
    And I’m happy to say, “We don’ need no stinkin’ Doctor’s note.”
    🙂

    Nobody knows better than a parent when their child is ill. It’s a blessing to not have school officials second guessing you. Some day’s if it’s a mild illness, we do some work, and make up the rest. If really sick, no school. We make it up. In most cases, we’re already far enough ahead that it doesn’t put us behind. She still does more work in less time and less days. Education needs to be more about quality and actual learning in the time spent doing it, rather than duration and “time served.”

    And around here, if you want to take a family vacation during the school year, you must have the school’s permission to do so.

    Ummmm….Yeah, 🙄 No.
    We just go.

    6 Arrows,

    You’re welcome. 🙂

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  31. Ann, no need to apologize for being on your soapbox. I think it’s good to climb on it once in a while 😉 It’s not healthy to just “suck it up” and never voice one’s concerns/frustrations/disagreements/stresses — you know what I mean.

    Has your husband, by any chance, read anything by John Taylor Gatto? He was a former New York Public School Teacher of the Year, and has written much about the troubles inherent in the public school system from the perspective of one who knows, having taught in the system for a long time. If your husband is open to reading his perspective, you may be interested in sharing this link with him (his Teacher of the Year acceptance speech). At the bottom of the page is a link to his blog, where you’ll find more of his writings. http://www.home-ed.vic.edu.au/2002/02/26/john-gatto-teacher-of-the-year-acceptance-speech/

    Sorry to hear about Becca’s double ear infection. I hope she’ll be feeling well soon. And good you got your doctor’s note! I was going to say something similar to what AJ said, but his “We don’ need no stinkin’ Doctor’s note.” is way funnier than how I would have put it, LOL! 🙂

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  32. We don’t need a doctor note even for our attending children, even though it is their policy. I suspect they know how quickly we will take our children off their hands and they value our children and their test scores or diagnoses.

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  33. Ann, I forgot that I was going to comment on this you said: “In our district, if a child is absent more than 10 days/year, said child must have a doctor’s note for any subsequent absences to be excused.”

    What if you simply decided that you were not going to take her to a doctor (after all, you are the parent, and you should be free to determine whether she should have to see a doctor — not all illnesses require medical attention)? Would the school give her an unexcused absence? What comes of unexcused absence? If she gets out-of-school suspension, for example, then you’d get to have her at home even more. 😉

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  34. Yes, I am home in a comfortable 80°, low humidity environment. We set the a/c just low enough to get the moisture level down. Mrs L and D3 don’t like the a/c, so this is a compromise. Of course, I would probably only turn it down to 78° anyway.

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  35. OK, I didn’t realize when I said “the Megan Garrett piece” earlier that that was the group Casting Crowns. Third Arrow just informed me of that. 😉

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  37. LOL, Cheryl! I needed that 🙂 That banana slicer page…at least one of those comments needs a “Don’t try this at home” warning! 😛

    And then the “still treading on massive examples of canine excrement.” review. I about died! 😀

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  40. From Cheryl’s link (the product is uranium ore):

    It is not cat food…. The cat’s huge and well, doesn’t really look much like a cat anymore.

    I purchased this product 4.47 Billion Years ago and when I opened it today, it was half empty.

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  41. Cheryl, those are very funny. 😀

    I bought a rare new toy for the dogs, a $6 ball that talks and makes noises when touched. But it’s super loud with barking and other such noises and the dogs (not to mention the poor cat) are terrified of it.

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  43. Well, 5th Arrow finished his medicine today from the tick-borne illness he got last month, and 3rd Arrow got her stitches out today from the glass-sticking-out-of-the-garbage-bag (and “What’s-your-preferred-learning-style”) incident the weekend before last, so maybe (hopefully) we’re at the end of the medical incidents road for a while now. 😉

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