Day 16 - I don't want to say ....

I told you so, but I told you so... Turns out Ben was the only one in his class to get a 100 on his homework... So he says Mom, this thing about reading and underlining keywords, really works. Most of the kids in the class got half the problems wrong!

Geometry

Well, the topic for this math chapter is just surface area and volume of solids. I said Ben, anyone who knows the formula can work out the answer. So they make it difficult by talking about soup cans (cylinders), and ice cream cones (albeit in winter, for cones), and here's my favourite, when you double the length of a cube, how much does its volume increase? The obvious answer is 2, but the real answer (and the correct one) is 8... And they had thrown in some feet and inches mixed in, for some conversions too... Mines! I said, Ben, be a minesweeper, sweep for mines first (some of you from the Windows 3.1 era , will appreciate the term)... and then underline the base/height/area/volume values, how many answers (look for multiple answer questions), and then methodically take the thing apart... so hope this sticks!

Report for the day

Today's homework, was a vastly improved attempt, and I only found one mistake (feet and inches mixed in), so I was glad. He had done the rough work in a separate paper, and left it floating about. I had him staple together with the work, and write out question numbers near the rough work, so we could connect them later on. I am sure there is a test coming on Friday, before the school closes for the winter break.

I walked my five miles in some cold blustery but sunny day, hey you can't have it all. I am finding that it does not get easy even after 2 weeks of trudging. My first mile is difficult as ever, and miles 3 to 4 are the hardest, when I just want to walk back home. I try a lot of things during this time to take my mind off the aching. I call and talk to friends, or try to find a real good song with a good rhythm (think metronome) to walk to, or just the plain old Come on Shobs! Whatever it takes, whatever it takes...

Meditation Moment

Welcome to Day 16 - Living Gratefully

Our centering thought for today is:

"Today, I remember to be grateful."

Today's Sanskrit mantra and its English essence are:

Om Vardhanam Namah
I nourish the universe, and the universe nourishes me.