Michelle has better arms than me.
I know that summer–and beautiful weather–is here because the number of visits here has plunged off a cliff. Hey, that’s okay. I’ve been offline as well. (I promise to respond to those comments that came in….)
Over the weekend Dear Husband and I marked our 23rd wedding anniversary (gulp) by doing something we’ve not done before: a 24-hour staycation in DC. (The last few years it’s been grilling burgers at the pool with some friends.) We saw a matinee of Rock and Roll at the Studio Theater, then checked into the Willard and headed to the historic bar before dinner at the Old Ebbitt Grill. Since we met in DC, courted in DC, and lived in DC for years it seemed fitting to do. And wouldn’t you know that the Obamas had the same idea? They also had dinner and took in a play, albeit in the Big Apple. Copycats! (We saw their helicopter take off in the late afternoon.)
As lovely as it was, I confess I suffered technology withdrawal and took to sneaking a peek at my iPhone when Dear Husband stepped away. And it only got worse upon our return home because–oh woe!–our Internet router is kaput and a new one won’t arrive until Tuesday. The Internet Man on the Phone said these things should last three years with normal use. It’s been three years, but we’re not normal–we’ve got four power users in the house. Oy! Both kids are moping around the house whining “I miss the Internet.” M. asked, half seriously, “What did we do before the Internet?” “I’ll tell you,” I said. “My butt was glued to that couch, and you were attached at the nipple and listening as I read aloud non-stop for years. And you played.” If anything it’s been instructional to show us all how much we have come to rely on the Internet for just about everything.
And speaking of technology, the outgoing student representative to the board of education has proposed lifting the ban on cell phone use in school and allowing students to use them during lunch period. The Post’s story this morning raises some interesting issues both pro and con. At one local high school they now allow use of personal music devices at lunch. Many kids have iPod Touches…and surprise!…some kids have found a way into a wireless network and onto the Internet. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
As for texting in class, I hadn’t heard from my kids that this is/was an issue, but evidently it is in some classes. Part of me thinks this is actually an improvement. At least the kids who in the old days would be bored and disruptive are quiet and not preventing the other kids from learning. They don’t want to pay attention? Their loss. Harsh, I know. (FWIW, my kids have cellphones that they carry/ied to school, turned off. They have no texting, as it’s too expensive.)
Three years! What sort of router is that? Wireless or not? What sort of lifespan is that? Ours isn’t wireless, has only three users but has lasted since we remodeled (and installed infrastructure) six years ago. We did recently need a firmware upgrade which was easy to do right from the website. Now that the son is going to college in the Fall, we are expecting to upgrade him (and me maybe) to netbooks and go wireless. I wouldn’t be happy if wireless routers don’t last more than a couple years though.
As for texting in class, interesting perspective. I hadn’t thought of that before, but I actually kinda like it.
I read another interesting comment vis a vis the texting thing: We’re talking high school students! Some of whom are 18…old enough to vote and fight in a war…but they can’t be give the opportunity to text responsibly? The commenter wondered how we are preparing kids to transition to college life when we treat them like infants in high school. I say, let them use cell phones during lunch.
First let me say I do not homeschool either of my children and that I am on this site to gain some knowledge of the industry. I am interested in learning whether our venue is a viable location for home schooled children and parents meet and participate is extracurricular events/programs.
So here it goes: I am building a family entertainment venue in Hunt Valley Maryland which will include the following: 38 bowling lanes, 2 restaurants, Event Hall (accommodates +200 people), 2 conference/party rooms, arcade, CBS Broadcasting Booth, Pro shop/memorabilia and golf simulators.
My thought was that possibly we could offer certain programs to the homeschooling community during the day or after school. We have many options in our 63,000 sq. foot place for both teaching and sporting events. Any advice or information that you feel would be helpful, I would greatly appreciate. Thanks