Algebra 101

Up until now none of the boys have brought home math that was too hard to help them with.  Usually they are able to finish it without help.


I suck at math.  In 9th grade, I was in a special math class.  I really appreciated my teacher, Mr. Shoun's patience.  Last night I was missing Mr. Shoun's math skills.  Sammy has a unit in Algebra that he is to do on his own.  It is called ISU... Independent Study Unit.  I have other things I call it.


Sanj apparently stinks at Math.  He just says he can't do math... that must not be required in the works of a Doctorate.  Um... my husband just got busted.  He says, as I read him the blog, "It's not that I can't do math... I just don't like it."   Wow!  Like I enjoyed pushing out 7 pounds of baby out of my being six times?  Like I enjoy cleaning poop and vomit?  Like I enjoy .... OK... He is in major trouble!


Let me go back to Algebra.  I am helping Sammy get part 1 done of the ISU.  Thankfully there are answers in the back.  So I work it out backwards.   Yet here is my question?  When in real life is algebra used?  Who really cares about what x is?  The only use that I have had for Algebra was to help my high school kid out.  Those that do use this in their lives, can't they just take it in University?


I guess I am not embracing the knowledge that I will get from being able to pass an Algebra test with flying colours and resent the fact that my kids have to be torched with this cruel and unusually punishment.

I was going to give examples of the math I did last night but don't know how to type the exponent on the computer.  Too bad...


At least now I know that Sanj is more than CAPABLE of doing this math.  I am thinking I am off the hook.  On the other side of this, it did force me to push myself past the point of comfort and guess what?  I am not too dumb to get some of it!  :)  That did feel pretty good!

I Am Weird....

I went to the gym today!  Hurrah for me!  OK... not really a big deal, if you are one of those disciplined people.  God forgot the pass me that trait when He was handing them out.  I even succeeded in eating well.  Just a few more hours... those hard hours... to pass with flying colors till tomorrow.

I guess now that I am getting closer to mid-40s rather than just turned 40, it is crunch time.  I can choose  to be a frumpy 40 something or I can really make a huge effort to be a 40 something that looks like 30 something.  (So... could you please pray for me... I really want this bad).

I decided to go the healthy route.  Baby steps at a time.  Whole grains (ugh... I love my Wonder bread), high fibre, dark colored fruits and veggies and water.  Yes, I do know all the things to do to get healthy...
I am taking the boys on this journey.  I am really trying to say no fast food except on the weekend.  I am only buying brown bread so that I will eat it or not.  I am reading labels and really trying to make this a family endeavour.

After my workout, I got a bunch of those annoying little errands done... returns, dropped off dry cleaning and bought an iron that doesn't ruin my hubby's clothes and cause him great disturbation every morning (this may not be real word but it should be... meaning the causing of great disturbance).

I went to the book store, which always takes way too much time... yet is one of my favourite places to hang out.  While in line, there was a mom and new baby in a car seat all snuggled up.  (It made me miss that for a moment... the tiny hands, the baby smell and the mouth that does not know to talk yet).   Another customer that was gaga-ing over the babe said, "I wish they had car seats for adults."  I said, "They do... they are called wheelchairs."  We just go back to the beginning again... just not to cute and  nice smelling.

I had lunch with a friend, did some banking and got some groceries.   I chatted with my brother, who is dealing with the effects of snowmegdon in Maryland.  That made grocery shopping least painful.

We were chatting about high school.  He basically feels "so what if high school sucked... get over it."
Here's my thing... just the fact that he can say that means life was pretty ok for him.  Yes, he had moments that sucked, especially being excluded due to not having money... but he was a cool kid.

I am over it.  But just like other bad and good moments, it is life altering.  Hum... is it?  I think so.  If I didn't understand being excluded due to whatever factors, if I didn't feel the angst of being different, if I just accepted it and moved on... I wouldn't be me today.  I don't think I live my life  being exclusive.
I hate that.  I hate watching someone being left out due to money, race, life status or simply because they are weird.

I am weird.  I don't care anymore.  Weird... different, unique... ah, there are many labels for me.  Bring it on.  I was called quirky a few years ago by a friend's husband.  I can home totally bothered by that label.
Sanj was so matter of fact about it.  "You are quirky.  I love that about you."  He said a lot more stuff but the bottom line is I am not normal.  I am OK with that.  :)

I love having all sorts of people in my world... even the weird and most annoying.  It makes my world go around.

So... I told my brother that he can't join the "I was a loser in high school," group.  He would have to find his own.  I can think of a few.... lol

So... I am past high school but it really is a piece of me that will always be there.

As I end this blog, let me tell you about my new purchase... The Slap Chop!  I have been watching the commercial and yearning for one.  (Yes, I am an easy target and the exact type of person for whom informercials are made for)!  Anyway, while doing my errands, I saw the Slap Chop at Zellers.  I was so excited!  It was $19.99 but I didn't get the free one, as in the commercial.

Of course Sanj teased me as I called him about my find.  The boys were immediately drawn to it yet I wanted to christen it after reading the directions, etc.  My sweet hubby comes home and immediately goes for the Slap Chop, sarcastically  saying, "Let's see how good this Slap Chop  works..."  Slap, slap, slap!  It's actually pretty good.  He was trying to take it apart to rinse it (without reading the directions) to slap chop Josh's red pepper.

All of a sudden I hear  "Oh $%#@#%!"  He Slap Chopped his hand.   I read him the directions... "Not a toy... dangerous... "

His hand is OK... my Slap Chop has been christened... and all is well.

Will You Be My Friend?

I think I am lonely today.  I am always around people yet sometimes I just miss having a real connection.
Do you know what I mean?  Everyone is so busy... I miss having those heart to hearts... I miss that time spent with someone I love that leaves me so filled.


Sigh.  Maybe it is the blues.  It is -18 ℃ + the wind = - 26℃!!!  So, yes, it could be the winter blues, after all, it is the end of January!  Most of our house is warm except the family room... the wood stove needs to be going.  I'd better get that wood before my sweet hubby comes home and wonders what I have been doing all day! lol


Lately I have been reacquainting myself with folks from high school thanks to Facebook. It is interesting to see what they have been up to and look at pictures of their family.  High school was not a period that I shined (or is it shone?).  When I went back to my class's 20 year reunion, I was sure that I would be fine.
Yet when I was in that environment, I found I     became me again from that era.  I was shy, nervous and felt insecure.  I left there feeling very annoyed with myself!!!


Those that are in my life today would probably have a very hard time believing how shy, quiet (lol) and insecure I was.  Those from my high school days, who don't see my life today, wouldn't.  In high school, I felt like I was trapped in a coma.  I wanted to be outgoing, friendly and me yet was somehow trapped by this coma I was in!


Next year is my 25th year reunion!  Wow, that makes me feel so old.  I want to overcome this craziness that takes over when I enter Ohio or see Spring Valley folks.  Maybe no one is judging me... maybe I am the only one judging me... harshly!


So, this is one of the things I am going to work on!  It is funny, but when someone befriends me on Facebook... that I wasn't really friends with in high school... I feel weird.  Instead of always fear or insecurites to take over, I am going to try and see this as a second chance.


One of my besties ( this is what today's kid calls a best friend) and I didn't really hang out in high school.
She would apparenly try to talk to me and I was so shy.  (I guess this was my defense to all the poop going on at home).


Is this all so weird?  Probably! Do you have any tips for me to get over my fears?


(Photo taken by Jordan Sukumaran and Photo editing done by Maxwell Sukumaran).