Help me, Obi-Mom Kenobi! You're my only hope!

Your feeble skills are no match for the power of the dark side.

Obi-Mom Kenobi — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:05:15 +0000

“Your feeble skills are no match for the power of the dark side. You have paid the price for your lack of vision.” – The Emperor, Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi

Poor Padawan Learner. All these years he’s never had to learn to take proper notes from a book, but all that has changed.

With his move into high school classes and his interest in taking a whopper of a class next year (with Biology and/or Chemistry AND Algebra II as pre-requisites), I’m weaning him off the mom-directed manner that used to define how we homeschooled – you know, back before we were unschoolers. (Cue the maniacal laughter for the strangeness of the path PL has taken over the years.)

In past years, I drew up a daily to-do list with everything broken up into little bite-sized morsels of reading, math, and etc. In addition, we previously only used conversational assessment since I find test-taking so limited in its scope. It was easy for PL since he didn’t have to put any thought into how things were going to get completed, and it was lovely for me because I’m an uber planner. Different times require different methods though. As he becomes independent as a student – even making his own lunch the night before school without being reminded – I’m scheduling weekly- and chapter-based readings for the science, history and health-related books that he’s using. That means I’ll still be breaking his math and formal writing topics into 2-3 day chunks, since they require so much participation on my part ahead of time, but he’ll be setting the pace (to an extent) for his independent reading.

What about the note-taking though? Well, part of his independent reading task is taking good, detailed notes from the chapters read. I want to emphasize that: good, detailed notes. Yes, I’m being a stickler on these notes because this skill will be the foundation for any out-of-the house classes he’s bound to take in the future. PL is not enjoying this at present, but I didn’t expect that he would. He hates writing, mostly from lack of practice I do believe. The conversational manner of his education up to this point has been fantastic for comprehension and rationalization skills, but it has done so at the expense of his writing skills. I wrote up some good, quality notes from the introduction of his Art History book to show him an example of what to aim for, and explained that I knew it would take some time for him to get to that point.

I’ve also included section review sheets for his Biology and Physical Science books and will include chapter quizzes, a mid-term test, and a final exam. This is a completely new arena for both of us, but is the reality for the educational setting that he has chosen for the sciences. It would be a disservice to exclude them this year just because I find them so distasteful and limited in scope. We’ll also use the corrected section review sheets as a study guide for chapter quizzes and the larger tests to come. Ah, the skills one learns while taking traditional classes. They will serve him well.

Fear will keep the local systems in line.

Obi-Mom Kenobi — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 15:37:11 +0000

Governor Tarkin: ”The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us. I have just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the council permanently. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away.”
General Tagge: ”But that’s impossible. How will the Emperor maintain control without the bureaucracy?”
Governor Tarkin: ”The regional governors now have direct control over their territories. Fear will keep the local systems in line. Fear of this battle station.”
Star Wars IV: A New Hope

Padawan Learner had his first day of the public school classes he’s taking, and the day went pretty well. He had an early snafu as the city bus was 15 minutes late (so much for running every 10 minutes!) and he arrived at class 2 minutes late. He has decided to leave an extra five minutes early in order to increase his chances of making the earlier bus on school days. His Environmental Sustainability teacher was very laid-back about it (hey, he’s taking public transportation to class and not getting driven to school in a private automobile, right?!?) and just waved him into his seat without making a fuss.

One of PL’s main lessons was that not everyone wants to be in class. Several of the students made their apathy and lack of interest in the subject well-known during the three hours of class. Well, that’s a good lesson to learn because working with people who just don’t give a damn is a sad fact of life. As this is the first year of ES, there is still a fair amount of work to be done converting the classrooms from a fashion design focus to a study of energy systems and within the curriculum itself. PL was put to work moving desks and other heavy objects. The teacher also discussed the year’s curriculum focus, out-of-classroom activities, and planned learning modules. The end of the period was spent watching the first part of the Planet Earth series from The Discovery Channel.

Beginning Italian was a whole different story. The instructor for this class runs a very tight ship and spent the bulk of the 1.5 hour class period going over a list of around 30 classroom rules. In a nutshell: no talking, touching or moving without permission. PL came home with a copy of this same list for both PL and me to sign. It’s due back to the instructor by the second class period. No exceptions. While this instructor is certainly no push-over, he also sounds like a fun instructor when he’s actually teaching. He believes strongly in the educational use of games and interactive activities rather than lots of book work. He also values family life and, therefore, rarely assigns homework. (My hero.) His idea is that he’d rather his students learn Italian from him – and learn it well - than try to learn it – with questionable success – on his own after school is out for the day.

The students seemed to be more interested in being there, too. I think the fact that the more popular language classes (i.e., Spanish and French) are available in all the feeder high schools, makes the extra effort required for the advanced academics at – not to mention getting to – the Academy building unlikely for seriously apathetic students.

I thought you decided to stay.

Obi-Mom Kenobi — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 01:58:02 +0000

Princess Leia: “Han!”
Han Solo: “Yes, Your Highnessness?”
Princess Leia: “I thought you decided to stay.”
Han Solo: “Well, the bounty hunter we ran into on Ord Mantell changed my mind.”
Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back

With apologies to the people who have already seen this on Facebook…

I did it. I signed Padawan Learner up for classes at a local high school last week.

Despite the fact that he had – for years – said that he never wanted to set foot inside a school again, PL decided that classes on environmental sustainability and Italian sounded too good not to attend. Despite the fact that he’s a confirmed night owl, he chose to take a class that starts at 7:55 am. Choice makes all the difference in the end, doesn’t it?

On days that he has school, his day will end at 2:15 pm - those will be every other school day – with a 2 hr study/lunch period in between the two classes. He also wanted to take an intro art class, but it had a waiting list of 40 students so he couldn’t add it this time – maybe next year. So I guess we’re about to join the ranks of tied-to-the-school-year families now. (We’ve even bought a few school supplies to get him through his first few days: a 1″ binder for each class, an insulated lunch box, a water bottle, and mechanical pencils. We already have a ton of paper and pens.)

About two hours after I signed him up, I had to point out the inconsistency of taking a class in environmental sustainability and leaving the deck slider door open when it is about a billion degrees outside and the AC is running.

Gluten-Free Gungan Goodies

Obi-Mom Kenobi — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 04:37:59 +0000

(aka – Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Brownies adopted from LaPaz’s Simple gluten-free brownie recipe)

In mixer combine:
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 T vanilla
Mix until smooth and creamy

In separate bowl combine:
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/4 t salt

Add dry ingredients gradually to egg mixture.
Mix well at medium speed (start slowly and work up to faster).

Melt 1 cup Earth Balance margarine and drizzle into batter as mixer is running.
Mix well.

Pour into greased brownie pan ( I used 9 X 13) and bake at 350 until inserted knife comes clean. Approximately 35 minutes.

LaPaz suggests letting them cool before enjoying, but that’s just not how we work around here. I suggest eating them nearly the minute they come out of the oven.

You’ll like these…

Obi-Mom Kenobi — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 04:34:11 +0000

Anakin Skywalker: “I’ll take four pallies today.”
(to Padme) “You’ll like these…” (looks at change purse)
Anakin Skywalker: ”Whoops, I thought I had more…Make that three, I’m not hungry.”
Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace

Anakin might not have been hungry but I sure have been, for chocolate anyway.

For the past few weeks I have been dairy-free (but you already knew that), sugar-free, and gluten-free. And let me tell you, I have been feeling great. The first few days were horrid as I went through sugar and gluten withdrawal, but since then it’s been smooth sailing. After two weeks I tried a small, wee bit o’gluten and (just as I feared) found out that my body and gluten are no longer friends.

The nice part is that I no longer crave sweets and bread, an almost painful craving in the past, but I did miss the tang of a little chocolate. Thankfully, I saw a recipe for Simple gluten-free brownies in my feed-reader today and decided to try it out. I know Dad Windu has been missing the usual chocolate-based treats lately, so I reved up the stand mixer and went to town. Yes, this recipe does indeed call for sugar (a fair bit actually) but as long as it remains a rarity I think it’ll be fine.

I changed the recipe slightly to accommodate our dairy-free needs and substituted brown rice flour because that was what I had on hand. Still it was declared DELISH by Padawan Learner and “not bad” – high praise – from the stoic Dutchness that is Dad Windu.

Gluten-Free Gungon Goodies (aka - Gluten-Free Brownies)

In mixer combine:
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 T vanilla
Mix until smooth and creamy

In separate bowl combine:
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/4 t salt

Add dry ingredients gradually to egg mixture.
Mix well at medium speed (start slowly and work up to faster).

Melt 1 cup Earth Balance margarine and drizzle into batter as mixer is running.
Mix well.

Pour into greased brownie pan ( I used 9 X 13) and bake at 350 until inserted knife comes clean. Approximately 35 minutes.

LaPaz suggests letting them cool before enjoying, but that’s just not how we work around here. I suggest eating them nearly the minute they come out of the oven.

I tell you what! If LaPaz posts many more of these yummy gluten-free recipes, she’s going to earn herself a Star Wars moniker of her very own.

One day, I will become the greatest Jedi EVER.

Obi-Mom Kenobi — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 18:37:39 +0000

“One day, I will become the greatest Jedi EVER. I will even learn how to stop people from dying.” – Anakin Skywalker, Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones

Special piece of wisdom that crawled into my brain while showering today:

You are the person you want to be.
If you are not the person you want to be, then you are working to change yourself into the person you want to be.
If you are not working to change yourself into the person you want to be, then you are indeed the person you want to be.

Just a few of the things I am, am becoming, and am not.

I am a nightly retainer wearer.
I am becoming a person who is dairy- and sugar-free (and maybe gluten-free).
I am not a singer or music-maker.
I am a clean house keeper, ok a kid-and-cats-live-here clean house keeper.
I am becoming a bi-lingual English and Dutch speaker.
I am not a fashionista (though I do love beautiful shoes).
I am a voracious reader.
I am becoming a regular exerciser.
I am not a radical unschooler.
I am a truster of my child and promoter of his wishes for his future.
I am becoming a daily leg and underarm shaver.
I am not a fabulous cook, instinctive decorator or natural hostess.
I am a loving, and loved, wife.

How about you? What are you, what are you not, and what are you becoming?

No co-ordinates?

Obi-Mom Kenobi — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:28:38 +0000

Jocasta Nu: “No co-ordinates? It sounds like the kind of directions you’d get from a street tout… some old miner or Furbog trader.”
Obi-Wan: “All three actually.”
Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones

In the mood to be my confidant? No? Too bad, you’ve already been sucked in just by reading this.

Frankly, I realized last night that I am experiencing a crisis of purpose. I tried to explain it to Dad Windu but he just didn’t get what I was saying. He just wanted to fix it. That whole Mars vs. Venus thing.

In a nutshell, I just don’t know what to do with myself – in any area – right now: homeschooling/unschooling planning/activities, personal activities & hobbies, and some greater “meaning” (whatever that means). I feel somewhat like someone hit me on the head and dropped me in the middle of Prague – a nice place and all I’m sure – but I don’t know which way to turn, which road to follow, where to begin.

It’s not depression, because I’m not sad or withdrawn or anything like that; it’s just a lack of direction I think. The things I used to do – dutch, knitting, etc – aren’t what they used to be. Are they things I did out of habit? It’s like the interest stayed in GR. Make any sense? What’s your armchair therapist take on the situation? Have any idea about which road to take? Been here yourself?

What’s happening?

Obi-Mom Kenobi — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:01:13 +0000

“Senator Palpatine?!?” (turns to Panaka) “What’s happening?” – Padme Amidala, Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace

A lot has been happening, not that you’d know it by hanging out here. In no particular order, we:

Went to see Star Wars in Concert and had a fabulous time. Which was better, the actual program itself, all the people in costume roaming around before the show, watching the impromptu light-saber duels in the seating areas during intermission, or the movie props set up all around the lobby? Hard to say, because they were all terrifically fun. We had what can only be referred to as fantabulous seats – well worth the money.

Padawan Learner’s facebook status, uploaded by his mobile phone while we waited for the show to start, was OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!! Dad Windu’s only regret was not seeing any gold-bikini Princess Leia stand-ins, only mumu-ish white dress ones. Personally, I enjoyed noting that DW’s & PL’s Obi-Wan and Anakin costumes from a few years back (sadly, not worn that evening) were easily as good if not better than many (most) of the costumes there.

Spent the Fourth of July weekend in Minnesota with family, swimming at The Club, golfing (DW), hanging out with Queen Jamillia, Dorme, Verse & Count Dooku, watching the neighbor’s illegal fireworks (brought in from Wisconsin, we learned later), and talking about our whacky spring/early summer weather.

Started teaching PL to drive. He’s doing very well. Doesn’t enjoy it as much as he thought he would, but that’s not surprising. Driving for real is a bit more complicated (and scary) than a Need for Speed: Shift video game. Who knew? Thankfully, it hasn’t been too stressful driving with him. The occasional white-knuckle door grab and “find the center of the lane” comment, but he’s showing good control and decent timing overall. A bit of a grandma in the speed department, but I can live with that.

Little bit of trivia about Iowa: on one’s 14th birthday, one may go down to the DMV and take the written driver’s test. If passed, one is allowed to get a learner’s permit and drive with a parent. Successfully passing a driver’s training program is not a requirement for obtaining a learner’s permit. AND if one does not pass the written driver’s test, one may come back the next business day and try again - without limit - until the test is passed. I’m going to say that again: without limit. Really? Seriously? OK, things that now scare the beejeezus out of me: 14 year olds driving. Doltish 14 year olds driving who failed the written test an untold number of times before getting lucky. Call me crazy, but shouldn’t you have to wait a bit if you fail the test? Perhaps to give you time to study a bit more. And wouldn’t there be some incentive to passing it if you had to shuck out a few bucks to pay for the subsequent testing times? But nooooooo, the place was full of parents sitting there with their dimwits their knuckle heads their would-be drivers. One of the moms next to me said, “Oh, this is our fourth time this week. I keep telling him he should just read the (driver’s manual) book and be done with it.” Let me tell you, driving in IA has taken on a whole new level or terror.

Went back to MI twice. Man, but that drive just doesn’t get any more relaxing or quicker. Not much time for socializing, but did manage to squeeze in a nice visit with Red Leader and her boys, PL got to stay over at Chewbacca’s house, had a quick dinner with an old neighbor and got the scoop on the people who bought our old house (very hermit-crab-ish), grabbed a drink with Padme Amidala and Princess Leia, and spent the night at our Sunday Morning Doughnut Buddies’ place.

Showed off Des Moines to our Sunday Morning Doughnut Buddies and found the ultimate beer bar for DW and them: El Bait Shop. Not being much of a beer drinker, I volunteer as the driver.

Off to the vet’s with the cats. Wish the vet luck.

I’m betting heavily on Sebulba.

Obi-Mom Kenobi — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 19:34:30 +0000

Qui-Gon: “You don’t think Anakin will win?”
Watto: “Don’t get me wrong. I have great faith in the boy. He’s a credit to your race, but Sebulba there is going to win, I think.”
Qui-Gon: “Why?”
Watto: “He always wins. (laughs) I’m betting heavily on Sebulba.”
Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace

Ga oranje!
Hup Holland Hup!

Wij zijn Nederlands,
Wij zijn oranje,
Hup Holland Hup!

I weet dat het slecht nu kijkt, maar ik weet ook dat zij het doen kunnen. Wij houden van oranje voetbal.

Update: Damn Sebulba.

I’m not the Jedi I should be. I want more. And I know I shouldn’t.

Obi-Mom Kenobi — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:18:52 +0000

Anakin Skywalker: “I feel lost.”
Padmé: “Lost?”
Anakin Skywalker: “Obi-Wan and the Council don’t trust me.”
Padmé: “They trust you with their lives.”
Anakin Skywalker: “Something’s happening. I’m not the Jedi I should be. I want more. And I know I shouldn’t.”

Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith

Sadly, there are all things we want when we’re young that are just not allowed. Fortunately, as an adult, you can do something about it…

“When I was a kid, there are two things I wanted badly and never got…”