Well, the votes are officially in. Melody got an "A" for History I. I feel like I learned a lot, although it went by really fast and there wasn't enough time to dwell or further research anything. But here, as promised, is the research paper on P. T. Barnum. This was, as far as research papers go, a very fun paper to write. Lots of sources (although all of them actually get the majority of their information from his autobiography) and an interesting topic. The one linked to below is without citations (for two reasons: 1) it's a lot easier to read, and 2) citations make it a true research paper that I don't want stolen...:) If, for some odd reason, you want the version with citations, shoot us an email or post a comment!
P. T. Barnum and the Introduction of Spectacular Entertainment
As a side note, I never had any vocal contact with my professor. This class was entirely online, except for the book that I read through and the tests that I took at a campus testing center. I occasionally emailed questions to my professor (usually about guidelines etc...) but did everything else on my own. I still don't even know what he looks like!
~m~
Monday, August 18, 2008
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Olympics 1
Well, I admit that this isn't much "family" news, except for the loud whooping and hollering that went on in our house not ten minutes ago. 4 Americans -- 1 relay -- 4 brash French ("The Americans? We're going to smash them. That's what we came here for." - Alain Bernard, French relay team) -- 1 come-from-behind victory. We cheered so loudly that the cat streaked out of the room like an explosion had occurred.
If you were watching it -- LIVE -- then I applaud you. If you didn't -- *tsk tsk* -- then I'll post a YouTube link (not embed) for your perusal. You can watch it here.(FYI, this is not great quality, but it's the best I could find so soon after the event. Everyone keep an eye open, and we'll have an actual recording soon enough.) Here is
a picture, because the American celebration was timeless.
The United States of America -- gold medal victors against the French.
For the record, there has only been one Olympics performance that I've seen in the year that it took place (i.e. not counting historical Olympics) that has been worthy of my re-watching multiple times, grinning ear-to-ear, and thinking that sometimes perfection happens. That was Sasha Cohen's magnificent performance in the short program of the 2006 Winter Olympics to "Dark Eyes." This relay race was the second. Forever in my memory. And I hope in yours, too.
~m~
Now I return to my television screen to watch this spectacular team receive their gold medals. :)
If you were watching it -- LIVE -- then I applaud you. If you didn't -- *tsk tsk* -- then I'll post a YouTube link (not embed) for your perusal. You can watch it here.(FYI, this is not great quality, but it's the best I could find so soon after the event. Everyone keep an eye open, and we'll have an actual recording soon enough.) Here is
a picture, because the American celebration was timeless.The United States of America -- gold medal victors against the French.
For the record, there has only been one Olympics performance that I've seen in the year that it took place (i.e. not counting historical Olympics) that has been worthy of my re-watching multiple times, grinning ear-to-ear, and thinking that sometimes perfection happens. That was Sasha Cohen's magnificent performance in the short program of the 2006 Winter Olympics to "Dark Eyes." This relay race was the second. Forever in my memory. And I hope in yours, too.
~m~
Now I return to my television screen to watch this spectacular team receive their gold medals. :)
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Melody & Samuel
Since we're back from vacation, and it's back to the "daily grind" (after this weekend, that is), I figured I'd give you some information on what-is-up for us kids.
Samuel: Football practices (ages 9-10) have begun. The first full-pads practice is on Monday. Our team is looking pretty good. Not since we started playing have all these star players been on the same team together. I'm excited -- and that's saying a lot. As a side note, for all of you concerned relatives out there, we bought a nice helmet for Samuel so that last year's alleged concussion doesn't become a tradition. Speaking of traditions, I'll probably carry on mine of filming complete games (not just snippets), so you'll have some good highlights to look forward to. (FYI, I film entire football and basketball games, but not baseball. Baseball is a difficult sport to film, as well as being the one time I actually get to CHEER!)
Melody (me): The last day of US HIST I was yesterday (Fri). However, my grade is still unposted. Some of you may be wondering how the ACC grading system works; it is pretty confusing and unpredictable. Each class is different, so I'll do History now and we'll investigate the others once we get there. For history, there are 4 multiple-choice tests. To get a C, you must simply have a C (70-79) average on those tests. To get a B, you must either 1) get B's (80-89) on all your tests, or 2) get a B average AND write a long, in-depth book report on specific books of the time period studied. To get an A, you must get a B average AND write a term paper (research paper) on a specific person or place or event of the time. The two papers are simply pass/fail; no points. They also have the possibility of being re-written, if there's time. I went for an A and wrote a paper on P. T. Barnum, turning it in last week -- before the trip. I never heard back from my professor, but I'm "crossing my fingers" in hope that the paper was accepted. I should know by Monday, at the latest! If I get the A, I'll let you read my paper.
On August 26, my fall semester begins. Besides the school we do at home, I'll be taking dual-credit at ACC again. This time English Composition II (online) and Pre-Calculus (in-class). I'm also going to be doing a sport. Basketball is always an option, but I am also seriously considering ice skating or kung fu. Wide variety -- I know! Basketball-wise, I thought I'd give you a picture of our last summer drills practice this summer. I'm on the
bottom row, far right, in periwinkle blue. Also in hopes is the Wimberley Community Chorus. I sang with them last year for their Christmas program, and I hope to do so again.
And now I feel guilty that mine is way longer than Samuel's. But I suppose he got a few baseball blog posts all to himself...
~m~
Samuel: Football practices (ages 9-10) have begun. The first full-pads practice is on Monday. Our team is looking pretty good. Not since we started playing have all these star players been on the same team together. I'm excited -- and that's saying a lot. As a side note, for all of you concerned relatives out there, we bought a nice helmet for Samuel so that last year's alleged concussion doesn't become a tradition. Speaking of traditions, I'll probably carry on mine of filming complete games (not just snippets), so you'll have some good highlights to look forward to. (FYI, I film entire football and basketball games, but not baseball. Baseball is a difficult sport to film, as well as being the one time I actually get to CHEER!)
Melody (me): The last day of US HIST I was yesterday (Fri). However, my grade is still unposted. Some of you may be wondering how the ACC grading system works; it is pretty confusing and unpredictable. Each class is different, so I'll do History now and we'll investigate the others once we get there. For history, there are 4 multiple-choice tests. To get a C, you must simply have a C (70-79) average on those tests. To get a B, you must either 1) get B's (80-89) on all your tests, or 2) get a B average AND write a long, in-depth book report on specific books of the time period studied. To get an A, you must get a B average AND write a term paper (research paper) on a specific person or place or event of the time. The two papers are simply pass/fail; no points. They also have the possibility of being re-written, if there's time. I went for an A and wrote a paper on P. T. Barnum, turning it in last week -- before the trip. I never heard back from my professor, but I'm "crossing my fingers" in hope that the paper was accepted. I should know by Monday, at the latest! If I get the A, I'll let you read my paper.
On August 26, my fall semester begins. Besides the school we do at home, I'll be taking dual-credit at ACC again. This time English Composition II (online) and Pre-Calculus (in-class). I'm also going to be doing a sport. Basketball is always an option, but I am also seriously considering ice skating or kung fu. Wide variety -- I know! Basketball-wise, I thought I'd give you a picture of our last summer drills practice this summer. I'm on the
bottom row, far right, in periwinkle blue. Also in hopes is the Wimberley Community Chorus. I sang with them last year for their Christmas program, and I hope to do so again.And now I feel guilty that mine is way longer than Samuel's. But I suppose he got a few baseball blog posts all to himself...
~m~
Port Royal - Port Aransas - August 4-7, 2008
Writing complete. Pictures still in progress!
Wondering why you hadn't heard from us for a while? We were at the coast!!! We spent three nights (Mon, Tue, Wed) at Port Royal Resort ne
ar Port Aransas, TX. This was a virtually all-expense paid vacation, graciously provided by Dad's work, Quarrytech. Every year, they pay for all the families of their employees to take this vacation together. It feels like we're all a big family, and we all have a blast.
Monday: After basketball practice (Melody) in the morning, we headed out. Instead of getting there at 4 pm as planned, we ended up getting there at 7 pm, missing the "Bury-Dad-in-the-Sand" Contest. Still, we got a refreshing dip in the biggest pool in Texas. Later, Mom hung out with the wives at the hot tub.
Tuesday: Mom took off early with all the other wives to the spa. They got manicures and pedicures and "girl-time." While they were gone, Dad, Samuel, and I made our way out to the beach and got flung every which way by the waves, something I personally adore, as do Dad and Samuel. Then we made some sand castles; Dad tried his hand at a Mayan/Aztec temple, while I made a more traditional one. Once Mom got back, we ordered some cheeseburgers from the swim-up snack bar and took them up to our room, making a small salad to accompany it. Then Dad, Samuel, and some other guys went out in the bay and tried to catch some fish (no luck, unfortunately). That night, the entire company went and ate at Fin's Restaurant in Port Aransas. Unlimited shrimp, fish, chicken, corn-on-the-cob, rice, vegetables, french fries, hush puppies, coleslaw, etc... Afterwards, our family went out in the ocean and then jumped in the pool with everyone else.
Wednesday: Sand castle building contest!!! Each Quarrytech family competed. There were several castles, a few resorts, the University of Florida logo, and our "Pile #3," which is a familiar pile that is measured during their quarry work. We'll have some pictures for you soon. Unfortunately, we forgot our camera for the duration of the trip; however, other families were kind enough to get a few of us. (Thanks!) After we went out and played in the waves, we all jumped in the pool. Then we had lunch (3 cheeseburgers & 1 hot dog) at the swim-up bar. This time, we actually swam up and ate half-in, half-out of the water. There's something you don't do everyday! As we were walking back to the room, one of Dad's coworkers asked if Dad wanted to go for a 3-mile run. Dad accepted, and they had their run while we rested in the condo. Later that night, we all gathered in the banquet hall for dinner. Afterward, we took pictures, went upstairs, and then Dad went fishing again. They did catch something this time, but only one big enough to bring home, so they let him go. They had quite an adventuresome time once it got dark... Meanwhile, Mom, Samuel, and I played in the pool and played water volleyball with the other wives.
Thursday: We went out for one last wave-crashing adventure -- our best yet! Then we jumped in the pool until we had to go up and pack. After we left the hotel, we stopped at a souvenir store for some souvenirs. On our way out, we agreed to "meet the birds." We ended up having several pictures taken of us with some parrots. Here's one; for the rest, click on the link below.
Then it was a ride home...
I think that's all for now. Samuel's football practice has officially started and my college history class has officially ended (grade still unposted). Perhaps I'll make another blog post for more information on us kids.
In the meantime, au revoir!
~m~
Wondering why you hadn't heard from us for a while? We were at the coast!!! We spent three nights (Mon, Tue, Wed) at Port Royal Resort ne
ar Port Aransas, TX. This was a virtually all-expense paid vacation, graciously provided by Dad's work, Quarrytech. Every year, they pay for all the families of their employees to take this vacation together. It feels like we're all a big family, and we all have a blast.Monday: After basketball practice (Melody) in the morning, we headed out. Instead of getting there at 4 pm as planned, we ended up getting there at 7 pm, missing the "Bury-Dad-in-the-Sand" Contest. Still, we got a refreshing dip in the biggest pool in Texas. Later, Mom hung out with the wives at the hot tub.
Tuesday: Mom took off early with all the other wives to the spa. They got manicures and pedicures and "girl-time." While they were gone, Dad, Samuel, and I made our way out to the beach and got flung every which way by the waves, something I personally adore, as do Dad and Samuel. Then we made some sand castles; Dad tried his hand at a Mayan/Aztec temple, while I made a more traditional one. Once Mom got back, we ordered some cheeseburgers from the swim-up snack bar and took them up to our room, making a small salad to accompany it. Then Dad, Samuel, and some other guys went out in the bay and tried to catch some fish (no luck, unfortunately). That night, the entire company went and ate at Fin's Restaurant in Port Aransas. Unlimited shrimp, fish, chicken, corn-on-the-cob, rice, vegetables, french fries, hush puppies, coleslaw, etc... Afterwards, our family went out in the ocean and then jumped in the pool with everyone else.
Wednesday: Sand castle building contest!!! Each Quarrytech family competed. There were several castles, a few resorts, the University of Florida logo, and our "Pile #3," which is a familiar pile that is measured during their quarry work. We'll have some pictures for you soon. Unfortunately, we forgot our camera for the duration of the trip; however, other families were kind enough to get a few of us. (Thanks!) After we went out and played in the waves, we all jumped in the pool. Then we had lunch (3 cheeseburgers & 1 hot dog) at the swim-up bar. This time, we actually swam up and ate half-in, half-out of the water. There's something you don't do everyday! As we were walking back to the room, one of Dad's coworkers asked if Dad wanted to go for a 3-mile run. Dad accepted, and they had their run while we rested in the condo. Later that night, we all gathered in the banquet hall for dinner. Afterward, we took pictures, went upstairs, and then Dad went fishing again. They did catch something this time, but only one big enough to bring home, so they let him go. They had quite an adventuresome time once it got dark... Meanwhile, Mom, Samuel, and I played in the pool and played water volleyball with the other wives.
Thursday: We went out for one last wave-crashing adventure -- our best yet! Then we jumped in the pool until we had to go up and pack. After we left the hotel, we stopped at a souvenir store for some souvenirs. On our way out, we agreed to "meet the birds." We ended up having several pictures taken of us with some parrots. Here's one; for the rest, click on the link below.
 |
| Port Royal - Port Aransas - August 4-7, 2008 |
Then it was a ride home...
I think that's all for now. Samuel's football practice has officially started and my college history class has officially ended (grade still unposted). Perhaps I'll make another blog post for more information on us kids.
In the meantime, au revoir!
~m~
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