Healthcare Bill!!!

From today's NY Times.

Sweeping Health Care Plan Passes House


Published: November 7, 2009
WASHINGTON — Handing President Obama a hard-fought victory, the House narrowly approved a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s health care system on Saturday night, advancing legislation that Democrats said could stand as their defining social policy achievement.



(November 8, 2009) After a daylong clash with Republicans over what has been a Democratic goal for decades, lawmakers voted 220 to 215 to approve a plan that would cost $1.1 trillion over 10 years. Democrats said the legislation would provide overdue relief to Americans struggling to buy or hold on to health insurance.Visit the New York Times for the rest of the article.

All I can say is that I hope this bill has a chance - a real chance - of making it through the Senate.

I had an interesting conversation with a woman while I was at work today. I'm still not sure what to make of it, but I know that I need to digest it a bit before sharing. Stay tuned. This may require a group effort.

We've been on the go a lot the last couple of days, and we've spent a considerable amount of time driving from one event to another and back home again. I find it entertaining to listen to the children as we drive. Sometimes they sing at the tops of their lungs, sometimes they read (and curse the darkness when they can no longer see), sometimes they ask so many questions I think my head may explode from searching the years of accumulated knowledge in an attempt to give just the right answer.

And sometimes they make up their own language. My kids are funny, hilarious even. I have no idea what they are saying most of the time, but at one point in our trip my youngest translated for me. "Ummm, Mom. That means pig manure." Nice. We aren't spending much time on Latin lately, but at least they have creative words for things I'd rather not hear about.

I can't even begin to explain what this language of theirs sounds like, but for some reason Krippendorf's Tribe comes to mind.

Announcing....

Ladies and Gentlemen...


We have a new reader in our house!


That is worthy of celebration and gaiety 'round these parts. We get all excited and smile a lot. And we read everything we can get our hands on when that newly acquired skill is fresh and exciting. We've got three books lined up for the evening. Of course we're going to celebrate with some fried chicken with all the trimmings first, but we're not lingering over dinner. We have more important stuff to do. We absolutely must READ.

One of my girls' favorite outings is a trip to Panera. We have never been a family that has gotten the hang of high tea (although I must admit that sounds lovely). We're far less formal than that. Of course the disinterest in high tea may be due to my ingrained need to function as the manners police. A trip to a coffee house/bakery is much more within our collective comfort level.

We love the atmosphere of places like Panera, and it gives us the opportunity to sit and chat about anything and everything. My girls love the grown up feeling that the atmosphere provides, and it allows them to try on their manners and social graces. That's fun when you are six and nine.

I'm often amazed by the subjects they choose to discuss and the observations they make as we sit and drink our hot chocolate and eat our fresh baked treats. It gives me a chance to have fun with the girls and watch them enjoy themselves thoroughly.

Our morning started out rough today. We had drama, and fussing, and histrionics. It was ugly for a bit here in our homeschool. On top of that, I've got a to do list that is a mile long. It just isn't a good day to get away, but a getaway is just what we need.

I decided it was time to improvise to improve the quality of our collective day. So in an hour or so, we're having a tea. Of course there won't be much formality involved, but there will be baking, and chatting, and enjoying each other's company. I think at least one of us is even putting on a fancy dress. It's times like this that remind me just how lucky I am to be homeschooling our children. We are seizing the day and making it special.

A Newish Blogger You've Just Got To Meet

Back in the day when I was a new homeschooler I spent quite a bit of time searching for other homeschoolers I could relate to or who might relate to me. Oddly enough, I've never found a local homeschooling group either because of where we live or because I just cannot stomach a meeting filled with prayer requests, political goings on, or anything having to do with subjects other than homeschooling. Yes, I'm a friendly person, and I pride myself on being able to get along well with others when necessary. However, by the time I came to homeschooling I had spent enough years "dealing" with people I didn't particularly enjoy.

I looked to the internet to find a group of parents I could relate to, and I looked, and I looked. Finally I found a "smart, sassy" group of folks who labeled themselves as secular. (I'm not going to even bother to go into the definition of what a secular homeschooler is. If you don't know, then please Google it.) I found a wealth of information there as well as a group of truly inclusive parents that were open to sharing what homeschooling was like for each of them.

Unfortunately that online community went through some changes that left it less than it once was. There was one particular woman in that community that gave excellent, calming (and believe me as a new homeschooler calm was something I badly needed), smart, real advice with love and kindness. From the time I started blogging, I often wished I could link to this amazing woman so that other homeschoolers could benefit from her wisdom - and I kid you not, this woman is wise.

Recently, Val started blogging, and her blog is filled with stories and experiences told in her incredibly soothing voice. There are a handful of homeschoolers that have influenced what we do here in our homeschool, and Val is among the most valuable to me. I've often said I'd like to just sit at her feet and learn - she's that amazing. Pop over and meet her at well, yeah...and I'm sure you'll see what I mean.

Daily Report

On the days that I work, my younger two have kind of established a routine. No matter what time I come home I try to spend some one on one time with each of the girls so they can tell me about their day or just talk about whatever.

My nine year old has taken to giving a report - not only of her day, but of her sister's as well. I learn the most interesting things from those reports, and mostly the reports are accurate - unless she has been quite angry with her sister.

Today I didn't even put my bag down before the barage of yelling, jumping, and shrieking began.

"Mom! There's a duck in the garage! Well, at least I think it's a duck.... Or it's not. But I think it has a purple head with a green ring around its neck or a green head with a purple ring around its neck and webbed feet.

That's a duck... Or it could be a crow. If it's a duck, can we have it for dinner?"

I think I came home from work not a moment too soon.