Laurel-in-CA
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Posts posted by Laurel-in-CA
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And I've been re-reading (on the recommedation of a friend) the Daughter/Servant/Mistress of the Empire series by Raymond Feist and Janny Wurtz. Really enjoying it once again...what a complex culture to design and then overthrow!
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3 hours ago, Kareni said:
Since my last post, I read the science fiction romance Capture the Sun: A Novel (Starlight's Shadow Book 3)
"As a recovery specialist, Lexi Bowen’s jobs typically require more trickery and thievery than honest work. Her former captain might not approve of her flexible morals, but stealing artifacts for rich assholes pays the bills, and Lexi’s had enough of war and death. The FHP left her to die once; she doesn’t plan to give them a chance to finish the job.
Unfortunately, her latest contract takes her to Valovia itself—and right back into the orbit of Nilo Shoren, a Valovian teleporter who already cost her one payday and nearly stole her heart.
Armored against his clever charm, Lexi plans to get in, get the job done, and get out. But when her former crew goes missing in Valovian space, Lexi will have to work with Nilo to figure out what happened—and stop it—before the galaxy’s two superpowers can use the disappearance as an excuse to return to war."
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I also reread Shifting Shadows: Stories from the World of Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs which I enjoyed once again. This book is a lengthy collection of stories which take place in the author's Mercyverse.
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and I read several stories that were in a recent free giveaway of male/male romances. I enjoyed A Bad Case by Hollis Shiloh; The Marvelous Mr. Strike by Will Forrest was pleasant; and The Sacrifice by Saga Nansen I found ho-hum.
(FIC 94, RR 43, NF 10, NS 25, GN 2, PIC 1//)
Regards,
Kareni
I read the last Mihalek book too, but I was a bit disappointed with it. Less sex and more character development would have fit my personality better...I felt there were some big plot holes too. Patricia Briggs, though, I pretty much *always* enjoy!
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I first came to this site because I heard Gene Veith promoting SWB's new book at a homeschool conference. Twenty years later, done with homeschooling 4 kids, I still come for the monthly reading group, current events discussion, return-to-work advice, and miscellaneous random topics. We used classical "tweaks" and methods all through my kids elementary to high school years and I have shared The Well Trained Mind with many other parents looking to expand their educational possibilities. But we have also benefited greatly from the community of passionate, informed, encouraging adults on this forum. I guess that makes me a "lifer" on this board.
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My brother attended Harvey Mudd back in the day. There was one building shaped like a rectangle with an oval attacked in the middle of one side...they called it the toilet bowl. LOL
BTW, he got a BS in Physics and a great education. Students at one of the Claremont colleges (there are 5) can take classes at the other four. Claremont is at the foot of the mountains.
Cal Poly Pomona is an engineering school, not too far from Claremont, their classes tend to be very hands-on--machine shop and small foundry on campus when we had a tour. (I have a friend who taught industrial engineering there.)
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Finished an audio memoir by Michael J. Fox about his optimism amidst the challenges of spinal surgery, parkinson's, acting, and adventuring. His speech is slurring a book, so perhaps the audio was not the best way to go. I did enjoy his use of language, metaphor and analogy and, yes, he IS a super optimist! "No Time Like the Future"
Also read "A Path Appears" by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn (husband/wife team) about altruism, charities, and evaluating what is really effective and what has not achieved its goals. The book is secular and although it mentions a couple of religious charities it downplays that side of the giving picture. It seems a HUGE gap in the story. And they label a "supergiver" as someone who gives 10% or more...which is exactly the meaning of a tithe. Anyway, they introduced me to a couple of charities and talked about the decision whether to invest in pursuing donors vs. put all the $$ into charitable endeavors (the later leads to a lot less $$ available). Interesting considerations.
Working more myself (hurrah!) on a new business venture with some old friends, and dh is still looking for work and getting more discouraged. Retirement and downsizing is looking a lot more feasible than another job in his field right now. Trying to develop other possibilities too, but that will take time.
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On 9/11/2023 at 2:23 PM, Quarter Note said:
@bookbard, remember a few weeks ago when you urged me to read The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge? I finished it a few days ago, and I loved it! Thank you, thank you, thank you! How could I have ever gotten to my age and not read that book? It was absolutely beautiful. ❤️
That author's Pilgrim's Inn series is also very good, as is Scent of Water.
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I got hooked on a scifi series by Joel Shepherd (Australian author), the first of which is Renegade (Spiral Wars series). I am enjoying all the different aliens/cultures and their interactions with different types of AI-tech and AI attitudes. Fairly thoughtful military sci fi....they're all out for the benefit of their own species, more or less.
After that it will be back to my library list, which includes Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore. From military sci fi to regency romance!
DH is still job hunting (now since mid-June) and we are praying something comes through soon!!
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Summer was late this year (much less risky fire season!) and in my few raised beds we have mostly tomatoes and basil...two japanese eggplant, which have given me about 5 total eggplants. The Sungold has been prolific with cherry tomatoes as usual, and I planted pineapple tomatoes which are big beefsteak heirlooms -- yum! Some grape tomatoes and san marzanos. I just planted 2 raised beds with asparagus crowns...they're right down the middle of a 3' wide bed and I'm wondering if I can plant carrots or greens along the sides???
Anyway, I don't can or dry, so we are enjoying whatever we can fresh. This winter I have to add compost and alfalfa pellets, and then I will probably top that with some water-retaining garden soil for next year.
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This week I read the Riyria Revelations trilogy by Michael J. Sullivan, an author who started out self-publishing fantasy he wrote to help motivate his dyslexic daughter to read, then turned that into some pretty good swords & sorcery fantasy, with his next series picked up by regular publishers. Plenty of twists and turns of identity in these books (no spoilers!). 8-) Happpy my library has so many of these on Kindle.
Then got diverted into some space opera -- Renegade, the first of a series by Joel Shepherd, an Australian author. Pretty good plot and action, assorted mysterious aliens, plotting politicians and moral dilemmas. Not so great character development, but I'm going to give them a chance by getting the next book in the series.
My book club's next offering is a memoir by Michael J. Fox, No Time Like the Future. My mom dealt with Parkinsons, and one of the side effects is depression. I am looking forward to hearing about things from his point of view as another sufferer from that disease. This will be my 2nd audiobook (and I didn't much like the experience the first time), and I hope it will be an engaging reader!
As dh is job hunting again, I am having to limit my reads to the local library's online offerings. I am sure I will find something there, as my wish list online is quite long! Happy fall-is-coming reading! It's supposed to be 97deg today!!
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FYI in the US, hearing aids can be obtained for free for kids under age 18. (I have a friend whose daughter had severe hearing loss.) Also FYI, the hearing aids sold over the counter now for around $200 are ok for mild hearing loss but not for anything worse.
My insurance covered the exam....then the audiologist quoted me $6500!! And then I went to Costco and they said $3000 (different brand). And then I went to a local network where they gave me FREE loaners (dh was unemployed at the time) and eventually I paid $4000 for hearing aids for moderate to severe hearing loss. They are a big help, although large groups with lots of chatter can still be difficult. I love that I can play my phone or audiobooks directly into my ears via the hearing aids without disturbing anyone else.
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My college kids are back to school soon too...one expanding on her AA and one starting 2nd half of BA at a 4-year school. My "happy" will be when dh finds a job...AGAIN! It's such a numbers game.
Just finished The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba, which is about Cuba's fight for independence from Spain (stuff I didn't know) and the Hearst-Pulitzer battle in reporting it (which I vaguely recalled). Echoes of today as we discuss/experience media's role in shaping policy in the digital age instead of the newspaper age. Three different female voices telling the story -- two of them pretty dramatic for me...maybe because it was an audiobook? The historical stuff was interesting, but the story, for me, was not that enthralling.
Looking for a little break from historical fiction with some space opera (by Jack Campbell) and regency fluff (by Mimi Walters) next.
Making sure I have my go bag packed for fire season. How about you?
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Most crochet magazines have drawings of the stitches in the back. That worked for me when I took crocheting back up again in the last few years -- I still had vague memories from my teens and just needed some help and the willingness to rip it out when it didn't look right.
I have a friend who swears by a photo guide (rather than drawings) she got online. That fits her visualization skills much better. She also writes out pattern directions in full as a way of learning them.
Other friends swear by the videos, especially the lefties. Your mileage may vary - YMMV.
For myself, I like a simple pattern repeat that allows me to keep my hands busy while I watch TV or read off my kindle or listen to an audio book. As a result, I don't really do garments, but I do a LOT of baby blankets and lap blankets to donate. A hat is a great way to practice different stitches, increase/decrease, practice color changes, etc. I have a group of ladies I get together with to crochet every week...great time for chat!!
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A "My-Gen" reunion consumed most of my early July -- 4 siblings and spouses. We hadn't seen each other since before covid and are scattered across several states and countries so it was wonderful to have extended time together. My sister brought some of Mom's files (seem to be everlasting), which included letters my dad had written to us in our 20s. Lovely, and so much more tender than he could manage to be in person. Old church directories with photos.....LOTS of memories. Planning for an all-gen reunion in a couple of years. Meanwhile, dh's latest job search continues...lots of recruiters but no offers yet.
I am in the midst of The Ballad of Laurel Springs, which is Appalachian folklore, a generational story with a bit in the voice of each of the women in a family. This is for the bingo square that has "choose a book with your name in the title."
For book club, I am starting The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba on audio...not my favorite medium, so I hope I can enjoy it despite the different tech.
Finished Salvage Right by Lee & Miller, which is a Liaden story about an interstellar "light" - once a rogue entity but now establishing itself as a safe port of call for traders and independent intelligences that operate starships. Interesting in light of all the recent discussion of AI. These two are among my favorite authors, so I had pre-ordered this on my kindle as soon as it was available.
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County associations and co-ops in the area, statewide associations might be able to give you a county contact person who would have specifics. Also, charter schools, which serve several connected counties. Our district office of education oversees local homeschoolers that are under their charter umbrella, so local district or county educational organizations that work with charters or private schoolers migh also be helpful.
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What a lovely update!!
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On 6/28/2023 at 10:23 AM, TexasProud said:
She doesn't HAVE to be a dependent with those. Our daughter is a full time student and is on all of our insurance. She has a tiny job at a coffee shop. She doesn't have time as a musical theater major to work much. She has worked a job at an ice cream shop the last two summers. We have not claimed her as a dependent on our taxes since she left for college. She gets a big education tax credit back each year. This year she got a 700 dollar check.
Anyway, you might benefit by taking her as a dependent on your taxes. I don't know your finances. We got no benefit by listing her as a dependent. So we didn't. So you do not HAVE to list her as a dependent.
I think she's going to give the insurance agent a call and see what recalculating her as head of household would do to the $$. Thanks for the suggestion.
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I tried a sensor this past year, for continuous glucose monitoring. It was compatible with my cell phone (no fitbit or applewatch here) which was lovely. Unfortunately the placement of the sensor on the back of the upper arm was not comfortable at night (I am a side sleeper; it was uncomfortable) and the sensors proved unreliable. Of the 5 I used, each good for 2 weeks, one fell off and one became utterly unreliable (reading of 256 when finger stick said 80). No more arm sensors for me!
The monitor I am using now (Freestyle Lite) uses finger sticks but the data is downloadable, which my dr. likes. As long as it's covered by medicare, I don't really care which kind.
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On 6/26/2023 at 4:38 PM, TexasProud said:
Does she need to be a dependent for some reason? We typically don't claim our kids as dependents . ( Now obviously, their colleges considered them as such.) But our daughter files on her own and gets the tax credit as well since we don't claim her. If she needed to get health insurance it would be a lot cheaper. Now maybe is better because of your taxes, I don't know. But might be something to look into.
She's been a dependent because she's a f/t student living @ home and on our insurance, working only p/t. But this may be the year for her to stop being a dependent, that's for sure.
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Congratulations! I think I joined these boards about the same time. Bonus child will be a transfer student this fall...25 years of homeschooling finished off her senior year with the pandemic lockdown and all community college classes. Still waiting for wedding bells and grandkids, though!
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At least a couple of employer interviews planned this week. Recruiters keep calling. We are hopeful. Still waiting for that severance check, which should hold us until unemployment starts coming. Lots of balls to keep in the air.
The most challenging so far is that the 20yo has had to get her own medical insurance, as dh and I will both be on medicare, and it's based on our combined income since she is still a dependent....it will be about what it cost us as a family last time through covered CA. Big shock to her system!!
Pro tip: a good insurance broker who can calmly explain all the options is your friend!
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On 6/19/2023 at 4:40 PM, wintermom said:
Cool! Can he branch into cable inspection, training, project management or something like that to broaden his net to cast for job opportunities? Maybe he's already done that, but I know that in other skilled trades, the more experienced workers can explore other related jobs within similar sectors.
All the best, and I hope he's able to find something really soon!
Someone presented a possibility of auditing companies for a particular certification. He thinks he can do that (is going to apply) but it's payment per day on the road, not a salaried position. Doesn't sound like it would be a reliable source of income. 8-(
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If you can afford it, it is worth it to buy boxes -- you get the sizes you want and they all stack smoothly. Then you can bless someone else with them after moving, or else try to peddle them for $.
We labeled each box by room bedroom #1, etc. - with a word or two of detail -- clothes, toiletries, crockpot, etc. We had a box or two of OPEN FIRST items -- cleaning and kitchen supplies, pillows and bedding, etc.
We had a patio room where we stacked all our stuff, as well as in the garage. And lots and lots of books went to goodwill -- every time we move THAT happens. LOL
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One thing I can say, this is SOOOOOO much better than looking for work in 2020!!! Then it was not a single callback for the 1st 5 mo of lockdown. Now two recruiters have called within days of him reactivating his linkedin account and updating his resume. Screening interview tomorrow, but who knows whether that will lead to anything or not???
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On 6/16/2023 at 1:39 PM, wintermom said:
Oh, man. That's so frustrating and scary. I hope something comes up really quick for him. What sector does he work in? Some sectors seem to have particularly high rates of staff turn-over.
He's an expert on specialized connectors and cables that carry data. Recently working with companies like Boeing, SpaceX, etc. Aerospace, satellite, and medical technology applications. "niche skills" indeed.
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Advice on putting together an art portfolio?
in High School and Self-Education Board
Posted
One of our local art lesson vendors held a portfolio class. They took everything dd had done, independently and in classes with them, from 6th grade through junior year of high school and chose the widest range and best pieces, took digital images (for online delivery) and high-res printed them (or used originals if they would fit) for an 9x12 portolio book with sleeves. They wrote an artist's statement and a table of contents that described each work (Watercolor, from photo, DATE). We also included at the back a list of competitions she had participated in (local art community, county fair, etc.). She got a significant scholarship based on her portfolio, so it was worth the $250 for the class, which included the digital and physical portfolios.
You can find portfolio recommendations on art school web sites. Once you have a portfolio together you can take it on school tours and ask them for an evaluation of how it would be received. Also, sometimes art schools hold juried (pre-selected works) art contests or life drawing classes for high schoolers and you can enter and/or volunteer as a way to get to know people.
My dd's portfolio was oriented toward her desire for a major in studio art. It had a variety of media (pastel, colored pencil, watercolor, charcoal and gray scale) and topics (3D self-portrait cube, still life, self-portrait, landscape, animals, life drawing, quick-draw exercises with pencil).
I would highly recommend attending National Portfolio day and having your kid visit every booth possible, portfolio in hand. The college reps will look through and give comments or even offer provisional acceptance (Your portfolio would qualify you for admission; we urge you to submit it for scholarship consideration when you apply). When we attended (well, this was 10+ years ago) there were kids with huge oil paintings - we were so glad dd had hers in an easily carried portfolio!