RTT: Heat-Addled, Word Problem and Atoning

 

WHERE THE HELL IS AUTUMN?!!

It is still too damned hot out here in Los Angeles! It's been in the stinking '90's! ENOUGH ALREADY! I am ready for a pumpkin latte! I want to roast fall vegetables! I want some corduroys!

According to my iPhone, things might improve by Thursday...

 

A new hope

 
Ah...77 degree high. Maybe an iced pumpkin latte?

_____________________________________

And this heat is starting to addle my already peri-menopausal brain. Yesterday, I had an audition at 2:00. So my plan was to go to the audition,then pick Jude up at school at 3:00, then take him to swim team at 4:00. The pool is right next to an amazing new library, and I like to bring my laptop with me so I can get some work time in while he's swimming. So this meant that I had to bring the computer with me on the audition, and since I didn't want to leave it in the car to bake/get stolen, I took it into the audition with me. After my audition, I walked back to the car, started the car and was about to drive away when I realized that I'd left the computer in the waiting room of the audition! The huge open waiting room, through which many, many actors pass constantly. Eek. I dashed back in and thank God, it was still sitting, untouched, right where I'd left it. Relieved, I walked back to the car, and realized that I had LEFT THE CAR RUNNING. So basically, I could have lost the computer and the car in one fell swoop. Dang. Clearly, it's the heat.

_____________________________________

 

Threat made good.

 
____________________________________

I have made another discovery which should make the hour and a half I spend waiting while Jude is at his swim practice more pleasurable. The rather fancy, upscale market up the street from the pool has WINE TASTINGS! Last week, I spent really quite a long time trying each of the wines being sampled by the rather attractive young man from the winery. While I sipped and ate the proffered cheese and crackers, the young man told me all about the merits of stainless steel vs. oak for wine aging, and the fruitiness/citrus notes, yada-yada-yada. Okay, he kind of lost me somewhere there, but the wine was really quite tasty. And of course then I felt like I had to buy a bottle because he had been so kind and it was on sale. Perk of living in California!

____________________________________

Math may be the death of me yet. After surviving math in high school and avoiding it altogether in college (drama majors don't need to know anything, aren't we clever?), I am now being tortured by it yet again through my child. This Fourth Grade stuff is already mostly beyond me. I am trying VERY hard to fake it, so Jude doesn't know that his mother does not have the math gene. And unfortunately, he seems to have inherited the "not a math gene" thing. He, like me, manages to get good grades, but only after MUCH effort and studying. It does NOT come naturally. Anyway, I'm trying to fake it, but the other day, this came along...

 

OH NO!

 
Yes, the dreaded word problem. They have always struck terror in me. Jude stared at this. Then he asked me for help and I stared at it. I swear to God, it took me 20 minutes to work out. Using a calculator! I kept thinking that there must be a formula, some secret strategy to figuring it out. A few days later, I finally actually looked in his math book, and discovered that this is meant to be a "guess and check" question. Meaning that you were just supposed to take a stab at it, and then work it out! Does that seem right? It just doesn't work for my logical mind. This is why algebra was such a horror for me. I loved geometry, but algebra was a disaster. At least Jude seems to have a better grasp than I do, as he aced it on his test, thank God! And  yes, that means that I am not smarter than a Fourth Grader.

___________________________________

My latest favorite from Dogshaming, as a salute to Yom Kippur...

 

Atoning.

___________________________________

That's all for now, people. Please visit Stacy!

 

Comments

[Michele]

It is still too hot here also. I blame it for my lethargy.It couldn't be because I don't sleep we'll or lazy.

[Becki]

Yikes! Glad the computer..and the car...were okay! And you can send a little warmth to me in Michigan. Just because I'm a wimp and usually chilly, not because it's really all the cold yet.

Here from Random Tuesday :)

[Claire]

It's funny but I did my best at word problems; that one was easy! But throw a formula at me and my brain just fizzles out. There's a reason I'm an English person!

[Alaina]

I absolutely hated word problems. And my father helping me with them? I still get PTSD from that. I don't look forward to this day, but luckily my husband is an engineer so I'll be passing that onto him, I believe.

[Stacy Uncorked]

You officially had a Blonde Moment. ;)

While the temps have finally come down below 80-90, the humidity is hanging in there for all it's worth. I want official crisp fall weather to hurry up and get here already!

If only we lived out by you - Princess Nagger could help Jude with his math problems (she a math wiz) and he could help her with the stuff she rolls her eyes at. ;)

Crazy Christmas in September, Maytag and Oster Rock, and a Pessimistic Princess Nagger

[VandyJ]

You have the heat--it's supposed to snow either Tomorrow night or Friday--the weathermen can't make up their minds, but it is going to get cold. Down into the 20s at night.
I hated word problems in school--the rest I usually got but hated word problems.

[Arnebya]

Soooooo the car AND the computer potentially. Hmmmm weren't we just calling Jimmy a rather unnice name the other day?

I would LOVE for it to still be in the 90s here. We may hit 80 today but it's rainy and therefore unlikely. Me no likey the unsummer months (especially the transition months. I have no idea what I was wearing as a thin jacket last year. This happens EVERY year).

I will NOT comment on the math. I cannot, Gretchen, I just can't (except to say Zoe is in 4th grade too. If daddy ain't home when she pulls out math homework, mommy is very very busy).

[Sarah at 32Flavors]

That was a close call on the computer and car.

Ella and I have been having the same word problem trouble. So I showed her this:
http://guyism.com/humor/this-week-in-e-cards-6.html/attachment/screen-shot-2012-05-18-at-1-12-55-pm

Only the humor was lost on her. Totally lost. "Mom? That doesn't make sense." FINE.

[Xmasdolly]

How do you expect me to even comment when I'm laughing so hard. LMAO Have a great day & thanks for sharing.

[Sprite's Keeper]

Word problem made easy.
25-7=18
18/2=9
9+7=16
16+9=25

And people wonder why I have beauty AND brains. ;-)
Love the picture! I must show this to my people!
xoxo

[VandyJ]

My spin is up!
http://tttandme.blogspot.com/2012/10/spin-cycle-straight-and-narrow.html