AR, popcorn, and root beer floats

Let me just put this out here. I hate Accelerated Reader. I know it has many uses and I applaud it as a way to check a child’s reading comprehension, but I still don’t like it. I haven’t been a fan of AR for many reasons, not the least of which is Middlest, who refused to read any book that didn’t have an available AR test so she could get the points. She missed out on some good stories because of it. Eldest had a friend who would miss enough points on the AR test to stay at the reading level she chose to be at instead of what she was capable of, because the teachers wouldn’t let her read what she liked because the AR level was too low. Since I will read just about anything with words, it broke my heart to see a child denied a book she wanted to read. Fast forward 15 years and Youngest is coming home upset about missing her AR goal and not being allowed to attend the popcorn party. If AR was a person, I would slap that bitch into next week. But because AR inanimate, I was forced to higher ground. I my girl her not to worry about it and promised to pack popcorn in her lunch the day of the popcorn party. She is seven, and that promise was enough move her thoughts to more pleasant things, like who got in trouble at school and no, it wasn’t her today. Youngest wasn’t sure when the popcorn party would be, so I packed popcorn in her lunch two days in a row. I am awesome like that. Anyway, yesterday was the popcorn party, which she did not attend. All would have been well in my kingdom, complete with singing and dancing with unicorns, but the popcorn machine was broken. The teacher substituted root beer floats for popcorn. I don’t have any idea how she pulled root beer and ice cream out of her hind end or how to pack vanilla ice cream in a lunchbox. So upset was Youngest by the root beer floats and attendant gloating by her peers, we have scheduled a trip after school tonight to the grocery for ice cream and red pop. I was able to convince her that red pop makes a way better float than root beer, because I like it better, and she agreed. I probably should have encouraged her to try harder to make her goal next time, but I wouldn’t want her to think I had been abducted and had an alien robot put in my place.

Today’s thankful: I didn’t slit my wrists

I am not a proponent of suicide, but for the past two weeks the temptation has been steadily growing stronger. The reason for my temptation has been that we are in the early stages of implementing a new software program, of which I will be the primary user, and I HATE it. I haven’t worked with a software so user unfriendly since I learned how to use Lotus 123 back in the days of long ago, and it was WAY more friendly than this current system. So after spending four days in a row fighting with it every day, the temptation to slit my wrists is at an all-time high. I won’t do it, but I have been keeping the scissors and sharpened pencils away from my line of sight as a precaution.

Today’s thankful: MY nook works

My sister and I each got a Barnes & Noble nook two Christmases ago when they came out. I have loved mine, but my sister got a lemon. From not downloading books, to the page advance key breaking within a few months, to the electronic library not working properly, she has had nothing but trouble with her nook. She has spent hours on the phone with customer support, only to be told repeatedly that the problem is with their server and not her nook. She has taken it into the local store many times, only to be told that the store personnel can’t help her, and they call the customer service line for her. On our most recent trip to Barnes & Noble to complain about her nook not working, she was assured that her problems were because of their server. When she suggested that she had a lemon and would like a replacement, they told her the problem wasn’t her nook and that there was nothing they could do. Awesome.

What is a girl to do? Well, we have purchased and encouraged our friends to choose the Kindle when searching for an ereader. Our Kindle friends have been very satisfied. So while I have a nook that works, I feel thankful and pretty sure that I just got lucky. So would I recommend a nook? Absolutely not. Will I buy another one when this one dies? Absolutely not. Will I invest in a Kindle next time? Absolutely.

Today’s thankful: Conference calls without webcam

Working from home is mostly great, but some times are more great than others. This afternoon, for example, I was on a conference call. Eldest was home with me, so I left the television on for my call, but turned the volume way down. It happened that “The Talk” came on while I was on the call. Eldest started excitedly carrying on about how much she loves Julie Chen. I’m pretty sure everyone on the conference call could hear the chattering emanating from my end of the call. Thankfully, I wasn’t on webcam, so while they could hear the craziness, they have to keep guessing as to what was making all that noise.

Today's thankful: TV remotes

I know it sounds lazy, but the television remote is, IMHO, one of the greatest things ever invented. When I was a kid, my grandpa had a remote that would change the channels, but it did so by forcing the knob to turn. There was no typing in the channel you wanted and then magically, silently being taken there. Instead, his version made a metal clank and then the knob would turn one space. My sister could make it go by shaking her charm bracelet.

My parents had a remote of sorts. They would tell one of us kids to get up and change the channel, turn the volume up or down, or move the rabbit ears. Yes, I am that old. I hated that remote.

But today’s version of a remote, that changes everything quickly and silently, is a wonderful little gadget. Could I live without it? Sure. I even have, on occasion, done without when someone has hidden it then left the room. The greatest feature of modern remotes, though, has to be the mute feature. That way, if the phone rings, I don’t have to answer with Jerry Springer blaring in the background.