Chapman Kids Blog – Page 64 – "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

Packing days — Grandpa Milo forgets and Grandma Sarah slows down

On Thursday, February 25, 2016

It was a little bit of a melancholy night last night. Grandpa Milo’s Alzheimer’s progress slowly but surely.

I told him last night, “Dad, you know we are moving to Texas in a couple of weeks.”

He said, “You are? That is disappointing.”

He had completely forgotten from when we told him last Sunday and a week ago Wednesday. Fortunately, he is in very good hands with my siblings all close by and friends from church willing and able to get him to Sunday morning meeting, the Wednesday night Bible studies and the various gospel meetings. Still it is a hard thing. It is getting harder and harder for him to get in and out of the car. He insists on doing everything himself still, but is less able by a great deal than when we got here. It is hard to see because he was truly a great father

Grandma Sarah’s mind is good, but she really finds it difficult to leave home now for anything other than doctor’s appointments. I just feel very, very grateful for parents who had my best interest at heart and, much more than that, have loved and depended on God for so long in their lives, it is now a habit that consoles them and all of us in their old age.

Betty Blonde #487 – 06/17/2010

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Homeschool done right

By Dad

On Wednesday, February 24, 2016

In Homeschool

I just found an article in the Chicago Tribune about homeschool done right. A school teacher writes about how her mind was changed when she started teaching at the college level. The article speaks for itself and represents our experience.

Betty Blonde #486 – 06/16/2010

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Dallas, Texas

By Dad

On Tuesday, February 23, 2016

In Family, House and home

I resigned my job in Portland, Oregon area yesterday to accept a position in Dallas, Texas. The part of the move that has to do with work is great. The part that has to do with leaving Grandpa Milo and Grandma Sarah behind in Oregon makes us sad. They are in good hands with my siblings and with the church with whom they meet so they will be fine. One of the main reasons for the move is to be closer to Grandma Conchita who is alone now, Grandpa Lauro having died over a year ago. We have a good real estate agent looking for a place for us close to the new job, but not so close that we could be characterized as big city dwellers. More about this as it moves forward.

Betty Blonde #485 – 06/15/2010
Betty Blonde #485
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Kelly goes to Canada (a non-skiing ski trip)

By Dad

On Friday, February 19, 2016

In Health, Socialization

Kelly texted me this image from where she sits studying this morning. She drove up to Canada with a friend to keep her company in the lodge (her friend has an injured leg) and it appears she is actually getting some studying done. She has a ton of studying to do, but I think she is weakening though–she says she might try to ski for half a day tomorrow. It looks beautiful up there. I have to admit I am somewhat envious. I definitely would do all my non-skiing in the lodge with a hot beverage in my hand. Kelly is meeting some new friends, so that is a fine thing.

Turned down a chance to move to Dallas

By Dad

On Friday, February 19, 2016

In culture, Family, Work

I got a job offer for a job I would love to do in the Dallas, Texas. I say Dallas because we have a Dallas here, too, and I do not want to confuse my Oregon friends. When the kids were younger and we homeschooled them, I would have jumped at a thing like this. Lorena and I did it several times. We moved from Florida to Oregon between when Kelly was born and when Christian was born. We moved from the Portland area to Albany after Kelly’s third grade year and Christian’s first grade year. That move might not seem like too big of a change, but was bigger than I expected both culturally and educationally (for the kids). We moved to Dallas for six months, then to North Carolina for seven years leading up to where we find ourselves now–back in the Portland, Oregon area.

All of that moving was very, very good for the family. The kids understand that no one place stands above other places as the ultimate, end-all places to live. There are exceptions, but people confined to a single place seem to have a tendency to think the place to which they have been confined is the only place that exists. No, though, I find myself, for the first time in my life, turning down a great job that will provide me advancement and very, very interesting work so I can be close enough to help out with aging parents and stay within a short plane ride from one kid and a short train trip to the other. It feels kind of confining, but it also feels good to have done what I believe is the right thing. This, too, will end and we can move again… if we want to.

Betty Blonde #484 – 06/14/2010

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More narcissism

By Dad

On Tuesday, February 16, 2016

In Christianity, culture

After all the talk amongst family and friends about M. Scott Peck’s book on narcissism titled The People of the Lie, an article titled Narcissism is Increasing. So You’re Not So Special. appeared. It address the same topic and I think it is a huge problem that began with my generation and has gotten worse ever since. Awareness helps to combat it, but it takes work and no one is immune. It is a fundamentally unchristian behavior. If the New York Times is noticing it, it has to be bad. They seem to be a hotbed of that kind of behavior and attitude.

Betty Blonde #483 – 06/11/2010

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Evil exists: The People of the Lie

By Dad

On Monday, February 15, 2016

In Christianity, culture

The People of the Lie is a book that has had a pretty big impact on my life. It is a book the mother of a friend recommended I read when I was in college. I think she recommended it to me to help me understand why some people act the way they do and to understand the nature of evil. Well, to understand at least one kind of evil. It is a book that is easy to understand, but hard to read because the truths in it are hard and some of the evil that is described there resides in all of us. I just bought two copies of the book to send to our kids.

I plan to read it again myself. I am certainly not immune to the evil described in this book. I recommend it very highly (the book, not the evil).

Betty Blonde #482 – 06/10/2010

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Ancient coins

By Dad

On Wednesday, February 10, 2016

In culture, Education

My buddy John from Texas bought a handful of ancient coins. I think he mostly bought them out of curiosity and for fun. At any rate he sent me some pictures of them last night. He has been enjoying trying to figure out what they are, where they are from and how to clean them up with out wrecking them. I have to admit, it looks fun and educational. I also have to admit, I am a little envious. I might buy a handful myself. He thinks he has identified the coin with the box around it on the left as from the reign of Ptolemy III in Egypt which means it is way old. It seems like there is some Greek and Roman stuff in there, too. He will know a lot more about it after he has cleaned them up and figured out what is on them. Here they are:

Ancient coins from the top

Ancient coins from the side

Betty Blonde #481 – 06/09/2010

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All the girl cousins in Mexico on Grandma Conchita’s 70th birthday

By Dad

On Tuesday, February 9, 2016

In General

All the girl cousins in Mexico
For posterity, I thought it would be nice to put up a picture of all of Kelly’s and Christian’s girl cousins in Mexico with Grandma Conchita on her 70th birthday.

Betty Blonde #480 – 06/08/2010

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New books for Christian

By Dad

On Monday, February 8, 2016

In Education

Christian's new Real Analysis book Late last night, Christian sent Lorena a Snapchat that reminded me my mind is not as able as it used to be, In some ways, I think that is a good thing–there are lots of good things I can still learn without hurting my brain. He was genuinely excited about it and, having seen this before, I know he will actually read the thing and to the bulk of the exercises. What a great thing. It inspires me to dive back into a learning project or two. In that regard, I found a new Predictive Analytics tool this weekend called RapidMiner that I want to learn how to use. It really looks like the learning curve is not too steep and it is something I could use every day in my job.

So, thanks for the inspiration Christian. I a looking forward to this.

Betty Blonde #479 – 06/07/2010

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A remarkable mother-in-law

By Dad

On Sunday, February 7, 2016

In Family

Grandma Conchita turns 70 .
This is a photo of Grandma Conchita after church with her two oldest grandchildren the last time she visited Raleigh before we moved to Oregon. She turns 70 today. It is hard for me to express what an incredible gift it is to have her as a mother-in-law. Both Conchita and Grandpa Lauro treated me as one of their own before Lorena and I considered getting married. I know of no one who knows her who is not grateful that Grandma Conchita is in their life, too. Everything bad you have heard about how mothers-in-law treat their sons-in-law is the exact opposite of how I have ever been treated by Grandma Conchita. Thank you for everything Conchita and Happy, Happy Birthday to a great and kind lady.

Betty Blonde #478 – 06/06/2010

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Who owns the definition of what it means to be “Latino?”

By Dad

On Thursday, February 4, 2016

In Politics

I have been disabused of the notion that “journalists” at the New York Times are anything other than doctrinaire race-baiters for a long time, but it is nice to be reminded now and again why I quit reading them a couple of decades ago. As a member of a Hispanic majority family we have experienced, up close an personal the whole “your not really a Mexican unless you are a liberal value, anglo-male hating victim” (see here and here for a couple of examples). The abjectly racist article in the Times is described in an article by RedState titled New York Times Says Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio Are Not Latino. Enjoy.

Betty Blonde #477 – 06/04/2010

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Keeping busy helps me stay sane

By Dad

On Tuesday, February 2, 2016

In Family, Politics

Lorena back to Seattle Lorena is off to Seattle again to give Kelly a hand while she is in the race up to the delivery of an oral presentation of a big paper based on her research. I am stuck here by myself to steam over the election. I am glad I have too much stuff to do to pay much attention to the politics. All the news people who made unequivocal statements about what would happen at the Iowa Caucuses are now making just as unequivocal statements about what will happen at the primaries in New Hampshire and South Carolina. They were completely wrong about Iowa and continue to double down by making a bigger deal out of the third place finisher than the winner who got the greatest amount of votes in Republican history of the event. We will see what happens next, but I am pretty happy I am so busy I cannot pay a whole lot of attention.

Betty Blonde #476 – 06/02/2010

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All you need to know about the Iowa Caucuses

By Dad

On Monday, February 1, 2016

In Politics

Red State has an excellent article up on the Iowa Caucuses in particular and politics in general. This article resonates with me very, very much. It is titled Everything that you read today on Iowa is going to be nonsense. Including this. It has a list of truths about this and most other elections. I am going to try to remind myself to return to this article throughout this current election season. Maybe it will help me not to go (completely) insane over the doings of it all. Here are a couple of points I really liked, but all of them are very good:

Do not fall in love with politicians. Ever. You can like them, you can give them money, you can stump for them, you can even buy one a beer if you’re feeling generous – but never, ever, ever fall in love with one, because you will either end up regretting it, or you will end up being one of those sad, lonely people who everyone selectively avoids.
Political activism is no substitute for a genuine feeling of self-worth.

NCSU drinks the Kool-Aid of “sustainability”

By Dad

On Monday, February 1, 2016

In Education

My buddy, Mark the Physicist sent me an article about NCSU the other day that made me sad. It seems NCSU wants to ram a hard left wing environmental agenda down the throats of their students. NCSU has its challenges with political correctness that I have documented in a limited way on this blog, but by and large, our kids got an excellent education there. If this kind of nonsense continues to be adopted the kind of education our kids received will disappear quickly. Here is a quote from the article:

Currently, incoming NC State freshmen are required to attend sustainability “orientation.” The university offers a B.S. in environmental sciences, which has a strong sustainability emphasis and teaches students to “recognize the economic and sociopolitical ramifications of the environment.” Numerous courses, as well as workshops and continuing education programs, incorporate sustainability themes. And student support appears to be strong; recently, under the aegis of the administration, student groups were able to ban the use of plastic bags at campus stores. If last week’s town hall meeting was any indication, however, there is a contingent of university leaders, professors, administrators, and students that wants to ratchet up sustainability even more.

There were calls to: create a first-year general education course based solely on sustainability; “train” faculty, staff, and students to be more aware of social and environmental justice issues; and require incoming freshmen to read sustainability books (that’s already happening; last year, incoming students read Jay Erskine Leutze’s environmental justice-themed Stand Up That Mountain). There also was a suggestion to add a sustainability statement to all course syllabi to indicate NCSU’s commitment to the cause. Other proposals were more radical: one person wants to “re-brand NC State as a less conservative and more activist-minded school” and another wants to have sustainability advocates visit local K-12 schools to “plant the seed” of sustainability.

There is hope in North Carolina in spite of this kind of nonsense. A recent article over at Town Hall written by Mike Adams explains how some of the shameful behavior practiced by one North Carolina University has started to be rolled back by the new, more enlightened leadership. Maybe they could now turn their attention to North Carolina State University before it is too late. If they are not careful, they could go the way of the State of Oregon.

Betty Blonde #476 – 06/02/2010

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You just never know — homeschool and life

By Dad

On Sunday, January 31, 2016

In Homeschool

There is a great article about which I have been meaning to write titled What I’m never going to tell you about homeschooling. Really, it is not about homeschooling. It is about life and parenting. No one has any idea about what will happen to their kids. I think most people have good intentions when it comes to their kids. You might ask why I do not think ALL people have good intentions for their kids and would have to say it is a long conversation, but some of it has to do with the idea that if you are too much about yourself, you probably do not have good intentions for your kids.

We heard all those things people hear about the different stages kids pass through. And our kids have passed through most of them. Now, I am just as apt to be the one telling even though our kids are arguably still going through the last of those “kid” level stages right now. Other “young adult,” “young married,” “middle-aged” and other stages are on the way. The thing I liked about the article was that it addressed the fact that there is not much you can do about how your kids think and live their lives because free will gets in the way. Just because they did good at one stage along the way does not mean they will do well at the next.

My goal in all this is to quit trying to analyze what people do and try to start being more of an encouragement. There is lots of pain we cause ourselves, but sometimes it is really not our fault.

Betty Blonde #475 – 06/01/2010

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Now THAT is creativity, but crazy ingenuity–The First Rocket Man!

By Dad

On Friday, January 29, 2016

In Technology

I work with a very skilled guy who builds rocket engines for very large “hobby” rocketry projects. It is kind of hard to call them hobby projects because they will often work for a year on a rocket that will reach 100,000 ft. He runs off to Nevada once or twice per year to join other groups of rocketeers to fire off their rockets together. I thought of him when I ran into this very, very interesting article titled In Search of the First Rocket Man. The title says it all. It talks about early rocket inventors in China, the US and Italy. It is crazy stuff, a great read and it really inspires the imagination. It probably goes a long way in explaining why the percentage of the people in the world who are engineers is so small–they keep killing themselves off.

Betty Blonde #474 – 05/27/2010

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Holocaust Remembrance Day

By Dad

On Wednesday, January 27, 2016

In Christianity, culture, Politics

This article titled Eichmann begged for mercy before hanging was very, very interesting, but very, very sad, too. It speaks for itself. May we never forget.

Betty Blonde #473 – 05/24/2010

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A robotics instructable

By Dad

On Tuesday, January 26, 2016

In Software

I have a new friend at work who does some very cool hobby projects. He is a homeschool dad with four girls and an amazing ability to teach. He created an Instructable with a video on how to control a disk drive stepper motor with a Raspberry Pi connected to a motor drive. You can find the instructable here. The video and descriptive material (complete with links to materials and ancillary information) speak for themselves.

Betty Blonde #472 – 05/05/2010

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Sports

By Dad

On Monday, January 25, 2016

In Education, Exercise

Lorena heard a conversation between a group of middle aged women talking about their kids college choices on her train ride home last Saturday. It seems one of their priorities was for the kids to go to universities with really good football teams. The entire sports culture in America these days seems a little bit crazy. One of my biggest regrets about my high school and college days is how much my studies suffered because I spent so much time focused on sports. I think the problem is that like any other area that, in moderation, can be great, but as a vocation, even at the highest levels, is a waste of time. It is not like art or music with things created that take on lives of their own long after the artist or musician is gone. Sports is irrelevant the minute the game ends.

The sad part is so many kids get caught up in what really amounts to very small time, worthless endeavors. I am talking about the kid that plays college basketball, football, track wrestling or baseball whether the school is big or small. The commitment is so great it is not possible to get a good education while doing it. Of course there are exceptions–I work with a Stanford football player who is a great engineer, but most kids do their stint as a player then spend the rest of their lives mourning for their glory years, doing a job they hate because they got a weak education and pushing their own kids into the same hamster wheel existence. Worse, for all the talk about sports building character, there is little to no evidence of that character anywhere but when young kids are involved and even that fails much of the time. Again, there are exceptions, but you see displays of exceptional character so rarely in college and professional sports these days that people make a big deal out of it when it happens.

Betty Blonde #471 – 04/30/2010

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