Life With Frenchie

MM is always looking to keep busy. Most of the time she comes home from school, does her chores, changes clothes, and then heads outside to play with her friends. On weekends, it’s much of the same, just skip the school part. However, as many parents know, there are times when nobody seems to be around and your bundles of joy come bounding to you asking you to entertain them. OY! What’s a parent to do?

I try not to turn to television or the Internet as a temporary baby sitter, but I do allow MM some computer time every now and then. Her online activities are limited to sites that I know and trust. It’s an added bonus if they can teach her something, too. But, those can only keep her happy for so long until she’s looking for something new to do. So, whenever she or I come across another site that looks like a possible winner, we check it out. A couple of weeks ago, we found out about Woogi World.

Woogi World is a new site and it has games, provides for an online chat environment, and teaches them about both Internet safety as well as tools for use in their daily lives. There are lots of features that are available for free, but with some limitations. For instance, the chat feature has a preset dictionary for kids to use; however, with the free account, members only have access to a very limited dictionary. In addition to removing limitations, a paid membership provides access to additional features, including letters of recognition to the member from members of their local government. Woogi World believes that positive recognition also plays an important role in a child’s learning.

The paid membership is about $7 a month. MM had the chance to try out the features for free, but we’ve been unable to access her account. She did play around with the free activities for a while, but quickly got frustrated with the limitations to the account. I tried to play around with it to see if maybe she was missing something, but I didn’t have much success either. I also noticed that other areas on the site were not functional yet. MM ended up giving up on Woogi World and went back to one of her old standbys.

Perhaps if we get our temporary account working, MM will explore the site some more. For now, she’s found other things to keep her entertained when her friends are not around.

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Seriously???

FAA suspends sleeping airline pilots

By JAYMES SONG
Associated Press Writer
HONOLULU — Two pilots for Hawaii’s Go airlines who slept through their flight’s landing procedure were suspended for the careless and reckless operation of an aircraft, the Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday.

The pilots, who have been fired by Go, completed their suspensions on Sept. 9, FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said. He did not know whether they are flying again with a different carrier.

Captain Scott Oltman, 54, who was also cited for failing to maintain radio communications, had his license suspended for 60 days. First Officer Dillon Shepley, 24, was suspended for 45 days.

Gregor said no action was taken against Go because it did nothing wrong and provided the pilots with a 15-hour break before their shift, nearly double what the FAA requires.

The National Transportation Safety Board had determined the two pilots fell asleep on the Feb. 13 flight from Honolulu to Hilo.

Oltman was later diagnosed with a severe obstructive sleep apnea. It causes people to stop breathing repeatedly, preventing a restful night of sleep.

However, it was still unclear how both pilots fell asleep on the brief midmorning flight, which was carrying 40 passengers.

No problems were found after examining the aircraft’s pressurization system and carbon monoxide levels.

The pilots failed to respond to nearly a dozen calls from air traffic controllers over a span of 17 minutes.

In recordings obtained by The Associated Press, the controller is heard repeatedly trying to contact the pilots and talks to the pilot of another Go flight in hopes of reaching Flight 1002.

“I’m worried he might be in an emergency situation,” the controller says.

Finally, about 44 minutes into what is usually a 45-minute flight, the controller was able to establish radio contact. By that time, the plane had passed the airport at Hilo by 15 miles, and the controller ordered the flight crew to return.

The pilots were able to reverse course and landed safely at Hilo International Airport.

Go is an inter-island carrier run by Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group Inc. It declined to comment on the suspensions.

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MM had a homework assignment last week that included the following question:

Which is closer to the Atlantic Ocean - Africa or South America?

Can you tell me the answer dear readers? Here’s a hint - it’s not a trick question. I will not fault any of you if you don’t get it right. I do, however, fault MM’s teacher because she should get it right. This is just one in a long list of inexcusable errors she has already made this year.

If you give up, take a peek here.

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I have always loved the circus! And not just any circus - it has to be Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey (yeah, you have to say the whole thing!) Circus! My parents used to take me when I was younger. I couldn’t wait each year to get my rotating flashlight and cotton candy! It was just the most amazing thing EVER! When my brother had kids, I was overjoyed at the idea of introducing them to the circus and sharing with them the same excitement I felt as a child. Oh! And I was nearly beside myself when I found out I was pregnant and was going to get the chance to take my own little one to the circus one day!! I didn’t even know about the awesome program that they have called Baby’s First Circus. Newborns are eligible to receive a voucher for a free circus ticket…and it never expires! I received mine in the hospital and I still have that voucher. Oh, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t taken MM to the circus.MM and I have had the chance to share the experience on three different occasions. Most recently, we went this past January with my coworkers and their families. Leading up to the show, I actually thought that the “magic” was no longer there for me, but as soon as the lights dimmed and the Ringmaster started talking, it all came rushing back. I can’t wait for the next chance to see the show and, hopefully, share it with someone else who has yet to experience the fun of a circus!If you love the circus as much as I do, or want to see what all the fuss is about, check out their schedule on their website. And I know the economy pretty much sucks right now and we’re all trying to save and cut out unnecessary expenditures, but to help make the decision a bit easier, I have some coupon codes for you. The following cities are offering a 20% discount on certain ticket price ranges:

Indianapolis, IN - Sept. 4-7, 2008
Kansas City, MO - Sept. 10-14, 2008
Grand Rapids, MI - Sept. 18-21, 2008
Denver, CO - Oct. 2-13, 2008
Boston, MA – Oct. 8-13, 2008
Cleveland, OH - Oct. 24 - Nov. 2
Chicago, IL - Nov. 6 - 30, 2008
St. Louis, MO - Nov. 6-9, 2008
Auburn Hills, MI - Nov. 12 - 16, 2008
Highland Heights, KY - Feb 27 - Mar. 1, 2009
Cincinnati, OH - Mar. 4 - 8, 2008

Be sure to enter the coupon code MCC when purchasing your tickets online. Be sure to share this with your family and friends! The more the merrier! And if you happen to have an extra ticket, I think I know someone who might like to join you…

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Last week, a couple of coworkers and I were at our favorite little study spot - Panera. While sitting there, we heard the sound of someone’s drink hitting the ground. Turning around, we saw the person who had spilled her drink was confined to a wheelchair and apparently had trouble getting around. My friend and I were a few tables away while there were tables of people surrounding the lady. Without hesitation, the people in her area got up and helped move her away from the spill (she later communicated that her motorized wheelchair was having problems operating properly), gather her belongings, clean up the area, and make sure that she had everything that she needed. The young employee that had been making sure that the dining area was clean worked with the lady and helped her get settled at a new seat and assured her that everything was fine (she was apologizing profusely for the mess). Your first inclination may be to say “Well, that’s his job!” but if you’ve come in contact with any body working with the public in any capacity lately, you should know that just because it’s their job doesn’t mean that they always do it, least of all with patience and a smile!

Later that evening, I was at home watching TV with EP and MM when I saw one of those commercials from Liberty Mutual where the first person does something nice and it continues on and on as people observe the good deeds and do a good deed themselves. I have since found out from Mom Central that those commercials have turned into an entire project - The Responsibility Project. MM and I visited the website and poked around. At her age, I am trying to make sure that she is learning, and practicing, the right values in her life. We watched a video about a young “scout” who lost some of her cookies that she was selling. In turn, a young boy found the boxes, but was jumped by some bullies who took away his glasses. later, the young girl found his glasses. In the end, the boy found the girl and gave her back her cookies and she gave him back his glasses. It’s just another example of how random acts of responsibility can come full circle.

There are also blogs on there from various people with interesting discussions ranging from Children and Parenting to Politics (of course!).  They discuss current issues and events and really make you think about what it means to be responsible. You want to help start your kids talking? Visit this site with them and take your pick of topics!

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This just makes me chuckle:

Another mainstream actuarial reference spotting!

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I know it doesn’t seem like it, but I am still plugging away at my exams. I sat for Exam C back in May. I failed miserably. It had been more than year since I sat for one of the preliminary exams and I just never got back into my study groove like I should have. I’m doing better this time around, although I’m no smarter than last time.

My current headache is Bayesian Analysis and its prior and posterior distributions. This is something I just can’t wrap my head around, no matter how hard I try. But, I better keep trying because I only have 2 months until the exam! YIKES!

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Am I truly losing my mind? I seem to have become the absent-minded woman these days. Not only did I not realize that I was talking about the completely wrong holiday, but it seems that I can’t dress myself properly either. The other day, I ran up the street for something so I just threw on some comfy pants I had laying around. They’re just some cotton slip-on pants. When I got home, I went to change back into my shorts and realized I had put the pants on inside out! I wrote it off to the fact that they’re solid black, so no real way to determine inside from out.

Well, today, early onset kicked in yet again! Puppy had a squeaky tennis ball that she loves and she finally killed it. She was so upset and wouldn’t stop whining that we had to run out and buy her a new one (yes, she’s spoiled). Once again, I threw on some shorts to run up to the store. I hadn’t worn them in a while and I had the thought “Hmmm..I don’t remember these shorts buttoning this way.” But, EP was rushing me out the door (Puppy was really whining!), so I just shrugged it off. We came back home, started fixing dinner, watching some football, etc. MM has a friend spending the night and she came out to ask me a question and says “Mom! Why are you wearing your shorts inside out?!?!”

Now, about that neurologist….

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I just turned to the tail end of tonight’s show and the Superintended of GA schools is on. I’ve never watched this show before, but I was pretty interested in this one considering:

1) She’s a Superintendent of a state school system; and

2) She is from my home state.

 The final question (to be the 1st person to win $1,000,000 on the show) was “who was the longest reigning British monarch?” Sice EP has the “Jeopardy” degree (History), I asked him his thoughts. He was debating between Queen Elizabeth I and King Henry VIII. At the same time, Ms. Kathy Cox was talking herself through her answer and mentioned the same two. Then she added a third - Queen Victoria. She reasoned her way through it and finally said she believed it was Queen Victoria since she has an age named after her and she’s never heard either of the others mentioned for their longevity. Finally, she locked her answer in as Queen Victoria…and she won!!!

Considering Georgia schools have been rather infamous as of late, I must say I’m pretty proud of Ms. Cox! Congratulations Ms. Cox and Georgia!

Now, can any of my Florida readers recommend a private school? The more I stew, the more I think that MM should not stay in her current school!

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Here’s some early morning laughs to help remind you it’s Friday!

Here are the top nine comments made by NBC sports commentators so far during the Summer Olympics that they would like to take back:

1. Weightlifting commentator: ‘This is Gregoriava from Bulgaria. I saw her snatch this morning during her warm up and it was amazing.

2. Dressage commentator: ‘This is really a lovely horse and I speak from personal experience since I once mounted her mother.

3. Paul Hamm, Gymnast: ‘I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father.

4. Boxing Analyst: ‘Sure there have been injuries, and even some deaths in boxing, but none of them really that serious.

5. Softball announcer: ‘If history repeats itself, I should think we can expect the same thing again.

6. Basketball analyst: ‘He dribbles a lot and the opposition doesn’t like it. In fact you can see it all over their faces.

7. At the rowing medal ceremony: ‘Ah, isn’t that nice, the wife of the IOC president is hugging the cox of the British crew.

8. Soccer commentator: ‘Julian Dicks is everywhere. It’s like they’ve got eleven Dicks on the field.

9. Tennis commentator: ‘One of the reasons Andy is playing so well is that, before the final round, his wife takes out his balls and kisses them… Oh my God, what have I just said?

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