Lifestyle of Learning 2016 Edition: Volume Twenty-Seven

November 20 - 27

We recognized Stir Up Sunday by stirring up some hot chocolate mix, spiced tea mix and sugar cookie dough.

We watched closely our favorite football teams and our fantasy football teams.

Maceo had voice lessons.

Maceo attended preprofessional acting class.

Bishop went to his internship with a caterer/baker.  Among other things, he made compound butters and a filling for a German Chocolate Cake.

Bishop went to scouts where some basic organization of the scout closet and the next service project took place.  

The scouts also served the American Heritage Girls their snacks as a reward for having packed more OCC shoeboxes.  It was a friendly challenge that resulted in a total of 179 boxes being given to our charter church.

Maceo worked on A Christmas Story as an assistant director (3 hours)

Bishop and I had a great conversation that is hard to describe succinctly here as it covered a lot of territory but, among other things, we talked about the marginalization of other people; how the media covers or doesn't cover events both national and international and how that impacts the consciousness of the American people and how it molds the narratives, those things we spend the most time talking about; Russia's involvement in events in the Middle East presently; apartheid and the history of racism in South Africa and Australia.
Maceo attended troupe and teen players than had 2 1/2 hours of additional rehearsal in preparation for the upcoming holiday show.
Bishop went to a second day of internship.  He assembled and decorated a cake that will be donated, alongside a pie of made by the baker, to a charity.
Maceo took portions of a sample GED test learning his weaknesses and strengths.
Bishop spent the night with some friends and played some video games.
Maceo and Bishop researched vegetables and their vitamin content then walked to the store to buy some kale and such.
Bishop made a fabulous spicy spaghetti.
Maceo has been exercising in his room; I can hear the jumping jacks.
Of course we celebrated Thanksgiving.

We watched the parade and football.
Bishop prepared his Apple Hours for our Thanksgiving meal.

Maceo experienced Black Friday (actually Thanksgiving evening) with a friend.
Maceo watched Fantastic Beasts.
We learned that Fidel Castro died and took note of worldwide responses.
Bishop has been thinking and researching and thinking and developing and thinking about designing a game.
Maceo went to see the movie Moonlight.
Maceo began tech week as assistant director of A Christmas Story.

Still living and learning and loving it all!

Lifestyle of Learning 2016 Edition: Volume Twenty-Four

The purpose of education is to have an interesting life.  Now.
The purpose of education is to have "the adventures and deep intellectual experiences, to exercise their curiosity and make connections, now, as they go through that education.
-Maria Droujkova

November 1 - 6

The weather has been wonderful and Herb and I took advantage of it by going for a walk at the nature center and a little dining al fresco.

A type of oak leaf...but what type?!?

Inspirational photography inside of the center.

Beauty berries greeting me as I exited the center.  Ahhh!

Pomme frites and aioli - yum!

We finished up our exploration of Venus in science group.    We finished our conversation on the effects of the thick atmosphere on Venus, we created a timeline of exploration of Venus, and looked at a Mariner simulation created by one of our students.

We also explored radar, what it is and how it was used to map the surface of Venus.  We did a version of this radar simulation.  We loved this activity and plan on doing it again after we tweak it just a bit more.

Maceo didn't have vocal lessons but he did have ppt vocal production, ppt acting, improv, troupe,  teen players and assistant directing A Christmas Story.
He also watched a performance of Of Mice and Men with his acting troupe and afterwards they did some improv for the audience (you know they needed something to lift their spirits after that show).  They enjoyed some gelato  together along with some of the cast of Of Mice and Men who gave a bit of a talk back.  Maceo and his youth performance troupe performed at a benefit to support A Sporting Chance.  It was difficult to get great photos as they were facing away from me, singing over a balcony.  As usual, they were wonderful.  The patrons enjoyed it immensely.

There might have been some dancing!

Yup, dancing!!!

The guy in the middle is one of the troupe's biggest fans and the dancing guy from above.

Bishop attended the event as well.  There was a chef present who had plates of tasty items for sale.  Bishop's favorite was the pork and apples and mine was the goat cheese polenta.  Definitely food for thought.
Bishop also took note of the pottery that was on display in the gallery.

Bishop helped with yet another Eagle Scout project  (6 hours).  He has so much fun with these guys and is acquiring or reinforcing skills.  Love it!

Bishop has done some cooking (love it!!!).  Yesterday it was bbq'd hot link grilled cheese sandwiches (super yum!!!).  Maceo and I had an amazing three hour long conversation about Of Mice and Men, about the difference between having a creative mind and being creatively driven, and about all of his research and goals.
Presently, Maceo is on set acting in a short film and Bishop is playing Fallout.

Always living and learning - it's a good life!