Chapter 2, History of the Medieval World

This chapter was about the time period 220-420 AD in China. I know nothing about Eastern history, so it's all new to me. 

In this time period, there was the rise and fall of several rulers. After the Han dynasty fell, there was the rise of three kingdoms--Shu Han, Cao Wei,  and Dong Wu. Then, in 265, the Jin dynasty started. In 280, the Jin unified China for a short period, until 316. Then there were small city states in the north, and the Eastern Jin in the south. 

In 357, Fu Jian started conquering cities in the north, and in 383 tried to defeat the Jin at the Battle of the Fei River. Even though Fu Jian had a much bigger army, the Jin defeated them. At that pont, Fu Jian's cities started falling away. 

The History of the Medieval World Chapter 1

I'm reading The History of the Medieval World by Susan Wise Bauer this year. History is a weak spot of mine, and I am going to attempt to close the weak spot. This is especially good because my freshman engineering students will be taking World History next year. I like to sound intelligent when I speak with them on subjects other than math and engineering. I want them to realize that it is good to be well-rounded. So I had better get myself well-rounded!

The book starts with Constantine taking over as ruler of the Roman Empire. At this point, the previous emperor, Maxentius has died, but the two "under rulers", Licinius and Maximinus Daia are still in power. Constantine offers his half sister in marriage to Licinius to get rid of Maximinus. It works. The two get married, and Constantine declares Christianity legal in the empire. Later, Constantine has Licinius and his wife banished to Thessaloniki and later killed. 

Big things that happen--

Christianity is made legal in the Roman Empire

The Council of Nicaea meets and pens the Nicene Creed, which is still the definition of Christianity today

Constantine moves the capital of the Empire to Byzantium, including the governing people and many of the art works and relics from all of the great cities

Book 1 2015

The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone and Benjamin Zander

This book was recommended to me by a friend who is a executive consultant. I am not sure exactly what she does, but it has something to do with helping executives guide their companies and employees into a productive future, however they see that future being. I took on a new challenge this school year--helping to coordinate a new engineering academy within a large high school. I will have these students for the next four years, to help guide them into college and life. So, in my own way, I have become an executive. My friend is helping me on that journey.

This book looks at life as possibilities. Everything is invented, why not invent a new outlook on life? There are 12 practices that the authors go through, with stories from their lives to back them up, to make life about the possibilities instead of about the barriers.

Rosamund Stone Zander is a family therapist and Benjamin Zander is the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic. Together they narrate the reader to seeing the possibilities in life. You get to travel the world with youth orchestras, see inside the Boston Philharmonic, meet interesting characters, all while being inspired to change how you see yourself positioned in the world.

I will definitely have my students read excerpts from this book.

And it has started

Soccer season officially starts next weekend. Alex is playing on two teams. The rest are just playing on one team each. Dave is coaching 3 of the 5 teams. My job is kid switch at practice one night a week and chauffeuring and texting game updates on the weekend.

19th Anniversary

On top of the White Tower in Thessaloniki, Greece

Having had two sets of grandparents who were married for more than 50 years, 19 years seems like a short time. But this week I heard of yet another friend whose marriage is ending. That is five friends in less than a year. Now, I have no problem with people getting divorced. Really, I don't. But it does make these 19 years seem like more of an achievement.

My parents share our anniversary. (They, too, got married and left for grad school the next week.) This year is 47 for them. That is amazing.

Last Day Off

I go back to work on Monday. I do like my job, but I love being at home with my kids all summer. So today I decided we would have a fun morning.

I took the little people to Build-A-Bear Workshop. They had never been there before. Sam made a monkey, and Amy made a heart bear. Then we went to McD for lunch. We don't do that a lot, but we did it today.

This afternoon, the boys all need to go for a celiac test. Not so fun...

More Thessaloniki

It seemed to me that Thessaloniki was a city of apartment buildings. Once you got away from the waterfront, there was very little open space in the city--just tall buildings and roads. So, here is a gas station. Right there, under someone's apartment, is the Shell station.But, then, you come across something like this...

These ruins are surrounded by apartment/shop/restaurant buildings. And people just walk by like they aren't there. I wonder how long you have to live with these to stop noticing them. (Kind of like I don't notice the Civil War era cemetery I drive by a few times a week.) How many times do people walk under this arch ...

and miss this detail?

Apple Camp

Ed is attending a three day camp at the Apple Store. It is 90 minutes each day, and it is free. Well, we didn't pay anything for the camp, but so far we have bought a new app for the iPad and I am sitting here eying accessories for the iPad, my MacBook, and my iPhone. I think Dave was tempted to bring home a new iPhone 4 yesterday. I am pretty sure the only reason he didn't was because he was trying to decide if the white one was girly. (In case you're wondering, yes it is.)

I think I am going to wander over to the Genius Bar (which is not a bar and is not staffed by geniuses) to inquire about a mouse for my Mac Book. Oh, and which color iPad cover should I get? (I am not going to ask the geniuses that one.)

(and why are other camp children wandering around the store not paying attention?)

And they got me... I got a much needed cover for the iPad and a much wanted wireless mouse for the MacBook. I told the "genius" that they got me in for the free camp, and I made the purchase. He thought that was really funny.

The New Whole Foods

Our new Whole Foods opened today. I have been waiting for over a year for this place to open. I used to have to drive 10 miles to get to one. Now it is right around the corner.

I braved the crowds this evening, and did a bit of a shopping. It is going to take me some time to get used to it. Everything is in a very different place. I need to go sometime when it isn't so crowded to get my bearings.

I am so happy to have my Whole Foods so close!

Thessaloniki

The first week of summer vacation, Dave and I went to Thessaloniki, Greece and Rome, Italy. Dave was invited to give a talk at a conference in Thessaloniki, and he invited me along. Now, Thessaloniki is not a tourist destination. It is not Athens. It is not an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is a port town, kind of like Baltimore. But it has its own charms and some old stuff.

I spent my mornings wandering around the city while Dave attended his conference. I spent my afternoons lounging by the pool reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and The Grapes of Wrath, the former for my school's summer reading and the latter for Alex's summer reading. I had a great time.

Here are a few pictures:

Statue of Alexander the Great

The White Tower, built around 1534

Me at the top of the White Tower

Ship being towed by a tug boat into the harbor to be unloaded

Ear Piercing

I had my ears pierced in early elementary school, maybe first grade. I LOVE earrings. Maybe it is the eighties girl in me, but I absolutely love wearing earrings, and the bigger the better. Unfortunately, I am allergic to most earrings, so I can only wear most earrings for a couple of hours. But I continue to buy and wear them, and I suffer the consequences.

Amy is starting to ask about earrings. She is five and will start kindergarten in the fall. So, should I let her get her ears pierced?

Five and a half weeks

That is what is left of this school year. That is all.

Whoops!

I should read my own blog before I post!!!

Dinner Party Palooza

Way back in December, we were invited to an aquaintance's house for dinner. We knew this couple through soccer, and Dave coached with Jon for the fall season. The other two coaches and their wives were also invited. We went and had a wonderful time.

Since then, we have been to two other dinner parties with these three couples, and a few nights out or in with a subset. It has been a long time since Dave and I have had couple friends. It has been a long time since we had a social life at all. And, it is so much fun!

This weekend, it is our turn to host the origian dinner party group. I am making angelhair pasta with a fresh tomato and blue cheese topping, and fresh bread. Ok, I may just buy the bread. Appetizers, salad, and dessert are being brought by the other couples. I have several bottles of wine. I am not a wine enthusiast, so I am hoping what I have is ok.

Soccer Coaches Dinner Party

Back in December, we were invited to a dinner party with all of the coaches and wives for Ed's team. The four couples got along really well, and it is now a monthly affair. We are hosting the travelling party in just over two weeks, and I have no idea what to cook. I do know that I want to use the wonderful altered casserole dishes that my friend Paula made. In fact, I need to see if I can buy a couple more. So I am trying to plan a meal around beautiful handmade casserole dishes. I'll post a picture soon.

Our New Soccer Game

Amy, Sam and I spend a lot of time watching soccer. We do this activity in beautiful weather, cold weather, rainy weather, you name it. (Although we do not play when it is lightning.) Today, Amy and I played a new game at Ed's game. I said, "What number is Ed?" Amy replied,"Seven." Then I said, "Spence is Ed plus two. What number is he?" "Spence is nine." "Chris is between Ed and Spence." "He's eight." "Jack is Chis times two." "He's sixteen." Amy and I went through all nine players like that. The only operation she doesn't do us division.

This Weekend

Plans for this weekend:
Soccer
Alex attend birthday party
A little shopping for something new to wear to the next two items
Dinner out with Dave and another couple
Fiddler on the Roof
More soccer

I hope to fit in some pillowcase-making and some Round Robing messing around.

I need to write lesson plans for the next three chapters of Outliers. I need to design graphic organizers for the rest of the AP Calculus review.

Oh, and I need to grocery shop.

Bike Riding

Every year, the my little people's school has a Tryke a Thon to raise money for Children's Healthcare of Altanta. This year, both kids have new bikes to ride. Sam took to riding a bike instantly. Amy was a little slower to get it. After dinner tonight, I took Amy out to ride her bike. Sam was riding circles around her, but she finally got it. I think they will both have a great time riding around the gym.

I took pictures, but I need Dave to get them out of the camera for me.

Teaching English/Language Arts

The Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT) had four parts-- English/Language Arts (ELA,) Math, Social Studies, and Science. I am teaching the ELA and math reviews this week. We are teaching the kids to take notes and highlight while reading. I am addicted to annotating now. I can't read without a highlighter in hand. It is crazy.

Since I am going to see Fiddler on the Roof this weekend, I wanted to read some Russian history. So I borrowed a book from the AP World History teacher. I went to read it last night, but realized I couldn't highlight it. Today I copied the pages so I could annotate.

Our school's literacy coach thought that was pretty funny. However, she got very excited when I explained my multivariable calculus students were reading and annotating and generally working with Outliers this week.

So I have learned a lot from teaching English this week.

Number 77

This week, school is consumed by graduation test review. We call it The Blitz, and all juniors participate. Since blitz is a football play, (which play I could not say,) we had a football theme the first day. I got to wear a football jersey. I wanted to be 77, which is the number of one of my students. However, it was the largest jersey, and I am not the largest faculty member, by far. So I got to be 58, which is the number of a kid I had last year. However, we wear jerseys again on Friday, and the coach is conspiring to get me 77 on Friday. Keep your fingers crossed.