J. Boo > Recent Status Updates

Third time through, this time for the younger pair. Previous readings for these two have involved possibly more trochaic tetrameter lines than Longfellow intended in regards to plesiosaurs and kitty cats. They are older now, but I might keep a lynx in reserve.

Some time ago I read a version that had been cut-down and had its language modernized, and you will not be surprised to learn that that edition is, so far, wildly inferior to the original.

Some time ago I read a version that had been cut-down and had its language modernized, and you will not be surprised to learn that that edition is, so far, wildly inferior to the original.

Team read with DD2 (6), who is loving it.

DD#2 (6 and more than halfway through first grade) is indeed now ready to read this one to me. She was probably ready earlier, as a matter of fact. This was a quick trial to see if she would like it, and as she demanded to read another page, the answer is clearly yes.

"Uh... do you really want me to read out the recipes?"

Audience: "YES!"

"Ok. Well, it says 'Christmas Cakes'
¼ cup of butter.
½ cup of sugar.
¼ cup of milk.
1 egg...."

This was intended to just be a trial chapter to see if I could spark interest in DD1 (10) reading it on her own, but I guess it is now the new bedtime story for the multitude, recipes and all.

Abraham, the disciple of Sisoes, said to him, "Supposing there be a congregation on Saturday or Sunday, and that a brother were to drink three cups of wine: would that be too much ?" Sisoes replied, "If Satan did not exist it would not be too much, but since he doth exist it is too much."

Third time through with the kids. DS2 (8) -- who last got this at age 4, per my not necessarily reliable goodreads log-- says he just barely remembers the ending.

The only explanation for the teen boy in the supporting cast helping out the teen girl main character with her sleuthing is that she's drop-dead gorgeous, because she really is quite rude.

CCXXXIX. A certain prince had a little servant who used to learn with him in school, and who sud¬ denly sickened and died. And when the king said to him, “My son, thy servant is dead,” he replied, “Yes, “he is dead, and he hath escaped from the school.”

From "PROFITABLE SAYINGS OF MUHAMMEDAN KINGS AND OF
THEIR SAGES"

CCXII. A certain king was asked by one of his nobles, “Who was the founder of thy race?” And he replied, “Ill luck brought it upon them that I should be the founder.”

CCXIII. Another of the sages said, “The members of a man’s household are the moth of his money.”

A recent upload to Gutenberg. Was expecting a kids' book with a magical wishing carpet, but the carpet turns out to be a metaphor in an adult novel. Despite that disappointment, the enjoyably acrid prose has kept me reading.

By the kids' request, we are off on a trip to Camelot for our next big read.

Still plugging away at this, now on chapter XV. Spring baseball & softball will be starting soon, which should increase the speed at which I'm going through the material. Makes the games and practices a lot more tolerable.

This is definitely the weirdest book I have read in a very long time.

About three quarters of the way through the Alice in Wonderland with the kids, and have started this as a bonus for the younger two.

Almost finished chapter 12. The masculine second declension is introduced here, which means a messenger is announcing war in Gaul and a small child (accurately) comments that all boys desire swords. So much for our beloved baskets of red and white roses!

My progress has slowed with baseball season over. I no longer have interminable hours of practices/games to work on Latin. Kid's basketball takes a lot less time.

Lady Maria Nugent's diaries, written when she was the wife of the Governor of Jamaica in the very early 1800s, are often referenced -- he had a great deal of admiration for her -- and I am pleased to note that they were republished recently, and Lady Maria Nugent Studies seem to be a thriving subfield. Apparently she also touches on India, but plenty of people wrote about India, and few about Jamaica.

pg 156 in this edition, approx midway. No luck finding Midshipman Robert Clinch, recipient of the Albert lifesaving medal for punching out a shark while trying to rescue a friend. Lord Hamilton was curious about his eventual fate, as was I. No luck either with "Joss", of the Coldstream Guards, who took a bunch of pictures of Jamaica while traveling with Lord Frederic circa 1904.

Passed through the first two chapters. DD#2 (5) is currently reluctant, at best, DS#2 (7) is very excited, DD#1 (9) moderately so.

These are the chapters on basic counting/numeracy. They have exposure to another language which is base 5, and pointing out the differences explicitly makes it much more interesting to them.

I suspect I'll have to give up at some point, once the material gets too complex, but we'll see

Found an actual physical copy for $3 at a used book store. From previous reading, some years ago, this is the weakest of his memoirs, but how could I resist another pleasant trip with Lord Hamilton through the world before the Great War?

I've discovered a Latin teacher who likes "The Road to Latin" book enough that he's created a website and a series of Youtube videos for the text. Videos are being posted right now; "MrC Latin" is covering a chapter a week, with two videos per chapter. An unexpected bonus!

Currently on Chapter VII. Also doing Duolingo Latin and helping DS1/DD1 with their separate Latin textbooks (Gryphis and LfC).

Unusually, "Road" embraces 1st declension nouns. For newbies, these are nearly all feminine. Most latin books introduce the masc./neuter second declension quickly, but here Ch. IV has a girl carrying a little flower-filled basket to statues of goddesses, and Ch. V sends the women to a cute shop. Glancing ahead, we don't buckle on our swords until Ch. XII, and the Britons won't attack a Roman fort until Ch. XIV.

Moving right along in this textbook, currently in the midst of chapter IV. I like that there are a LOT of sentences to read & translate between the languages. I do not like the organization. Words & grammatical principles are introduced first in Latin text, for students to figure out in context, and then are explained in English. This risks the student getting it wrong and, worse, internalizing that wrong answer.

Wow, the new book interface that is being inflicted upon us is AWFUL. Multiple features removed, and getting information now requires a lot of clicking to expand and scrolling around.

Anyone have recommendations for alternate sites?

DS2 (6) is quite interested in the story, but complains about me trying to get him to read the map, which is the ostensible purpose of the book.

"Egypt has been called the Gift of the Nile. Once every year the river overflows its banks, depositing a layer of rich alluvial soil on the parched ground. Then it recedes, and soon the whole countryside, as far as the eye can reach, is covered with Egyptologists."

Why does Sherlock Holmes prefer Mexican restaurants?

Because they give him case ideas.

When counting my blessings, I surely need to add "no longer being a teenager" somewhere near the top.