Last November our internet went down completely for two days. I was in the middle of an Amazon transaction when it happened. Email and text went and stayed down too. Century Link called the event an internetoutage. For me, it felt like the beginning of a withdrawal experience. It was a withdrawal experience! What I realized…
If you live in a rural area of the Northwest, you can count on losing power a few times each winter. I like the way Terry Hersey, writer of the Sabbath Moment Blog describes what this looks like after a storm blew through: This much is very true: without power, life slows way down. No computer or TV or…
Computer screen frozen? Modem not broadcasting? Phone system acting goofy? Don’t know what to do? Years ago, when this happened to me, I’d sometimes call in a tech expert from outside the office, and they’d fixed it. What I later learned is what Anne Lamott, a favorite author of mine said, Almost everything will work…
In keeping with the Black Friday holiday sales, we have decided to offer an early bird discount ($5.00 to $10.00 off per student testing) to families who register and pay now for remote testing that will take place next year, 2023. If you’re planning on testing anyway, this is one way to save some money. …
Hello Home Schoolers, Below is the article I said I would post yesterday Dancing on the Devil’s Grave By Pastor William Cwirla Halloween has become a major commercial holiday in this country, second in potential profit making only to the Christmas season. The average American family now spends well over $100 each year in tricks, treats,…
As you know, there’s a big day coming up next week. No, I’m not thinking about the Federal Reserve meeting coming up on November 1st and 2nd where interest rates are expected to be raised once again. As important as this meeting will be, I’m thinking about something closer to home for most of us: Halloween….
Do you remember the phrase, “My way or the highway.” Popularized sometime in the 70’s, it has morphed, spread, and seems to characterize all of life now. The “us vs them” way of looking at things along with the accompanying lack of civility and vitriol in public discourse seems to be here to stay. With…
Hello Home Schoolers, It’s been a while since I’ve posted something. Now that things are quieting down around Basic Skills, I do have something. The cultural shift we’re seeing is huge. I don’t think it’s something we’re going to see change as much as we wish once “the other guys” are in office politically. The issues we’re…
Friday’s Supreme Court decision was followed by a barrage of posts, tweets, and TikTok and YouTube clips. Expected for such an historic decision. I was both surprised and not surprised by the vitriol and over-the-top intensity by what I read and viewed. Many of the clips and pictures featured hysterical, angry women using over-the-top profanity…
Hello Home School Families, I wanted to let you know that the Oregon Department of Education will not be extending the deadline to complete achievement testing this year. The last day to complete testing is August 15. While many home schoolers test their children annually at the end of the school year, the rules in Oregon require,…