The wireless gaming adapter that I’ve been playing with doesn’t seem to like holding an IP for more than a day, so I’ve gotten the suggestion that I should go with a static IP on the Xbox 360, because that might help. I am not sure that the problem isn’t really that I’m using a virtual network on my router, because the adapter only does WEP and my network was WPA. I was told that WPA is better security. I will have to wait and see if this fixes the problem. Right now I can’t suggest this setup to Renee, because while I incorrectly said she bought an Xbox 360 when in fact she exchanged one she got for her birthday and got one with a hard drive, she needs a wireless solution, but this isn’t really stable enough for right now. Lucky for me her television is basically rubbish so she isn’t in any real rush for this solution.

The kids went to the doctor’s for their physicals and everything seems to be fine. We are still waiting for some routine tests to come back, but so far the only problem is the kids are slightly overweight. I was already aware of this fact though, so there wasn’t any surprises that have come of this physical yet. I believe the kids have been losing weight, and when the school year is over and they can spend more time riding their bikes, which I still have to find a bike for Patty, then I’m sure this problem will resolve itself. The Easter candy isn’t helping the situation any in the very present. Hopefully they slim down enough to make it easier to fit them for uniforms for the new school year.

I have the Praxis II content and PLT test on the 25th and I’ve been reading some books to help me get prepared for them. I picked up two AP history books at the Akron public library, because to my surprise the University of Akron library did not have any world history books that would be of value to me. I need the history books for the content part, which is about 130 multiple choice questions that can be pulled from world, American, geography, economics, and politics. I have made it to about the 15th century for the world history, but I feel that the next four centuries are going to be more important to me. On the PLT side of things I’ve made it through about a dozen people who have contributed theories that have shaped the modern education system in the United States, but I really have to go back through and read them all again and finish these books. These tests could not have come at a worst time, as the semester is winding down and I have a lot of assignments due in all my other classes.

Speaking of assignments what I have due is a final draft of my Historical Methods paper, which I got the rough draft back today and there are quite a few corrections I have to make to get a better grade. I need to put together another paper for my Advanced Teaching Instructions class, along with a Curriculum Connections paper, a rough draft of the unit plan, and I have to finish the observation hours I’ve been doing at North High School. I have a big paper and a possible presentation coming due for Measurements and Evaluation, which I sadly have not even started on. I have to finish up about 6 online quizzes for Family Financial Management and start thinking about the final project that is due on finals week. I have the final paper and a presentation due in History and Film, which while that is actually not that difficult is still more work piled on. I would like to finish all these books I got for the Praxis II tests.

I have so many assignments and appointments lately that I forced myself to learn how to use the appointments and tasks feature on my phone. I was keeping all these things written down in a notebook, but I need a more constant and ready reminder of what needs done. It wasn’t hard to learn and I feel more confident about keeping track of what needs to be done and when it needs to be done. I don’t have any reminders or anything set, because I’m constantly in there adding or checking something so I don’t think I’m going to forget what’s due next.

Everywhere I go anymore it smells like fresh mulch. This is both a blessing and a curse. Sure everything looks better and eventually the smell settles down and it is fine, but in the very present it is a very pungent smell. Sometimes I feel as though I’m carrying the smell around me if I walk too close to it.

Time Warner Cable will be out to fix my cable for a 3rd time in a month. I know 3rd time is a charm, but I’m really just hoping they get it right this time. I don’t even know what went wrong this time. The cable box isn’t working and now the kids are telling me that some of the higher channels are scrambled on their televisions. This problem seems to be brand new. I don’t know what’s going on. I even talked to Rick and while he probably knows what the problem is there isn’t anything I can actually do myself to fix it.

My Grandma helped me with dinner tonight and she made the pork chops better than I do. I learned how to do it from my Dad and the recipe is dip them in Italian dressing, then breadcrumbs, then in the oven for an hour at 350. Grandma did them with egg instead of Italian dressing, and I have to say that I like it better that way. I’ll have to start doing that.