<p><ears perk=“” up=“” when=“” book=“” recs=“” start=“” flying=“” about=“”>I recently read “Alan’s War: The Memories of G.I. Alan Cope”, a graphic novel about the experiences of an 18 year old who was drafted into WWII. I’ve been trying to get D1 to read Studs Terkel’s “The Good War” and having no success. D2 will sometimes consent to have me read aloud some excerpts.</ears></p>
<p>My S loves anything to do with history, espcially WWII. 2 more books I will have to buy. Thanks!</p>
<p>So good to see our group reactivated. Thanks, chintzy. I guess I have the only boy in America who liked P & P? Oh my. That’s my oldest, who is college class of 2012. He had an extremely macho English teacher for that AP class and somehow, he got the boys to enjoy it. In fact, they laughingly held a very tongue-in-cheek “ball” at the end of the unit with both AP classes and the teacher “paired” the kids up into girl-boy couples for the ball, like a family matchmaker of old. Everyone was dying to see who this teacher thought “belonged” with whom. They had to learn intricate steps to a 19th century dance and there was a contest. This was a notorious event each year, and done with kitchy charm. Oh my. My S liked the girl he was paired with (perhaps this has something to do with his fondness for that P&P unit?) and was bummed they didn’t win the contest. Ah, good times. ;)</p>
<p>Back to my soph S2. This was the first year our HS offered the PLAN test, the pre-ACT. S1 never took the ACT and I was ultra-curious to see if S2 (notorious poor standardized test taker) would perhaps do a little better on the PLAN than he did on the PSAT (which was meh). Surprisingly, he didn’t do too terribly on PLAN. My question is–have your 10ths taken PLAN? How does it do in predicting ACT scores? I sigh heavily because S2 is not gonna love prepping for the SAT, so if we suggest he also might need to prep for the ACT–oh lordie.</p>
<p>On yet another note. I will tempt you all with freshly prepared Nachos with three types of homemade salsa. And margaritas with and without salted rim.</p>
<p>Slithey, that was a “brillig” interpretation of Austen. I agree, schools will be facing a lot of tough choices. S also had to do some finagling to get the BMT as opposed to the CMT (crazy math teacher) for Pre-Calc next year!</p>
<p>2blue, S never met an angle he couldn’t work, so I expect he’ll find a place to land other than study hall. Our school allows late arrival or early dismissal for kids w/ study hall first or last period. I’d rather have him in school and bored than out of school and amusing himself!</p>
<p>mamom, have you looked to see if any of the colleges that change lives might be near your route? </p>
<p>madbean, which is the spicy salsa? oops, sorry, I spilled it all over your carpet. my bad.</p>
<p>Wait, wait, I just realized what all the boys reading P&P for the first time need as a companion guide: [Amazon.com:</a> Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Classic Regency Romance - Now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem!: Jane Austen, Seth Grahame-Smith: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Pride-Prejudice-Zombies-Classic-Ultraviolent/dp/1594743347]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Pride-Prejudice-Zombies-Classic-Ultraviolent/dp/1594743347)</p>
<p>I read the first few chapters a few weeks ago and was ROTFLOL. Can’t wait to see what they do with Mr. Collins. It’s going to be a movie, too.</p>
<p>Hi - any sophomore kids taking AP exams this week? My daughter has AP Euro and it is making her a basket case. So much material! So little time.</p>
<p>My S1 (class of 2013 ::breathing almost sigh of relief:
loved P&P. - but he loves all books. Too bad they never have enough time to read for pleasure. Now D (is it D1 as in my one and only daughter or is it D2 for daughter, second in line???)who is an '11er likes to read but would pass it up for drawing. Unfortunately, her art/design class was cancelled for next year because not enough kids signed up for it. She was sad (especially since she wants to go into Advertising/Graphic Design). So, you never know what they will end up taking.</p>
<p>correction… S1 is college class of 13, D1or2 is hs class of 2011</p>
<p>Suzukimomto2, D1 has Euro on Friday and Physics B on Monday. Not going to be a fun weekend.</p>
<p>Diz, congrats on surviving this application year with your S. Hope your family made it through unscathed! Did you learn any tips that will make things any easier for your D? I am always hopeful that I learned something valuable, but anything I learned seems to be balanced by the extra anxiety as I know more about how rough it is out there. LOL.</p>
<p>So Tequila is added to the buffet. And don’t worry about the carpet. I’ll have it ripped out and install some very expensive hardwood when we’re through.</p>
<p>:: knocks back half the Tequila ::</p>
<p>Thanks, madbean; I needed that!!</p>
<p>chintzy, yes, senioritis! It kicked in about 7th grade; it’s just a little worse this year.</p>
<p>All, yeah, I KNOW! P&P! I love the book (and read it again when I found out S was reading it, or trying to read it, anyway, and then went on to re-read Emma and Sense and Sensibility), but I can understand S not being too crazy about it. </p>
<p>lol, Slithy, on the “and Zombies”!</p>
<p>S is done with AP exams; took AP Govt on Monday, AP Comp Sci AB yesterday, and seems unlikely right now to take AP Chem next week, but that’s okay, because he didn’t take the AP Chem class. He took the Math II SAT subject test over the weekend, and will take at least the Latin one in June. May take one more as well.</p>
<p><so tequila=“” is=“” added=“” to=“” the=“” buffet.=“” and=“” don’t=“” worry=“” about=“” carpet.=“” i’ll=“” have=“” it=“” ripped=“” out=“” install=“” some=“” very=“” expensive=“” hardwood=“” when=“” we’re=“” through.=“”></so></p>
<p>~Like this on all fronts. ~ Will you be able to afford hardwood after paying for college?</p>
<p>Madbean - They do not offer ACT at S’s school. They do mention that it is an option, but unlike the PSAT/SAT there is no prep or testing done at the school. S did well on PSAT and just took SAT. He is a great standardized test taker, if he could only translate that over to real school work!</p>
<p>Suzukimomto2 - S’s HS does not offer AP classes until Jr year, only honors level 9th and 10th grade. He is taking the SAT2 in USH and Chem in June. Did really well on USH practice test but we haven’t tried the chem one yet. </p>
<p>Slithey - Book added to my list! I am buying P&P also, not sure I ever read it. We will be looking at colleges that change lives, not sure if any are near our route, haven’t gotten that far yet. S would love to go to Notre Dame and we will be stopping there but with his grades it will be a big reach. I used to hope that visiting schools like BC and Notre Dame would motivate S to work harder, not so sure anymore.</p>
<p>Suzukimomto2: D is taking her AP Biology this mon. She is a bit stressed about it</p>
<p>momom, after you read P&P you must watch the 6 hour BBC miniseries version with Colin Firth. And then the Bollywood film “Bride and Prejudice”. And then read and/or watch “Bridget Jones’ Diary”, which is P&P in modern times. Why, yes, I love P&P, how could you tell? :)</p>
<p>D1 is home with AP flu.</p>
<p>Can I join this group? Even tho my sophomoric son is not taking any APs or SAT 2s this year?</p>
<p>Pull up a chair, porkchop. My soph son isn’t taking any APs or SAT 2s either (his school doesn’t offer APs until 11th grade), and I’m reminding myself to enjoy the test-free zone around here–that is until finals in a few weeks.</p>
<p>As I am now saving pennies for the new hardwood floors, I’ve just put out a tray of chocolate milkshakes and root beer floats. And, um, please watch out for spills!</p>
<p>The teachers are piling on the tests for some reason this week. Son has seven tests in a three day period including AP USH tomorrow. Son is a bit stressed. I’m not looking forward to next year.</p>
<p>porkchop, welcome! chintzyboy isn’t taking any AP’s this year and refuses to apply to any schools that require SAT subject tests. He’s feeling pretty cocky right now as a lovely Junior girl invited him to her prom. For some reason at our school a lot of the Junior boys ask underclassmen, leaving the girls to fend for themselves. Dopes!</p>
<p>This year is stressful enough that I hate to think of how next year will be. AP tests, Sat Subject Tests, finals plus sports and EC end of the year activities - it’s going to be a nightmare. </p>
<p>madbean - I do need some of those margaritas - are they all gone ??</p>
<p>arisamp, the pitcher is chilled and always waiting!</p>