Rapunzel’s school uses the Accelerated Reading System. In short books are assigned a level and a possible point value.

It works like this:

Where the Red Fern Grows

BL (book Level)    4.9 (Fourth Year Ninth Month)

AR Points (Possible points to earn on the AR Test) 11.0

This is where it gets interesting,

Nancy Drew books that we have fall between 4.0 – 6.0

The last book I read, The Red Tent, is a 6.5.

The book I’m reading now, A Million Little Pieces, is a 4.2.

Rapunzel’s new books the Sea of Trolls, 4.7, and Land of the Silver Apples, 5.0, have higher levels than what I’m reading.

Check out what your kids are reading.  You might be surprised.

Shawn took the test for his CDL today, and passed all but the Hazmat portion.

The only reason he didn’t pass was because we didn’t study for it. But when you take the test at the same time there’s no additional fee up front, where if you take it later you have to pay 30-something dollars. Now he just has to get a physical before he can get his actual permit.

Then he has to pay $94 dollars to have a TSA background check done so they know he’s not a terrorist and going to highjack a load of Palmolive* and blow up a building with it. Hopefully we’ll have the money before he takes his drive test in a month, which is the first available appointment. If not he’ll get his license without the hazmat endorsement, and pay for it after he starts driving.

So tomorrow we’re going to go back and he’s going to retake the hazmat portion. Hopefully one night of cramming will do.

Oh, and before I forget, Rapunzel is getting an award tomorrow but we don’t know what for. So you know what I’ll be writing about tomorrow, right? She’s so proud of herself.

*And yes, dish soap is considered a hazardous material when in transport. For that fact so is Coca-Cola syrup.

You know things aren’t going well when you dream you have a blinding migraine so bad you can’t open your eyes, you sink to the floor, put your head between your knees and cry.

And that Carrie*, Mike, and Eric were all in the dream and it just gets weirder. For some reason I was at their house visiting, without my own kids, but I think Shawn was there. Anyways some welfare guy came to the house to stay for a few days and was trying to cause problems and threatening to take Eric because the house wasn’t perfect. I kept trying to tell him that it wasn’t their fault, that I was supposed to be cleaning for them, (and no I don’t know why, though they may have been on vacation), but that I couldn’t because of the migraine. That’s when I sank to the floor and couldn’t even open my eyes or talk because the pain was so bad. There was also a brief moment when Carrie took me out to the garage to look for something and I found out she had an awesome muscle car that didn’t run. Then I woke up.

I don’t understand what the dream was about and it doesn’t really matter. But you don’t sleep well when you’re sick in your dreams. It was weird and so far an unrepeated event. I’m hoping it stays that way. The last thing I need is another recurring nightmare. I think the one I’ve had since I was about 8 should be enough for a lifetime.

You know, if I wrote that out it might actually be kinda funny for the kids to read. Though I get goose bumps even thinking about it. But not tonight I’m to pooped. I think I’m going to work on SAJ’s blanket some more before I hit the hay. It doesn’t require any real thinking.

*This is not the first dream I’ve had with Carrie in it. The last one was when she was pregnant with Eric. They are completely random and don’t tie into anything particular. They just happen. I am not a stalker, I promise, k.

BB you must come back to Grandma’s, I finished the hat that matches your poncho. After much deliberation, I decided to make it slightly shallower than the pattern called for, knowing that you will pull it down and not wear it like it a beret is supposed to be worn. So it’s not a beret anymore, it’s a…a….I don’t know what it is. But it’s cute.

Anyways, I want to make more like it and I need you to model this one first. Your cute face and soulful eyes are a way better sell than SuperChic’s new baby doll or just propped on the desk.

See, it’d be much cuter if you were wearing it. Tell your Mommy for me, o.k.

Note to everyone else. Tonight I took an online timed test for CitiBank. It was pretty simple as long as I didn’t answer the questions in the wrong column I should be okay. It was stuff like “I have never lied to my parents, ” pick strongly disagree to strongly agree. Basic math questions, which we couldn’t use a calculator for. If you can’t do ((6+4)(6+4))-(25×2) without a calculator you need help.