Mnemonic Device

Ally and Tyler both had to take a Presidents Test in AP U.S. History. The test involved knowing each president, the party he was affiliated with, and the years of his presidency. I am proud to say that they both passed (100% being the ONLY passing score - it was an all or nothing deal), And Ally currently holds the record for "fastest successful completion of test". Now Tyler, having a memory that may be photographic, finds mnemonic devices to be a pointless waste of time and totally superfluous. The rest of us might need a little help with rote memorization! The following is a "story" Todd helped Ally come up with last night to remember all the presidents from Lincoln forward:

Lincoln's Johnson Grants Hayes to Garfield The Cat. King Arthur wants to move to Cleveland because Harrison Ford lives in Cleveland on a street called McKinley. Roosevelt High School makes taffy (Taft) that gets stuck in Wilson's teeth and makes them Harding so he has to Coolidge them off at Hoover High School. Roosevelt Rough Riders are Truman whose Eisenhowers are in Kennedy's face. Kennedy's Johnson nicks (Nixon) Ford's golf Carter that runs over Reagan into a Bush. Clinton helps him out of the Bush and pushes Obama in.

To ensure she could figure out the years (if the basic memorization failed), she made up phone numbers. Each number corresponds to the number of years each president served:

848-8848; 404-4134; 444-8404; 444-4848; 264-(12)882; 653-4848; 8-present

Luckily she had already memorized their parties, as I can only imagine what she and Todd might come up with for that! And to argue against Tyler's point, I believe these mnemonic devices do work. They attach some type of meaning, however silly, to a list of facts that may not have a whole lot of meaning as a list in itself. As proof of this theory, I offer the following:

On Old Olympus' Towering Tops A Finn and German Viewed Some Hops.

This is the device taught to me by my Anatomy/Physiology teacher in 1995 to remember the nerves of the brain. I regret to admit that I do not remember the nerves themselves. The device obviously sticks though, as it was also the one SHE was taught in college!

A History Carol

As an extra credit assignment in his AP U.S. History class, Tyler had the opportunity to rewrite a classic Christmas carol. I don't have specific permission to publish the result (merely a suspicion that he'd be okay with it), but I couldn't resist sharing. As you read the following, try singing it to the tune of "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer":

Once, when Great Britain reigned here

And colonies began to grow

Lots of unfair things were happening

And the colonists were saying "this blows"

.

Ever since the Seven Years War

Britain had been really lame

All they did was pass new taxes

And colonies just weren't the same

.

Then one ship came filled with tea

Demanding high prices be paid

And when they chose to stay the night

They lost their tea and received a fright

.

Then the colonies revolted

And won a great victory

They wrote out a proud declaration

And that's the start of U.S. History!

Maybe I Can't Do It ALL

I have had SO much to do this week. Apparently more than my mind can handle, because it has taken leave of me. Today I arrived at the girls' co-op at about 10:50, which actually makes it sound like I was on top of things, since class started at 11:00. Au contraire. I may have managed a prompt arrival, but other important things seem to have gone by the wayside. When coming out of class over an hour later, at about noon, I was rummaging in my purse for my keys, which seemed to have gone missing. Upon arriving at my car, I quickly realized where my keys had got to: in the ignition...with the car running! Good thing I have an almost-full gas tank. And let us not miss the blessing in this: at least I remembered to put the thing in Park!

How? And Why?

My boy. My teeny tiny 3 pound 5 ounce baby boy is no longer teeny tiny, no longer 3 pounds, and no longer a baby! My BIG boy is three today! THREE!!! How does this happen? How can he be THREE?? It makes no sense. Children his age go to school, for goodness sakes!! In some cultures his marriage might already be arranged! Why can't he be my baby forever?

Three years ago from today, I went to my doctor for suspicious swelling and sudden weight gain. A mere check, so I thought, to reassure me nothing was wrong, that this was just par for the course. Wrong-o. Three hours after my scheduled "check-up", Robben was born via C-section at 31 weeks 4 days. 3 pounds 5 ounces and 15.5 inches long! We spent his first Christmas and New Years in the NICU at Children's Hospital. 35 days later, on January 9th, we got to bring the gigantic 5 pound boy home on oxygen and monitors. Now, 3 years later, he is tall, brilliant, and unnaturally articulate. He puts thoughts together that blow the minds of all who witness. For example, last week he had a small stack of Ritz crackers and I helped myself to one. He asked me if I ate one of his crackers and I confessed. Always wanting to know WHY, he replied, "So my baby sister can grow?" Connecting the dots.

No matter how big and wonderful this kid gets, he will always be my baby. My Boo. My Punkin Pie. For now, I'm still magical to him. If he gets hurt, only a Mommy Kiss will do. If it's a lesser injury, such as stinging hands from catching a fall, he simply rubs them on my legs (or whatever body part is easily accessible) and it's all better. He gives great hugs and sometimes smothers me with his kisses. My heart breaks at the thought of this waning. On one hand I think, his affection doesn't really have to wane, but on the other, I realize his wife may have a problem with the extent of it :( Ahhh well, I'll enjoy it while I have it and try not to think about what will come later. Soon enough I'll be crying that he's 4.

Happy Birthday my Robben Carey!!