College for Kids 2014

If you do even the most basic of searches here on Slapinions you'll find near annual posts about College for Kids at UW-Milwaukee. I'll skip the usual recitation of accolades about the program - all deserved - and just go over this years experience. 

Here was this year's lineup: 

Discovery Camp 3

Junie: 

9AM  Creating with Recycled Products

11:30AM  Plants around the world

2PM  Navigating Africa

Smiley:

9AM  Food Chains

11:30 AM  Blueprints to Buildings

2PM  Plants around the World

YaYa:

9 AM  Royalty

11:30 AM Ethics

2 PM  Kinetic Creations

LuLu:

9AM Royalty

11:30 AM  Ethics

2 PM Blueprints to Buildings

**NOTE: Due to scheduled appointment’s both Smiley and YaYa will miss at least one class, and possibly two, during the week

Discovery Camp 2

Junie: 

9AM  Japanese

11:30 AM  #10 and Beyond

2 PM Puppet Storeytime

Smiley:

9AM  A Capella 

11:30 AM  Music of the World

2 PM Japanese

LuLu : CANNOT ATTEND – PRIOR COMMITMENTS

YaYa:

9AM  Geocaching

11:30 AM  Japanese

2 PM The Writer’s Den

There were some changes along the way. That A Capella class of Smiley's was an error on UWM's part and he had to go into Puppet Storytime, the only class with an opening in his age group. He was SOOOO Angry, but in the end he loved the class (as did Junie, who took the later time). The teacher was great, and the class was mainly about puppet making itself, with the kids actually sewing their own puppets! (He thinks they should change the name to make it more appealing though!)

All the kids enjoyed Japanese, where they learned some basics of the language and wrote their names in Japanese script. 

YaYa didn't enjoy the teacher from the writing class but enjoyed the course. 

LuLu actually wound up taking a single morning class (geocaching with YaYa) in the second week. We then picked her up to take her to a 3 day dance intensive class out on Brown Deer Road. 

Royalty was loved by Lu, and enjoyed (but not to the same extent) by YaYa. 

Surprisingly, both of the girls really loved Ethics class. They learned the six pillars of ethical behavior and engaged in daily debates on controversial subjects. They couldn't stop talking about the class on the morning we asked about it!

Anyway, part of our tradition is a visit to Eeyore's house, a downed tree in Downer Woods that resembled the famous character's home. I say "resembled' because nearly a decade has passed and time and weather has knocked it apart. 

I took the kids on a hike from the Union to Downer Woods to keep up the tradition. 

Here's the house: 

I love these pics of the kids of TeamSlap!

Another great year! What a great program!

RIP Robin Williams

About an hour ago I posted the following on Facebook:

OMG - RIP Robin Williams, age 63. Early reports indicate it was suicide. 

I have to admit, the news of his death has really knocked me into a funk. Maybe the initial reports are wrong, but with so many sources citing suicide and talking about the depression he was fighting in recent weeks, I have to imagine he surrendered to his demons.

I have personal experience with depression, and have been affected by others attempting suicide. A few generations back suicide claimed the life of a direct ancestor. And so on, and so on.

As far as I'm concerned, depression is damn near as viscous as the worst of physical ailments.

If you are battling depression and contemplating suicide, there are places and people that can help.

Rest in Peace Robin Williams. You made this world a happier place while you were here. 

Btw, the generation gap is a real thing: the kids didn't care about Robin Williams' death until they realized he played Peter Pan in Hook, Then, they were upset.

Vote on August 12th!

The race for the local state assembly seat has been fiercely contested, and the candidates have visited my neighborhood incessantly . How often do we see a candidate? Last week one of them, Jonathan Brostoff, was taking to a neighbor of mine when he stopped to wave hello and call out "Hi Dan".

Now, I've been told I'm hard to forget, but either he's got the memory of a born politician, or he and I have conversed far more than the norm for a primary election. As annoyed as I am by the constant swarm of candidates, I'm happy so many people care about our area and its future.

For the record, my vote is going to Brostoff. This being a progressive enclave of Milwaukee, all the candidates are left of center. That goes for Brostoff too, which isn't where you'd normally find me. But he seems to have a solid head on his shoulders, and a coherent grasp on the issues facing this community,even if we disagree on a few of his solutions, I admire his work with the homeless in our city, and from what I can tell from our conversations, I like him personally.

 So, there ya go. My votes for Jonathan. 

No matter who you choose, get out there on Tuesday and vote. If you don't make your voice heard, you can't t complain when the politicians don't listen. :)

Riots

ABC News is reporting of vandalism and looting in "protest" against a police shooting in Ferguson, MO. I fail to see how looting a liquor store or stealing a TV raises awareness for civil rights and police restraint, but #whatdaIknow

Lu at the Driving Range

I took LuLu to the driving range tonight, her first time ever holding a club. She was persistent, and by the end of the bucket had gone from "swing and miss" to socking some a few dozen yards down the range. On the way out we stopped at the putting green, where I somehow sank two long back to back putts, earning me some respect in her eyes. Great fun - and thanks to their reward program, only $1 too!

Ambassador Kennedy

Er, did you know the current US Ambassador to Japan is Caroline Kennedy (the daughter of JFK)? I sure didn't. Good for her.

Say What?

Some young black girl is lighting up my phone, begging me to answer her texts and calls. "Me" being "Dyshun", a [presumably] black kid who apparently sounds a helluva lot like a 40 year old white guy on the phone, because she won't take my word that I'm not her estranged soulmate.

Dropping Junie off at Camp