Oy vey -- my kind of annoying team member emailed the CFO looking for our financial statements. Seriously? This is why people think you are annoying!

I keep CJ in mind, Suzi, as a reminder that good kids are good kids and they will find their way.

Our hope is to get her to fix her study habits now, before the grades really weigh her down. But I am worried that we can't even see if there are any underlying learning issues until we get her working harder first.

Zen, thanks. I'd heard of using black cohosh, but not the borage. I would very much like to not have many flashes in the heat and humidity of summer.

Burrell, I have nothing but sympathy for you and Franny. I struggled with math after 6th grade, when more symbolic maths started. And my parents struggled to help me, with tutors and whatnot, but I'd built up a terrible math block, because it was the only subject I'd ever struggled with, and I felt stupid.

I had never felt stupid before. I did not like it at all.

The only bit of concrete advice I have WRT maths is if you do get a tutor, hire one who has struggled with math. At KU, I'd hire students who had patchier grades in math, leading to mastery, over students to whom maths was more instinctive, because the students coming to tutoring sessions were not operating on that instinctual understanding of math.

I feel really bad for poor Franny, too, Burrell. I struggled with math, too. I hope you and her teachers can help her overcome whatever barrier is in her way.

(Luckily I have a calculator with me at all times now.)

Timelies all!

The wacky weather continues. Highs in the 60s today and tomorrow, but possible snow showers on Friday.

It's spring.

I started struggling with math at that age because my handwriting was so bad that I couldn't keep all the columns straight.

Man, after actually getting some stuff done yesterday, more than on recent Sundays, I was hoping I would be able to come home and do some more today, but no. Tired.

Burrell, my sister is not too far from you in Culver City, and is a math professor. She's has, in the past, tutored various kids around the neighborhood. She doesn't do it for free, of course, but she doesn't do it for the money either - just when she wants to help a friend's kid. If you'd like me to ask her if she'd work with Franny, or if she can recommend someone who could, I'd be glad to do so. She might have advice on how you can work with her if your not to the point of hiring a tutor. My profile addy is good.

Meanwhile, it is Sprng Break at my school and that means it is time to play, "What's that smeall?!?" They always do maintenance and big cleaning jobs while everyone (not me) is gone. They are stripping the floors of the atrium for the next day or two, and it stinks.

Right, atrium /= arboretum. Check.