TAKS

The state of Texas assesses knowledge by administering a series of tests. If you are in the 3rd, 5th, or 8th grade you must pass these tests to advance to the next grade. Teacher and school performance are linked to these test scores.

Cameron took the Reading TAKS back in March, and the Math TAKS in April. She was very anxious about taking these tests - she knew how much they meant to the teacher and the school. I worked hard to dissuade her from worry. I couldn't believe how stressed she was over a reading test!! (She was reading 3rd grade level at the end of kindergarten.) We received her reading TAKS scores some weeks ago, and yesterday we received her math TAKS score. It should come as no surprise that she only missed one question on the reading TAKS and two questions (of 36) on the math. She is very proud of herself.

Busy week

Last week Cameron finished up her softball season with three games; one on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I missed the last two games because I was attending (and running) the Society of Southwest Archivists conference in downtown Houston. The girls spent Memorial Day weekend with my family at SBR, and Bryan and I got to sleep late (til 10 a.m.!) on Sunday, go for a long walk, clean out the garage, and go see the new Indiana Jones movie. (Loved it!!)

We picked up the girls on Monday night from my sister, and Tuesday everyone had work, school, Cameron had her last dance lessons (4:15-6:15 p.m.) and Brenna had her Little Gym lesson, and THEN we went to the Softball Pizza/Pool party Awards ceremony. Everyone had a really nice time and Cameron received her softball trophy.



Cameron has her dance "spring demonstration" (not a formal recital) this Saturday afternoon, and Brenna has a Little Gym last class/demonstration/medal ceremony in two weeks and then we will be officially done with all activities for the summer. (Now we can start the daycare field trips and swimming lessons.)

More Softball

Both girls went back to UH Cougar Field this weekend with Bryan to watch UH play in the NCAA Regional playoffs. Cameron and Bryan went first to see UH beat Delaware State 9-0, as pitcher Angel Shamblin threw a perfect game. They sat on the visitors side with the UT ballplayers and Cameron asked several of them for autographs. Bryan said she really got into watching the game, asking questions etc.

Sunday, Bryan took Brenna, where UH pulled out a 2-1 victory against Washington, who had earlier beat UT to advance.

If you're wondering why Bryan took each of them separately, it's because Friday night Brenna chose to go to the Spring Fling school dance. Sunday, Cameron misbehaved and lost her opportunity to go. It was a tough lesson to learn, but I think she learned it. (I think it might have hurt Bryan more than Cameron.)

Next weekend, the Cougars play in the NCAA Super-Regionals, their first ever appearance. When they win over Univ. Louisiana-Lafayette, they'll advance to the Softball College World Series in Oklahoma City. Road trip anyone?

Loss of a Legend

Yesterday evening I was terribly saddened to learn of the death of Ron Stone. If you grew up in the Houston area in the 1970s and 1980s, you listened to him deliver the news on KPRC-channel 2. His voice personified so many things for me - childhood memories of all that is good, all that means "Texas". He had a folksy commentary, a friendly neighborly approach. For years I listened to him on the news and on his television show "The Eyes of Texas."

When I was in college his crew did some taping at the Mount Zion Baptist Barbeque in Huntsville. This was one of those church BBQ that is just lip-smacking good, where the smell gets all into your clothes and when you come back from lunch people raise their heads, sniff, and say, "Awww, you went to Baptist BBQ and didn't invite me!" My friends on the LSC Program Council were there that day and appeared in some of the B-roll footage a few weeks later.

I met Ron Stone in the late 1990s when he came to the Rosenberg Library to do research. I remember being at my desk in the back of the room when I heard THAT VOICE. It was a great pleasure helping him that day and I still have his business card in my card file in my office.

Some time later, he endorsed our book. While the original letter is in the book files at GTHC, I can't express the feeling that welled up inside me when I read his words. "...a marvelous job of research...what was 'Isaac's Storm' is now Martin's and Alice's and Ida's storm. The book is proof once again that fact can be as readable as fiction." (TAMU press put this quote on the back of the hardcover edition.)

The last time I saw him was at the George R. Brown Convention Center. I can't remember the event, but Bryan and I were walking in from the parking garage, and he and his son - who also did research occasionally - were walking out. I recognized him instantly, but of course didn't say anything.

May God bless his family in their sadness and grief. He may never know how much he truly touched the people of Houston, of Texas. How much we loved to hear his voice. How much our love for Texas grew while watching The Eyes of Texas. (The link is supposed to take you to the show's theme song, "Travelin' Texas" by Shake Russell.) Then again, maybe he did.

C-USA softball championship

Cameron's softball coach encourages us to take the girls to college softball games to watch their strategy and teamwork. Last weekend we went as a family to cheer for the UH Cougars playing in the Conference USA championship game.

Despite the heat we had a great time. (Thank goodness for hats and sunscreen.) Surprisingly it wasn't very crowded, even though the game was being broadcast on national television. Brenna continues to be afraid of costumed characters, including both of the UH mascots. Cameron and Bryan had their heads together watching the fast-pitch softball, talking about who throws to which base and when, and cheering for the Cougars.

UCF scored first, and the Cougars soon tied it up. Ironically, both of their runs came while one of us was away from our seats. The first score happened while Bryan & Cameron went for a hamburger. Brenna and I were in the ladies room on the second run. Sadly, UCF blasted a solid two-run homer over the right center field fence for a 4-2 lead. Then Bryan reminded me that there are only SEVEN innings in softball, instead of the nine I'm used to watching at Minute Maid Park. What a bummer!

Cameron also had many questions about going to school at UH. Could she go there? Maybe... one day... depending on the degree program she's interested in pursuing. Saturday she said she wanted to be an author. But tonight in the car she told me she wants to get a degree in professional competitive horseriding. Yeah, right.

Softball Behind the Scenes

Cameron had another softball game on Tuesday night and instead talking about her hits and runs, I thought you should know what Brenna does while Cameron practices and plays the game. The bayou and a small pond are next to the softball field, so Brenna and I took some stale bread over for the ducks.... and geese.... and seagulls.

In the background you can see the white ducks waddling towards Brenna, in the foreground you can see the black/white ducks, and one of the four very large geese; the seagulls are behind her.

Once we threw out all of the bread, we went back to the bleachers where we watch the game. For the first time, the concession stand opened, so I let Brenna have a ring pop candy. Then she went to hang with her "posse." (My word, not hers.)

Naturally, they are the other younger siblings of the ballplayers. One of them is missing in this photo, because she had her own practice that evening. Usually they play catch or soccer, climb to the top of the bleachers, or play under them.

At this game some siblings from the opposing team "invaded" our Away side, easily attracted by the large pile of dirt, which mixed with water makes excellent mud pies. But they also taunted and jeered at Brenna and her friends.

I don't know if you can tell from Brenna's pose in the photo, but she is giving back sass just as good as they were delivering to her. This went on and off for about twenty minutes. At the previous game, we sat on the home side and we found Brenna climbing about six feet up in a tree.

Had to include this photo of Bryan giving Cameron some last minute pointers before her at-bat. I just love it.

Texas History Day

When I worked in Galveston, I became involved with the Texas History Day regional and state competition. For a number of years I organized and judged the regional competition, and went to Austin to judge the state competition. I've judged exhibits, performance, documentary, and the "Oral History" special award. I haven't been able to judge in Austin in the last few years, but have been judging preliminary websites from my office about two weeks before History Day.

This past Saturday, I traveled to Austin to judge the Junior Individual Exhibits, having already turned in this year's preliminary Senior Website rankings. These students are SO SMART! Even the ones that didn't advance through the preliminaries did a remarkable job. Judging History Fair is wonderful, challenging, and inspiring. This year I noted with pride that in both of the categories I judged, my top two (from preliminaries) placed in the State as 2nd and 3rd place.

The top two in each category advance to the National History Day competition held at the University of Maryland, College Park (Washington D.C. area) on June 15-19.

History Fair is offered at the Junior (6th-8th) and Senior (9th-12th) levels, but sadly our current ISD does not participate. Maybe I will change that when Cameron advances into Middle School.