Lemony Snicket's Water Cycle

Madison is studying for a bigger test tomorrow, and that test is on the water cycle.  The funny thing about the water cycle is that whenever we hear the words "water cycle," we immediately begin to think of Lemony Snicket, and his discussion about something really boring that we should all think about spending more time reading, rather than spend time reading about unfortunate events.  And that thing we should think about is the water cycle.

“The water cycle consists of three phenomena – evaporation, precipitation, and collection- which are the three phenomena that make up what is known as “the water cycle.” Evaporation, the first of these phenomena, is the process of water turning into vapor and eventually forming clouds, such as those found in cloudy skies, or on cloudy days, or even cloudy nights. These clouds are formed by a phenomenon known as “evaporation,” which is the first of three phenomena that make up the water cycle. Evaporation, the first of these three, is simply a term for a process by which water turns into vapor and eventually forms clouds. Clouds can be recognized by their appearance, usually on cloudy days or nights, when they can be seen in cloudy skies. The name for the process by which clouds are formed – by water, which turns into vapor and becomes part of the formation known as “clouds” – is “evaporation,” the first phenomenon in the three phenomena that make up the cycle of water, otherwise known as “the water cycle,” and surely you must be asleep by now and so can be spared the horrifying details of the Baudelaires' journey.”

Madison studied for a bit tonight, and she also showed me a clip from a video she shot that is supposed to tell her teacher about progress with one of her goals. Here's a screen shot of that video, which I just love the composition of.

Anyway, we have this video now, and while it isn't anything monumental, it is a nice little video that tells us the progress Madison made learning a few Italian words and phrases.

Tonight Madison went to piano, and we also went to the eye glasses place to get those new glasses of hers tightened a little bit, to keep them from falling off her face.  Piano went well, as always, although we didn't get as much of an update yet on how she's doing there.  Time steadily marches on though, so she needs to get back to practicing.  She's doing a good job though.

We did our grocery shopping tonight, and we also started a new book, "Cave of the Dark Wind."  The girls are already hooked, as there's something sinister here that keeps taking all the tribe's goats.  We read from the devotional, and Madison learned a little about the "Mouth of Truth," as seen in "Roman Holiday."  And after that, bedtime... we're still a bit worn out from the weekend.

But first, the big news of the day.  Madison is in a much better mood.  On the bus ride home, she sat next to her friend Jaycie, the one who stood up for her this past Friday.  Absent from the bus was one of the instigators from this past Friday - he won't be back on the bus for some time now.  Nor will the other one, once he got home.  Both have their bus privileges suspended, amongst other things.  The assistant principal spoke to Daddy and told us Madison would never have to worry about them again. He couldn't say specifically why, but it sounded severe enough that I'm okay with it.  I think the big thing here is that they learned to never start a fight with a girl.  That's just amazing common sense, and I'm not sure why an eighth grader doesn't know this by now.  You don't start fights with girls.

Madison went to the assistant principal's office, and met with a the assistant principal who oversees the eighth graders as well.  She was asked if she said anything to get the boys upset, and told them no.  Then the story we spent a lot of time writing yesterday was read to her, and she confirmed that it all happened as written, and that was that.  That morning, others were called to the office to testify, including the heroes Jaycie and her friend Jackson.  Both told the assistant principals the truth, and one can only imagine what it was that the two boys who started this entire situation were feeling when they were called in.  We passed by them this morning in the car - I was wondering if they even had a clue what was about to happen to them.  They won't be at that bus stop for a while now.  I spent the day waiting for a phone call to confirm that yes, everything checks out with the stories of Jackson, Jaycie and Madison, and yes, the boys are facing consequences, and yes, Madison and the others will be safe on the bus from this point on.   When the phone call came, it was right before Madison was about to get home, and from that moment on, our spirit was lifted:  everything was going to be all right.

Madison came running up the front lawn, bumping into the front door and laughing.  She was in a great mood now that those boys aren't on the bus anymore.  And we're in a great mood too, because she's happy again and safe.  She can talk to us about it all, and things are okay once more.