New Reading Blog

For those of you who don't know, I LOVE to read. I think love is putting it a bit mildly actually. I feel incomplete if I'm not reading something. Anyway. When I used to get in trouble when I was younger, my Dad would ground me from watching TV. Didn't bother me. He caught on quick and started taking away my books when I needed grounding. That was NOT cool!

I'm the type who would stay up till the wee small hours of the morning reading a good book. I read all through school and even into college. I mostly rode the bus up to campus so would always have book with me to read at the bus stop or before classes started. I once made the mistake of starting a new series right before finals week. That was a mistake.

Even now, as a Mom, I read constantly, sometimes to the detriment of my kids. However, I've got to do it to stay sane. It's my outlet.

Anyway. So, I've started a reading blog called Reading Sanity to give recommendations for things I've been reading or have read. I don't have a ton on there yet, but I'm working on it. I've also moved my Reading List there since it is more appropriate.

So, what kind of stuff do I like to read? I like Fantasy, Childrens, Fiction, Classics, Young Adult and some Sci-Fi. Stuff that is fun with great characters and good & fun stories. I like books that are relatively clean so that's why I read quite a bit of Childrens and Young Adult (though YA can still get a bit steamy).

Happy Days!

Every once in a while, Chinese (Lunar) New Year falls on one of the spring holidays. Chinese New Year generally is sometime in January or February and this year, it so happens to coincide with Valentine's Day.

So, first off, Happy Chinese New Year!! It is year of the Tiger. Here are some cute pics of the boys in their Chinese outfits that they wore to church today.

CED looks cute, but he was a bit toasty. This is a wintertime outfit that my sisters brought back from China for n x 1.6 km (for n>1) and it has pretty thick padding to keep the kids warm. However, we were in the upper 70's today so he was hot.

Also, have a Happy Valentine's Day!

n x 1.6 km (for n>1) got this balloon from a classmate during the Valentine's festivities at school. CED saw it and promptly claimed it. CED hugged the balloon all the way home. Have a Happy Valentine's Day and a Happy Chinese New Year!!!

New Puzzles

Recently, I've discovered a new set of puzzles that are similar to Sudoku, but a lot more appealing to me. Often, I feel like I'm just doing rote elimination work for Sudoku. I know there is logic involved, but it just doesn't appeal to me as much. These puzzles are called KenKen puzzles. These puzzles appeal to the Math Teacher in me and I'm addicted. Here is a sample 4x4 easy puzzle:

 

Here are the rules to play (as explained on the website www.kenken.com):

Like Sudoku, even though difficulty may vary from puzzle to puzzle, the rules for playing KenKen are fairly simple:

For a 4x4 puzzle, fill in with numbers 1-4. For a 5x5 puzzle, fill in with numbers 1-5. For a 6x6 puzzle, fill in with the numbers 1-6. For a 7x7 puzzle, fill in with the numbers 1-7. For a 8x8 puzzle, fill in with the numbers 1-8. For a 9x9 puzzle, fill in with the numbers 1-9.

* Do not repeat a number in any row or column.

* The numbers in each heavily outlined set of squares, called cages, must combine (in any order) to produce the target number in the top corner of the cage using the mathematical operation indicated.

* Cages with just one box should be filled in with the target number in the top corner.

* A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not in the same row or column.

I would also add that the order of the numbers in the cages does not matter in each cage, as long as the correct factors are included. Also, if there is a single number in a cage with no operation, just write in that number.

Anyway. NY Times does a daily puzzle and also www.kenken.com has a daily puzzle generator. NY Times tells you the level of difficulty of each puzzle, but they have a limited grid numbers (4x4, 6x6 and 8x8), while the kenken.com site has puzzles from 4x4 to 9x9.

It is great practice for prime factors, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Also, great use of deductive skills. Give it a try and good luck!