Unschool Rules

One of the most fun things I did last year was to sum up some cool parts of our family’s life as part of the iHomeschool Network’s 10 * in * 10 series, where we shared some top-10 lists each week in the spring.

I’m thrilled to be taking part again this year with some new topics and some changes in my own mindset and experiences to share!

This week, a bunch of us are talking about 10 things you should know about us! I shared a version of this last year with 10 facts about EACH of us; I hope you’ll check that out here! Today I’m focusing on 10 things about me, Joan Concilio, that are a little different or interesting or… something!

1. I graduated from high school when I was 16 and college when I was 19.

You can read a WHOLE BUNCH about my educational journey here. But the short version is, I started school early, did two grades in one year once, and transferred a year’s worth of college credits into my undergrad education thanks to a bunch of Advanced Placement courses in high school.

I don’t regret any of that, but sometimes I look back and think, “How on earth did that HAPPEN?” I also sometimes think, “What on earth have I DONE in the 11 remaining years?” Then I remember I raised a pretty awesome kid.

2. I will officially be a “full-time freelancer” as of July 1.

I already worked from home almost full-time, but one of my positions was as an employee. That one will be converting to a contractor status as of July 1, meaning I will officially be 100% self-employed.

Kinda cool. Kinda scary. I talked more about this in a post last week on Man Vs. Debt, one of the sites I write for.

3. My black-belt test is in less than a month.

I guess I should be getting nervous. I am, sort of, but not really. Mostly I’m just trying to make sure I get in the amount of practice that I want to do between now and July 20!

4. I really hate clowns.

Really. I’m petrified of them. When my friend Dodie dropped on me the fact that she almost went to clown college, I almost told her we couldn’t stay friends. And I was only about 20% kidding.

5. I applied to work at a major government agency and then turned down the job.

I mentioned before that my degree is in math. I applied to do analysis for a major security agency, was accepted, and then decided that maybe I didn’t quite want to do that with my life after all.

But not after a really funny experience with scary guys in black suits background-checking me at my office at the local newspaper. That was kinda cool.

6. I am ALWAYS cold.

I keep telling people I am looking forward to menopause because I hear I might get hot. They swear I don’t really want that, but I swear I do. Right now it is about 88 degrees outside my house and I walked outside and thought, “I might want a sweater.”

7. I am the youngest of five.

I’m the youngest by a LOT. My mom had three children in her first marriage (two daughters and a son); my dad had a daughter in his first marriage; later in life, they got together and decided they wanted another. So, my oldest sister is almost 30 years older than I am; my “next youngest” is 24 years older than I am. Their kids are almost all older than I am.

8. I’m adopted.

Lest you think my poor mother gave birth to me at the age of 47. Nope, I was adopted at birth. I’ve never known anyone but the mom and dad I consider my mom and dad, nor do I need to. They were and are awesome.

9. I still sleep with my childhood blankie and teddy bear.

Actually, gratuitous Blankie picture is available here. In fact, since I am always cold, as mentioned above, I often work with it wrapped around me like a shawl. The teddy bear does stay in bed (I don’t carry it around!) but it is well-loved.

10. My not-so-secret goal in life is to be a professional organizer.

I REALLY like organizing things. Really, really, really. And I like helping people learn how to organize in a way that works for them. I do have a friend who is a certified professional organizer and I have seriously considered pursuing that as a future career!

We’re also linking up today to Top Ten Tuesday at Many Little Blessings. Whether you’re sharing your Top 10 questions people ask you, or a Top Ten list on any other topic, I’d love for you to link up and to check out the other blogs that have, too!

And don’t forget to check out my previous Top Ten Tuesday posts, if you’ve missed them.

Ashar and Gia at 4-H alpaca show

Last weekend marked something really cool for us. Remember how I said before that Ashar is all alpaca, all the time?

Well, on Saturday, she participated in her first 4-H alpaca show/competition, an “agility invitational” in Montgomery County, PA, at their 4-H Center. Kids from I think about 7 or 8 county clubs participated, and Ashar was in a group with kids who were almost all older than her – and she placed third in the first competition, and first in the second one!

Ashar and Gia jumping hurdles at 4-H alpaca show

Here’s a video that shows Ashar and Gia doing the general agility course, the one in which she placed third. If Gia hadn’t skirted that first hurdle, Ashar would have had the points for first place!

Post by Joan Concilio Otto.

Here are the four kids from our club who attended this competition. They all won a first, second or third-place certificate in at least one event!

York County 4-H alpaca club at a 2013 show

Here is Ashar “backing up” Gia. That’s harder than it looks; alpacas are not natural backer-uppers, but Ashar got it right away!

Backing up an alpaca at a 4-H agility show

Here, Ashar is leading Gia off the teeter-totter. See how Ashar keeps her foot on it? She does that until the alpaca gets all the way off, so that the teeter-totter doesn’t spring up on it.

Taking an alpaca over a teeter-totter at a 4-H agility show

For some reason, Gia hopped right over the high hurdle, after passing around the low one. Who knows!

Jumping a high hurdle at a 4-H alpaca agility show

Tarps are funny. They sound weird and feel weird underfoot, and are unusual colors. That makes them a thing some alpacas don’t like, but Gia didn’t have a problem being coaxed across.

Walking an alpaca across a tarp at a 4-H agility show

The course concluded with a walk through the caution tape – a LOT of the animals balked at this, but Gia didn’t mind, because Ashar had specifically practiced with her on a similar setup at the farm!

Walking an alpaca through a gate of caution tape at a 4-H agility show

Here they are with their first-place certificate for the second event!

Ashar and Gia with their certificate at a 4-H alpaca agility show

This event was a ton of fun – and a HUGE confidence-booster for Ashar as a first show.

I owe a huge thanks to club leaders and farm owners Beth and Sheri (especially Sheri, who let us alpaca-nap Gia while she was on vacation, and Beth, who trailered Gia with her animals so I wouldn’t have a Car Alpaca), Teresa (who works with Sheri at Alpacas of York and who helped coach Ashar specifically on agility as we geared up), and Mickie (whose photos are the GOOD ones you see of the ones in this post; since I was videoing, I didn’t get many still shots!)

These ladies are awesome. And so are the two younger ladies in the picture above. We are very proud.