Cold and Snow

I know that winter doesn't officially begin until December 21, but here, where I live, it often gets very very cold sometime in October and stays that way until mid-May.  So for me, the season of Winter begins when I have to start wearing my heavy duty winter coat which almost always happens before Halloween.

Here we are, about to enter the new year, and I haven't worn that 10 pound coat once.  If I had to leave the house today, I would have needed it since the temperature was in the teens.  BUT, the weather will much warmer for the rest of the week, staying in the 30's and for one day jumping to the mid-40's.

No, you're not on weather.com, I'm just saying all this about the weather because a few days ago, I missed the cold and a little tiny piece of me wished for snow.  By next week, the temperatures will be dropping to normal winter freezes, and it will be time to face reality.

So, the lesson of the day is:  Be careful what you wish for.  You just might get it.

This Is the Day

It's finally here. Vacation, time off, r&r, FREEDOM! Freedom from the alarm, the routine the forcing of natural my night-owl self to go to bed. The dragging of my night-owl self out of bed in the pre-dawn hours. In honor of vacation, I'm going to let someone else do the writing.

NYC Educator: This Is the Day:
The tabloids hate us. Our neighbors spit when they utter our names. But here we are, and with our kids, we get a week off. Don't listen to the haters. You deserve every last moment.

I want to wish you a joyful and restful week. I hope you get to spend time with your families, near and far. I hope you find something you love to do, and do as much of it as you possibly can. Just smile at your neighbors.

Smile because they are not the model, and making your life worse will not make theirs better. We are one of the few professions in these United States that still allows for time to breathe, to recharge, to travel. And the fact is, it's not a problem that we get time off. It's a problem that our neighbors and friends do not. And depriving our students from that time would not address the problems perceived by the "reformers. In fact it's a problem that the politicians, paid off by the corporations, don't give a darn about.

But the OWS movement, and it's wildfire growth, suggests that people are waking up. America is paying attention. It's time for a change. It's time for all of us to wake up, stand up, and tell our country we can do better.

But right now, before we do that, it's time for you to take a break. I wish you a wonderful holiday season, and a great new year!

What would you like to see in this new year?
'via Blog this'

Not A Fan

Of the holiday season.

Don't get me wrong.  I love the time off, the yummy food and the chance to kick back relax for an extended period of time.

BUT, I hate the presents, the paper, the cards and the waste, waste, waste.  I'm not buying presents this year, and I've asked to not receive any.  Everyone I know is self-sufficient.  If they want something, they have the means to get it.  I don't like, want or need 'stuff.  Why do we buy presents anyways?  Really.  Have you ever thought about it.  We do it because it's always been done that way.  I'm not a fan of that as a legitimate reason for doing anything, so I'm opting out this year.

PS  I do sponsor a child in need and will make sure she has a nice present for Christmas this year.  It will probably be a little extra special since I won't be wasting money on junk.

Time

It is futile to try to live in the past, yet those who don't know history are condemned to repeat it.  Or something like that.    

Time fascinates me.  It's elasticity surpasses anything else I know.  Flying, dragging, coming to a complete stop, and disappearing all together.


I slept through my alarm this morning, never once hearing its annoying truck-backing-up beep.  I woke to the sun shining, think OMG what day is it, what day is it, what day is it?  In order to figure out what day today is, I had to remember what yesterday was.  I thought, "Yesterday I watched football, so yesterday was Sunday--no, no, no wait, that was Monday Night Football, so today is Tuesday.  Tuesday, Tuesday, Tuesday--SHIT  I'm supposed to be at work!"  So, I called in with a lame excuse, not wanting to reveal my true illness-Seasonal Affective Disorder.  :)  


So, as I'm making my morning tea, I'm thinking about how I had to know what my yesterday was in order to know what my today is.  Doesn't that really apply to all of us?  We have to KNOW where we came from in order to truly know and understand where we are.  BUT, we also have to put the past into perspective.  Just because I watched football yesterday does not mean that today is Monday. With the NFL channel nowadays, today could be any day.


And I guess that's my point.  Today can be ANY day.  Make the best of today, learn from your past mistakes, leave them in the past, but don't forget them.


PS  I'm double checking my alarm tonight.  Don't wanna make the same mistake tomorrow.  Have a good today.

I Hate Basketball

This could go on forever and I would be the happiest person on the face of the planet. I despise everything about this sport. I hate squeak of the sneakers, the sound of the bounce of the ball, and the BZZZZZZZZ of the buzzer. I hate the sleeveless jerseys and sweat and tattoo-covered arms waving in people's faces. I hate the echo of the arena and the season in which the sport is played. I hate the 3 months of playoffs and the end of football on ESPN.

I am; however, sorry for all the people whose livelihoods depend on this sport, and for you all, I hope for a timely resolution.

PS I couldn't make a basket to save my life.

NBA Lockout: Weekend Negotiations End With No Deal, Ultimatum From David Stern - SB Nation Indiana:

'via Blog this'

OCCUPY EDUCATION

OCCUPY EDUCATION:

'via Blog this'

Sick

I hate being sick. That's all

Protecting the 1%

I AM NOT MOVING - Short Film - Occupy Wall Street