LifeasIknowit32

When I started this blog four years ago, I saw it as an opportunity to connect with the world, encouragement to be more observant of the things around me, and just a method for making sense of things that did not always make sense (i.e. life). And, I think it has been all of those things for me.

One of the traditions I have made for myself is the annual birthday blog. I love a tradition. So, here it is: the birthday blog....

Thirty-one has been quite a year. I feel like I have moved between chapters of my life. I am typing this to you in my office, of our house, surrounded by wedding to-do lists. I could not have anticipated any of these things as lifeasyouknowit28. I think that is one of my favorite things of life - you really never know what will happen.

Some bullets from the year:
*I feel settled in a way I never have before. I am actually thinking of getting new checks to match my actual address (this is something that I, as a habitual apartment mover, have never done before).
*I have found confidence in my roll as a teacher. I have much to learn...but I know where my strengths lie. I can teach you to become a better reader. I can build community in my classroom. I can give the look. And, I can enjoy most, if not all, of each day in the classroom.
*I feel confidence in the fact that I do not have to settle...I like to fun. I can have the fun.
*I face the future with a sense of excitement.

Now for the year coming...I hope all of those unanticipated events of life bring me to a place I cannot imagine now. I hope to be a good friend. I hope to learn more. And, fun. I still want a lot of that.

Bailout

Everyday, on my way to work, I listen to NPR talk about the bailout. Bailing out the insurance companies for making bad investments. Bailing out the car companies for making SUVs. And cutting education funding. It's frustrating to listen to the talking heads discuss the need to provide money to these companies to ensure that our society can continue. But, as a teacher, I feel like some of this is happening at the expense of our educational system. I am sure there is not a direct cause and effect relationship. But, we have and have had a failing educational system in this country for years. In our cities, the majority of freshman will not graduate high school. Our special education classes are underfunded and over crowded. Too many children are not meeting basic levels of proficiency. And, schools are not given the resources we need to catch the children who are falling through the cracks. These children will perpetuate our society, as an assembly line worker at Ford or the CEOs of Goldman Sacks. We need to solve many problems in our world. I wish that education was valued in a way that could generate news coverage day after day. That we could get a $700 billion bailout of our system. It could fix it all.

NPR takes Halloween Way to Seriously

This weekend, in between my copious television viewing, I've tried to listen to a little NPR. Twice, I have had to turn it off because I was totally spooked out.

First, Prairie Home Companion had a little something with a ghost. Some lady had a creepy voice and it made me fear the world. I don't even typically listen to PHC due to the aw shucks nature of the programming. I had no idea they could be spooky.

Moments ago I had to turn off This American Life because of a horrible story of a lady being attacked by a rabid raccoon. I already have a fear of squirrels/rats, after living in DC with it's aggressive squirrel/rat population. The story of a woman, her son, and husband bludgeoning a rabid raccoon to death was just too much to take.

I am looking forward to more Novembery NPR programming, about Thanksgiving and elections (although, should Gov. Palin wink her way into office, that might be scary too).