Future Plans

During a classroom lesson today, many of the young girls told me they wanted to be moms when they grow up. A terrified looking boy piped up, "Not me! I'm going to be an archeologist! A boy archeologist!"

Union Dues

I've learned that some of my union dues are being used to rent charter buses that will take me to the capital for "rally day." There will be no charge - but make sure to let the union representative know that I'm going so they can have my free lunch ready for me. Need a sub for work? No problem - just contact another union representative who will arrange for union funds to pay that sub.

What I really need is a break from the pervasive entitlement attitude (and the $650/yr in mandatory union dues).

"ExtraConstitutional"

Since when can the Department of Justice simply announce that it will no longer be defending a particular law? A bill that was passed through both houses of Congress over a decade ago and signed into law by a previous POTUS? Since when do we live in a country whose president parades around, casting comments and making decisions like a dictator?

Some have called this announcement "extraConstitutional." I've got some better terms to use for it. Winning the future? For whom? I'm with Sarah on this one - WTF!

We're All Wisconsinites

It's my opinion that union membership should be optional. Maybe that's why I agree with this op-ed on the Wisconsin situation.

Frogger

Rachel needs some more driving confidence after an experience that more closely resembled the 1980s video game "Frogger" than a ride in the park.

Actually, it was a spin through a college campus in the dark. You'd think kids would wear reflective clothing if they were not going to cross at the lighted crosswalks! Then there was the raccoon seemingly in chase of the car down the main drag. Is that even possible?!

Budgets

In order to cut expenses of a bankrupt state, the Governor announced that he would have to personally approve any out-of-state travel for state employees. That even includes my friend's travel to a national conference where she was presenting time-sensitive information to others beginning a grant-funded tele-medicine program like hers. The non-refundable airline tickets were already purchased with this grant money. The conference registration was already paid for by this grant funding. It's too late to request a refund. The grant requires all professionals working on this grant to attend the national conference (expenses paid by the grant). The bankrupt governor says only one person can travel to the national conference. My friend is now awaiting approval to travel on this trip that is already paid for with non-state monies. If not allowed to attend, my friend and her colleagues will find themselves in non-compliance with the grant funding conditions.

Can anyone explain to me why we need more government intervention in our lives?

Language

I work with children who have language disorders. Today, one of these third graders told me, "I need to go to the nurse. Everything looks small."

I did take her to the nurse after her insistence, but I still never figured out what she meant. Any ideas?

Spot On

I probably spend too much time trying to understand the man, but this is the first theory I've heard about that actually seems to capture Obama's worldview. Ever wonder why in the world our president banished Churchill's bust from the oval office? Obama's life experiences have been nothing like the typical American's. Read this book and decide for yourself how much the dreams of Obama Sr. really have become the dreams of his son.

Fifteen

It was fifteen years ago this morning that I was negotiating with the OB/GYN nurse to allow me to keep my underwear on. "Honey," she asked, "Do you know how this is all going to happen?!"

Actually, we had no idea how much this little girl would change our lives. Who knew how much a human heart is capable of loving? And life is about to change again as we take her to the Dept. of Motor Vehicles tomorrow to obtain her driver's permit.

Happy Birthday, Rachel! I love you very much.

Truth

The middle school youth are studying truth (rhyme unintentional). Did you know that the Bible speaks about truth over 200 times? Over 30 times in the book of Matthew alone!

Funny thing . . .
Today I asked the kids to tell me a time they have been caught in a lie. One of them started in on this fantastical story about himself and Santa Claus. Evidently, he was demonstrating to the class how to tell a lie. I called him on it.

I'm going to have a to do a little more praying to prepare for this class.

Not Much Laundry

Quinn has been wearing the same pajama bottoms for the last four snow days. I encouraged him to take an extra sudsy shower.

Three Snow Days

And all we got to show for it is a slippery, sparkling, spectacular landscape.

My sister Jodie got snow-pounded (top photo).

Rain, Snow, Sleet

Yeah, we got that.

For fun, between power brown outs, Rachel is filling out an online questionnaire to determine the severity of my OCD. I told her that freaking out about dirty kleenexes sprinkled all over an avalanche of clean clothing in her room where floor space is at a premium is not a sign of obsessive compulsive disorder.