Cryin' in my tea

What are you supposed to do? Our baby has turned into Kujo. He yells and screams when he doesn’t get what he wants. And he wants a LOT. I swear we didn’t start this school year micromanaging his life. But, we sure do now. Lying, stealing, internet porn, the list is endless. When he gets caught (which is often) he turns it on us. Like the right-wing pundits who think if they are the loudest, they are right. M has counted the months until the boy is 18. I don’t know if I can make it sometimes. The apple of my eye has turned on us. He is a big old worm in the apple basket. What are we supposed to do????

It is so hard. We as parents are supposed to do what is right. Not hit him back. Not call him names. What rules does he have to follow? It is worse for M, being the same gender. Oh, we suffer for our love of our child. Our friends are starting to notice how much it is taking to raise our boy, and that helps a bit. We need a break. Time without stress. Anything!

All Hail the Vampires, again

Okay, now the Twilight DVD is out. I can watch and obsess freely. My family rides along with me. Whee!

My hope for the future. Trying to channel to Stephenie Meyer... Write a 5th Twilight book... this time, focus on the story of the long suffering underdog (pun intended) Jacob and his mate, Renesmee. Bella and Edward move to the back of the stage and we learn of the future of Jacob and Nessie. Wouldn't that be interesting? What will she grow up to be like? Can they have kids of their own? Won't Jacob age eventually? How does he keep from doing that? Of course, channeling Meyer, they would have to face a big threat before the end of the book that would include our Cullen friends. Too bad I can't write!

Turd Blossom – or another reason why I love the Internet

I was reading Newsweek last week. There was a short reference in Conventional Wisdom. It said that Turd Blossom and Harriet Miers were due to testify to Congress and let the amnesia begin. What the hell is that? Who would name their child Turd Blossom?

I know, Google it. Within a seconds I had my answer. Turd Blossom is the 'affectionate Texas' nickname for Karl Rove given by GB!

Octomom - octomania

I've been waiting for someone to have my idea. But since I haven't heard it:

That woman in California with 14 children under 7 years old. You know the story by now. Her fertility doc did all 14 fertilizations. He knew she had 6 kids, no husband, and no job when he inserted the last massive group of embryos that resulted in a litter of 8.

I think the state should sue him for child support for all this mess he created with full knowledge of the repercussions. What do you think? A lawyer would love the unique case, don't you think?

I Feel Old, but it's Good News!

Strangely, former students have come out of the woodwork recently bringing us their children to teach. Maybe it is because of the horrifying economy. I know at least one of the alumni has been laid off and had to move home. Our enrollment has been dropping, as it has many places, as the boomers’ children grow up and birth rate declines. So much panic and worry around me about what will happen to our tiny school. I think I worry less about it because I think my time for work is always on the verge of ending because of my lovely MS.

Anyway, it does make me feel old to see former students with children of their own. In our rural area, most every child grows up and moves away for school or work. But it is also nice to see them return, happy to reconnect with our school community. Maybe they will save us in the end!

I Surprise Myself

Boy, did I surprise myself today. I recently got a prescription for a power wheelchair from my neuro. My world has been shrinking and I have started to notice it. So, today as I was driving to work, I realized that if I do get this chair, I will be able to go outside at school again. It has been a long time since I could safely walk out there. Our old school grounds are very uneven and gopher holes abound. The driveway is gravel, and any variations in terrain are hard for me. As I reflected on this possibility, I was surprised to see I started to cry. Imagine, driving to work and wiping tears. When I went in the building, people saw my red eyes and asked about what was wrong. It was so weird to say that nothing was wrong, it was a good thing that made me cry.

I don’t think I have given a lot of thought to how much has changed in the last ten years for me. It creeps up an inch at a time. MS sux!

So, next week, we drive to Spokane and start the process. If I get insurance approval, it will be done. I find it unimaginable to celebrate getting a wheelchair, but I think I will. And I also plan to take it to school for the spring and go OUTSIDE for recess and my students’ PE. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Obama, Lincoln; Lincoln, Obama

Please read this quote:
“The rising intensity of the slavery issue and the threatening dissolution of the nation itself provided Lincoln and his colleagues with an opportunity to save and improve the democracy established by Washington, Jefferson, and Adams, creating what Lincoln later called’ a new birth of freedom.’ Without the march of events that led to the Civil War, Lincoln still would have been a good man, but most likely would never have been publicly recognized as a great man. It was history that gave him the opportunity to manifest his greatness, proving the stage that allowed him to shape and transform our national life.”
Team of Rivals, by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Wow. That is how I feel about Obama. If he can transform our nation like Lincoln did and fix some of what has gone so wrong, he will manifest his greatness. It is remarkable that she wrote these words over 4 years ago, before all the crises we are in. Before Obama came to the national consciousness. BTW, great book, too! Doris Kearns Goodwin, you rock!