I enjoyed my relatively politics-free vacation; I listened to history podcasts and generally stayed away from political stories. Of course I got the big ones, but I didn't read much further than the headlines. Today that changed. Please read this testimony from people affected - mainly children and parents - by the evil family separation … Continue reading July 5: PISSED
sad
June 19: It just gets worse.
Today, McClatchy reported that it is more like 6,000 children who've been separated from their families. The AP reported that there are three "tender age" facilities for children under age 5 who've been taken from their parents, with the possibility of a fourth "needed." I don't remember the news source (Strib?), but they are looking … Continue reading June 19: It just gets worse.
June 17: Happy(?) Father’s Day
I just finished reading this article from Texas Monthly about the separation of children from their asylum-seeking parents at our border. I am appalled and enraged and feeling helpless in the face of such cruelty. I'd seen posts before with pictures that were then challenged as fake, with articles from websites that seemed somewhat trustworthy … Continue reading June 17: Happy(?) Father’s Day
June 16: sadness, condolences, and peace
The first person I ever saw as a real life princess was my cousin Emily. She married my cousin Tom when I was about 10 years old and it was the first wedding I remember clearly: gleaming white with red roses, a beautiful long bouquet of flowers, and a dance where my parents let me … Continue reading June 16: sadness, condolences, and peace
June 8: School’s Out
So I've been having all sorts of feelings with the end of the year, and I can't totally sort them all out. I felt guilty and weird for a long time after leaving Forest Lake in the middle of the year, but that had kind of faded and I had just been enjoying teaching in … Continue reading June 8: School’s Out
June 2: sad day
Today we went to Duluth to attend Dak's aunt's memorial service. Trudie was a vibrant, fun woman who fought cancer like a champion. We didn't spend a ton of time with her, but what we did was always happy. She was warm and welcoming to me as a new person in the family, which was … Continue reading June 2: sad day
May 30: Spectacle and Substance
I've been overwhelmed by the drama of everything lately, more than usual, more than even this new era of "normal." The news, the internet world, the real world... everything seems to be so much. Things I'm thinking about or reading about, in no specific order because nothing seems to have order anymore: Roseanne being cancelled … Continue reading May 30: Spectacle and Substance
May 26: so much sadness in the world
The news feels increasingly bleak lately - kids torn away from their families then lost, potentially trafficked. Twisted scandals in Washington DC. An electoral system we may no longer be able to trust. Violence in schools and homes. Foreign policy blunders all over. Unarmed, nonviolent immigrants and protesters being shot in the head. Everything feels … Continue reading May 26: so much sadness in the world
May 18: emotional whiplash
Wow. I had a great week at school. My kids did excellent on their Romeo and Juliet quizzes today. We've had a great time reading it and playing with it, and they are doing so well. My 12th graders are doing some creative writing using the story lines and interview/narrative structure of the novel we've … Continue reading May 18: emotional whiplash
May 9: total exhaustion
There are no words for the mental and emotional exhaustion I have right now. I'm wiped out. It's almost a calm place to be, because there is nothing left in the reserves. Sleep would be nice, but I'm not sure that my body and muscles will let me do it. My body is on alert: … Continue reading May 9: total exhaustion
Adventures in Distraction 