Saturday 9

Just got home and it’s FREEZING!  I love it! Snuggling up in bed with a Saturday 9.

1) Do you come up with your brightest ideas early in the morning or late at night?  I’m not very high functioning in the morning, so I’d have to say nighttime.  However, my best ideas come when I’m somewhere I can’t act upon them – the car, the shower – and then I forget them.

2) Are you more likely to feel romantic at night or in the morning?  See above, but as long as it’s not too early in the morning, either way is good…I’m easy.

3) Do you shower in the morning, after work or before bed? Morning

4) Is there an artist whose early demise surprised and saddened you?  I guess Kurt Cobain was the most tragic celebrity death of my generation.  This might be cold-hearted, but I’m never very surprised about a celebrity death.

5) Do you have a cool nickname? (If not, feel free to give yourself one right now.) I’m not really one for nicknames, but my friend Jlo calls me K-Mac

6) When was the last time you had the blues?  The work drama over the last couple of years had me reeling a bit.  Just last night I went out with some friends who are still at that school.  Even listening to the things that are still going on there, caused me to be on edge.  I had to remind myself, thankfully I don’t work there any more.  That is such a relief. 

7) Crazy Sam is eating Trader Joe's Snickerdoodles as she composes this. What's the last snack food you ate?  I had Ruffles with a sandwich for dinner the other night.

8) Do you worry about preserving endangered species? Or do you believe in survival of the fittest?  If they are cute and/or furry I am concerned.  If they are slimy or scaly, not as much.  Seriously though, animals and plants on the verge of extinction is a travesty, and the repercussions of extinction should worry all of us.

9) Would you ever hire a lawyer who runs commercials on TV? Do you know anyone who has? No and no

Results

Obviously, I am pleased with the national election outcome.  There was some worry over the closeness of the race, and if we’d even know who would be the new President before the end of the month.  I’m relieved it didn’t turn into another Bush/Gore debacle.

Late last night, our state election was still up in the air.  But with less than half the counties reporting, Prop 30 was not looking so good.  I went to bed, half heartedly holding my breath.  What a sigh of relief to wake up to a tide that has turned.  With most precincts reporting, Prop. 30 seems to have passed.

Even though I was hopeful, with the current climate towards education and teachers and taxes, I knew it would be a fight.  A lot of the anti-30 campaign ads continued to spout that rhetoric. 

With the narrow support of the proposition, schools (according to Governor Brown) will not be touched anymore when additional severe cuts are made to balance the budget.  Schools were concerned as they’ve already been hit so very hard, running on bare minimums.  Furlough days, over 5 for some, up to 30 for others and massive teacher layoffs were predicted . 

Right now, teachers, principals, superintendents are all breathing a little bit easier.  The education budget hasn’t gotten any better, but at least with prop 30 passing it shouldn’t get any worse. 

Let’s just hope we can take Gov. Brown at his word.

Is It Over Yet?

Tomorrow is election day.  Between the national and state elections…thankfully it’s all finally coming to an end.  The ads, the mudslinging, even the news has gotten too much.  A night or two ago, I had the television on while cooking dinner.  During one of the commercial breaks, all but one of the commercials was a campaign ad.  To be honest with you, I don’t want to listen to, watch, or read anything more about this freaking election.

It sounds like the presidential race is going to be too close to know the outcome by tomorrow night.  That has been the prediction for the last week or so.  It could be the end of the month or later before we actually know who won.  Oh great…   

There have also been reports about voter intimidation, on both sides.  The more I read about it, the more I get sucked in, the more I don’t know which way is up, and the more I think both parties are completely insane.  Roseanne Barr was on the ballot for the Peace and Freedom party.  Maybe I should have just voted for her.  Could she be any worse?  (Don’t answer that.)

We’ve got some important propositions on the California ballot.  Two, specifically 30 and 32,  directly impact my job as a teacher.  If 30 doesn’t pass, K-12 education will be cut by $5 billion, a disgusting amount.  We’ve also got a proposition that would nullify the state’s (unused) death penalty and oddly a measure to ensure our state’s porn stars are getting tested and wearing condoms – requirements that are actually already in place.  There has been so little, if anything, said about the death penalty proposition.  The only reason I’m aware it’s on the ballot is because I read it in the booklet.  I would have thought removing the death penalty as punishment would be a big deal, (I’ve heard more about the porn measure) but it’s been nothing but a blip during election season. 

We’ve been studying US government in social studies over the last month or so and my kids have been anxiously waiting for this election.  They’ve watched the debates at home and come in spouting their (or their parents’) thoughts.  After the last debate, one of my students announced emphatically that “Obama won!”  I reigned in the class, we reviewed the election lessons, and we talked him out of his announcement with a reminder that the election hadn’t even happened yet.  As I thought about it later, I think he mistook the news reports that Obama had won the last debate to mean he won the election.  Regardless, I’ve been thrilled that they are interested.

This afternoon, Room 16 (my classroom) held its own presidential election.  The kids were SO excited they could hardly stand it.  They filled out their ballot behind their privacy board so their vote remained a secret and then dropped their ballots into our ballot box (that was their favorite part I think).
Afterwards, they made a prediction about who they thought got the most votes.

Then we tallied the votes.  Obama won by a landslide. 

There are about 24 hours left in our election season.  We may not know all the outcomes in 24 hours, but at least the worst part of these elections will be finished. 

Merry Thanksgivoween

 
It’s hard to believe that we’ve just celebrated Halloween, and now October is over.  I was looking for some Halloween things at the store this past weekend and they already had Christmas decorations and were playing Christmas music.  Really, it didn’t as much put me in the Christmas spirit, but rather ticked me off a little bit.  Can we just worry about one holiday at a time please?  I am however looking forward to the end of Daylight Savings time this weekend.  It has been so dark getting up over the last few weeks.  There’s something to be said for waking up in the daylight rather than the middle of the night.

The end of October also means another Calendar Challenge from the Kathryn Wheel.  I didn’t think I’d done too much this month, but when I went through my journals I had made more pages than I thought.  Which makes me happy.

   

Merry Thanksgivoween!

Go See It!

The previews for Argo came out over the summer. A movie about a secret spy mission?  Sign me up!   After finally finding some time to go, we saw it last night.  Argo was outstanding.

Photo from Movie Fanatic

The movie is loosely based on the true story of a rescue mission that took place during the Iran hostage crisis from 1979-81.  Since I was just about 7 during that time, my only knowledge of it comes from the history books.  However, this rescue mission was actually kept quiet for many years. 

It’s the story of 6 Americans who escaped the hostage situation at the embassy and took up to hiding in the homes of Canadian and British ambassadors.  Tony Mendez, the CIA agent who was essentially in charge of coordinating the mission set out to bring the six American’s home under the guise of making a movie.  He enlisted some Hollywood players to make the story feasible and then headed to Iran as the movie’s producer.

Photo from The Telegraph 

Upon arriving he met the American’s, setting them up with new identities – Canadian movie makers. 

Photo from Tribute.ca

Ben Affleck directed and starred in the film as Tony Mendez.  With the Matt Damon/Ben Affleck pair, I’ve always preferred Matt Damon’s roles, but I’ll tell you, Affleck was good.  The whole movie was good.  Heart pounding, gut wrenchingly intense, but so good.  When the movie first came out, I looked it up because I wondered if it was a true story.  I knew how the situation ended, and I was still a nervous wreck during the film…in a good way!

There were definitely liberties taken with the story, and Ben Affleck admits it, stating that Hollywood embellished and adjusted, as they usually do. However, even after reading about how the movie is different, my opinion of it remains the same.  It was very well done.

I’ll be surprised if the film and Affleck aren’t honored during the coming awards’ season.  If you get a chance, go see it. 

Saturday 9

Saturday 9 time!
1) Do you ever fantasize about flying, beyond the rainbow or anywhere else? Yah, no, flying is never in my fantasies. Traveling abroad is one of my favorite things to do.  I wish I could just wiggle my nose or shake my ponytail to get there though.

2) Do you think you have seen The Wizard of Oz more than 10 times?  I actually have never been a fan.  As a kid the wicked witch and her monkeys traumatized me.  I may not have ever seen the whole movie all the way through, not able to get past the scary parts.

3) Which Wizard of Oz character would you most like to dress as for Halloween?  See above, but if I had to pick, probably Dorothy…those red sparkly shoes!

4) What will Trick or Treaters get when they come to your front door? Since the entire day will be spent on Halloween, I’ll most likely come home, turn off all the lights, and go to bed.

5) Did you ever TP a neighbor's house or indulge in other acts of Halloween vandalism as a kid? Nope

6) Who annoys you more -- people who never respond to your texts/emails, or those who never look up because they're always checking their texts/emails? I’m probably more guilty of the latter, so those who don’t respond in a timely manner are more irritating.  Although I have been known to say, “Stop looking at your phone…be with who you’re with!” 

7) Who was the last person you hugged? I say goodbye to my students each day with a hug or high five.  Most choose a hug, so thinking about who brought up the end of the dismissal line, Juan was the last person I hugged. :) 
The last non-student people I hugged were my book club friends at book club last night.  A few of them I hadn’t seen since last month’s get together.

8) What two colors do you like to wear together?   How is it that this question has taken me the longest to answer?  I don’t really have a signature color combo.  I wear a lot of black, so whatever goes with black I guess.

9) Did your alarm clock wake you up this fine Saturday morning? Nope, and still in bed.  As a matter of fact, when I smacked the alarm off yesterday morning my very first thought was, “Thank goodness I don’t have to set it tomorrow.”

Your turn!

I’m About Ready to Unfriend Facebook

I think Facebook has worn out it’s welcome at my house.  I’ve been so skeptical of it since first signing up a few years ago, after having my arm twisted.  Since, my usage has gone in waves.  I’ve enjoyed using it to hear what my friends out-of-state/country are up to, but over time I’m finding it less and less useful.

What is with using FB to to call others out or start arguments?  I find internet muscles so unappealing.  Several members of my family complain (or verbally attack) about their parents, children, siblings, cousins, etc. online – complaints that are posted for all their “friends” to see, including the one being called out.  There’s something very passive aggressive about that.  Even worse, the discussion that takes place is in front of all to see.  Anyone who uses social media does have at least some “hey, look at me” qualities, but when it becomes hostile or disrespectful, I don’t have any tolerance for it.  I've started blocking the posts of some of my family members because they were getting so irritating.

More recently, the political posts are becoming too much.  It’s no secret, I’m a liberal, so the extreme right posts that are popping up on the newsfeed are driving me mad.  Upon seeing some of the comments made by a few close friends I just feel deflated.  How can we be such good friends and have complete opposite ideologies? 

This month, FB began testing out their pay-for-posts plan on regular people.  Apparently, businesses have been paying for posts for quite some time, but that would be considered part of their advertising I’d assume.  Now, individuals who feel like their posts aren’t seen by enough of their friends, can pay $7 a post to make sure it is.  Are you freaking kidding me?  If i need someone to know something THAT badly, I can just call or email or text them.  I wonder if people are actually paying for that.  

So what does this all mean?  It’s probably best to simply delete my account and wash my hands of it all.  The problem is, the nosey side of me likes to read about what my friends are up to.  Some of them are VERY funny and interesting, and I enjoy reading what they write – like I enjoy reading funny and interesting blog posts.  Maybe Facebook can create a block button for posts that start arguments or have political leanings. That way I can just read the fun stuff.    

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On another liberal note, I found this article looking for the FB one.  What is going on here?  Who are these people that are running and getting elected into office.  It’s truly frightening.