Heat Weirdlastname Sophomore year of college, I went deaf in my right ear. Not completely—I have about 90% hearing loss. (It was from a mistreated ear infection—meds were for the vertigo, not the infection. Steroid treatment brought back the little I have. When it stopped working, the treatment ended, and that’s where it’s been for 24 years.) … Read more
This is a rambling pointless post about things swimming around in my brain today. Not your thing? We’ll be back to our regularly scheduled program tomorrow… I’ve been writing often at night lately. While that used to be my favorite time to do quiet work, nowadays I’m just fried. I have trouble focusing. The writing … Read more
People eat a lot. Depending on your schedule, you could eat six or seven (or more) times a day. Quantities aren’t generally small (or moderate) either. All of those meals and snacks? They don’t have to be amazing. Many people eat junk often enough that isn’t all that tasty because it’s handy or “should be” … Read more
A year ago, I was just beginning my extended school year as the result of a six-day teacher walkout in Arizona. Those days (the walkout; not so much the make-up days) were overflowing with so much emotion. Anger. Sadness. Worry. Emotions I can’t name. For example, being one of tens of thousands of people marching … Read more
We frequently see changing one’s mind as a weakness, when really, we should support people who do better when they know better. I know a solid handful of people who, in the last couple of years, have pretty substantially changed their point of view on a variety of impactful topics. The problem is—often, we reject … Read more
Last night, The Kid approached me with urgency. “Mom! You have to do laundry!” Turns out, he was down to one clean pair of shorts. I do the laundry, but it’s his job to stay on top of it and let me know when he’s running low on socks, underwear, short, or pants. (He has … Read more
Things about me that make me “weird”: don’t watch TV don’t eat meat don’t eat much fried or sweet food don’t drink coffee don’t drink alcohol rarely drink other delicious crap (I miss you, chai latte!) avoid plastic don’t typically spend much time, energy, money on “girl” things (hair, makeup, clothes, shoes, purses) I have … Read more
Teaching has some qualities about it that are unique. Today—for better or worse, as with every year before—was one of those unique-to-teaching days. The kids left. They’re not coming back until July. (We’re on a modified year-round calendar in my district.) The oldest ones aren’t coming back at all. Every year, the clock starts on … Read more
Every now and then, I read or hear something that takes a concept I am familiar with and puts it in a new light, adds a new twist, creates more depth. There was one from Where Should We Begin just a week ago, and today, there’s another. It becomes a conversation about entitlement and deprivation. … Read more
Every winter, there are countless holiday food drives. I’ve donated to some of them. I suspect many of you have as well. But now is actually the time of year when they need more. Why? School is out. (Or it’s getting close.) Many impoverished kids get two of their daily meals at school. Others get … Read more