In the district where I teach, today is the first day of school for students. (Teachers, counselors, others started last week. Principals, custodians, some of the office staff have been working all summer.) Today is July 23. I grew up in New Jersey, where school always started after Labor Day. (We have mid-quarter parent conferences … Read more
Last night, my name was picked and I got to tell a story on stage at The Moth. (I didn’t tell any stories involving wedding dresses, as they ended up not making good stories. More like good anecdotes. I told a story about a brazen comment in a conversation with my first principal-to-be.) Because I … Read more
For almost three quarters of a year, I’ve been posting daily. It’s changed me a little bit. I’ve always enjoyed writing, but having something to say on a daily basis—even for someone whose brain is often busy—is challenging. Especially when my brain is busy with things that aren’t necessarily appropriate for blogging. But this pursuit … Read more
In a waiting room the other day, I read a short article about Michael Jackson. Its bottom line was: stop listening to his music, so revenue will stop flowing into his estate. My thoughts around all of this are not linear. Hang on. I guess the first question to answer is: are the two things … Read more
It’s been in the high 90s in the evenings just around sundown, which is lovely weather for a run. (This is what they’re talking about when they say “it’s a dry heat.” This is much more pleasant than the day we were in New York when it was 20 degrees cooler but muggy.) So I’ve … Read more
Overwhelm is everywhere. At least among people I know, more people than not have more to do than time or energy to do it. The solution largely seems to be: pare down. (I sometimes follow my own advice in this realm.) If you have less stuff, there’s less to put away, to maintain, to clean. … Read more
If you’ve tried to make a change in habit and it’s not working, see if it can be tweaked to fit you (instead of trying to change yourself to fit it). If you’ve decided to keep shoes put away and they’re still in a pile by the door, get a shoe rack or a basket … Read more
lib•er•ty (Merriam Webster) the quality or state of being free: the power to do as one pleases freedom from physical restraint freedom from arbitrary or despotic control the positive enjoyment of various social, political, or economic rights and privileges the power of choice During our trip, we spent a just few hours in Philadelphia. … Read more
We’re recently home from a trip to the area where I grew up. We did some sightseeing, we spent time with many people, and we ate. If it wasn’t clear to me already, I have a solid understanding of why I was overweight when I was young. All of the “we have to eat there” … Read more
The short version: my goal is to help people be educated so they can make decisions in an informed way. I am not trying to scare people or to be a downer, though I acknowledge that these days, most of the news is bad news. The fact is that in a capitalistic society, the main … Read more