Friday, September 2, 2016
Friday, August 26, 2016
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
17 August 2016
Today was odd. Due to the massive wildfire, school was cancelled therefore I stayed home from work. This was fine since the major travel corridor was still shut down due to damage and current danger. (I was not about to travel back the way I came home, which took four hours.)
We've literally been back for only four days. I had one student email me about the homework so she could get done what I assigned. I had another ask if I got home safely (I knew her from last year when she was in my study hall). My Kanto gym badges came in the mail, the ones I ordered to wear for the cosplay rally that was supposed to be on Friday. My brother found a nail in my tire in a place that is not repairable. I need a new tire (or a used one, rather). I got a free Lofthouse sugar cookie at the grocery store since they are celebrating their 80th anniversary. I also got a red balloon because why not? Everyone likes balloons. (Though I quipped to my brother I was a grown thirty year old woman holding a balloon happily like the children around me. #noshame)
As I was emailing that concerned student back, I got a text. School is cancelled the rest of the week. I figured it would be. The fire is pretty bad, and last I checked, it was only 4% contained. Many people in the area are evacuated. A school in the district is an evac center. So many men and women fighting it on everyone's behalf after that fire near the lake last week. The planes and helicopters could be seen from my house as could the smoke. I saw the orange clouds from Big Bear last night as I drove through the city on my unwanted adventure quest home.
Is this our new normal? Massive fires that burn and burn, destroying lives and history? While Louisiana drowns in excess amounts of water not seen in centuries? As I was leaving school yesterday afternoon. I thought to myself that at least this fire could be used in a lesson later on in the year when I tackle climate change. We are having the hottest year on record yet again. This coupled with the lack of humidity that is normal, the dead plants from almost no rain despite the predicted (and failed, at least in SoCal) El Nino, and the winds that are par the course lay the breeding grounds for fires. It's only going to get worse.
I can teach my students about this very real and science-backed phenomenon, I also despair. The world needs to change, but I am one person. I can make a dent in my classroom, but the world is far too vast for my reach. (Despite some friends' assertions in high school, I was never cut out for politics.)
So while communities near my house burn, while people are displaced and fearful, I still manage to find small happiness in my balloon and gym badges. Then I feel bad. But should I? I don't know. I'm probably overthinking this. I cannot deny I like this small break from school despite having just started. I'm sure the students not affected by the fire feel the same. I'm in no danger, but I hope for the safety of others as I watch the news and keep checking the Inciweb page. I guess I'm just rambling.
At least I have extra time for lesson planning I guess? Or more likely playing games on my phone and not writing in my story.
I'll see.
We've literally been back for only four days. I had one student email me about the homework so she could get done what I assigned. I had another ask if I got home safely (I knew her from last year when she was in my study hall). My Kanto gym badges came in the mail, the ones I ordered to wear for the cosplay rally that was supposed to be on Friday. My brother found a nail in my tire in a place that is not repairable. I need a new tire (or a used one, rather). I got a free Lofthouse sugar cookie at the grocery store since they are celebrating their 80th anniversary. I also got a red balloon because why not? Everyone likes balloons. (Though I quipped to my brother I was a grown thirty year old woman holding a balloon happily like the children around me. #noshame)
As I was emailing that concerned student back, I got a text. School is cancelled the rest of the week. I figured it would be. The fire is pretty bad, and last I checked, it was only 4% contained. Many people in the area are evacuated. A school in the district is an evac center. So many men and women fighting it on everyone's behalf after that fire near the lake last week. The planes and helicopters could be seen from my house as could the smoke. I saw the orange clouds from Big Bear last night as I drove through the city on my unwanted adventure quest home.
Is this our new normal? Massive fires that burn and burn, destroying lives and history? While Louisiana drowns in excess amounts of water not seen in centuries? As I was leaving school yesterday afternoon. I thought to myself that at least this fire could be used in a lesson later on in the year when I tackle climate change. We are having the hottest year on record yet again. This coupled with the lack of humidity that is normal, the dead plants from almost no rain despite the predicted (and failed, at least in SoCal) El Nino, and the winds that are par the course lay the breeding grounds for fires. It's only going to get worse.
I can teach my students about this very real and science-backed phenomenon, I also despair. The world needs to change, but I am one person. I can make a dent in my classroom, but the world is far too vast for my reach. (Despite some friends' assertions in high school, I was never cut out for politics.)
So while communities near my house burn, while people are displaced and fearful, I still manage to find small happiness in my balloon and gym badges. Then I feel bad. But should I? I don't know. I'm probably overthinking this. I cannot deny I like this small break from school despite having just started. I'm sure the students not affected by the fire feel the same. I'm in no danger, but I hope for the safety of others as I watch the news and keep checking the Inciweb page. I guess I'm just rambling.
At least I have extra time for lesson planning I guess? Or more likely playing games on my phone and not writing in my story.
I'll see.
Thursday, July 28, 2016
DNC Day Four
-Khizr Khan, whose Muslim son US Army Captain Humayun Khan was KIA
-Sarah McBride, first transgender person to address the convention for any major party-Jennifer Granholm
-Retired general surrounded by other generals, admirals, and vets of the last two wars
-Andrew Cuomo
-Mayor Garcetti of Los Angeles
-LGBTQ rights
-Republicans who are voting for her (former Regan speechwriter being one)
-Katy Perry
-Chelsea's intro and the Hillary video
-Hillary's speech
At 19:47 PDT: She accepts the nomination!!
Small details ARE a big deal because they impact our lives.
"When one barrier falls, it clears the way for everyone."
"And I believe in science."
"He spoke for seventy-odd minutes, and I do mean odd."
"Way too many dreams die in the parking lots of banks."
20:12- Going after Trump
"No, Donald....you don't. " (re: knowing more about ISIS than the generals)
"A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons."
"But I ask you, how can we stand by and do nothing?" (re: gun violence)
And then the balloons drop.
Hope. Diversity. Unity.
Stronger together. Do the most good.
I'm on board all the way. Twenty-four years ago, my parents brought my brother and I to see Bill campaigning in the city next door, and I will never forget that. I will also never forget watching the 1996 election with my dad , playing with Lincoln logs and my red Chevron car, hoping that he would win and being so happy when he did. I was only ten. I didn't do much to help Obama get elected except vote for him and urge others to do the same while I also tried to dispel the misinformation. This time, I will do more. The stakes are too high, and I truly believe in her as my candidate. It won't be easy since I'm a full-time teacher reworking my curriculum, but I'll find a way.
Onward to a brighter future for ALL.
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
DNC Day Three
-"Donald Lump"
-Tim Kaine's Trump impression
-Tim Kaine
-Ending gun violence
-Women's rights
-Military and law enforcement
-Joe Biden's speech
-Climate change
-Obama's speech
-Hillary on stage with Barack
I really like Tim Kaine. Tonight was more optimism while still acknowledging our shortcomings. One more day to go. She'll accept the nomination tomorrow, and we'll hear from her and Chelsea.
I'm more than ready to call her Madam President in January.
-Tim Kaine's Trump impression
-Tim Kaine
-Ending gun violence
-Women's rights
-Military and law enforcement
-Joe Biden's speech
-Climate change
-Obama's speech
-Hillary on stage with Barack
I really like Tim Kaine. Tonight was more optimism while still acknowledging our shortcomings. One more day to go. She'll accept the nomination tomorrow, and we'll hear from her and Chelsea.
I'm more than ready to call her Madam President in January.
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
DNC Day Two
So today we officially nominated Hillary Clinton as the Democratic candidate for president. I was concerned about the roll call, that Bernie supporters may be loud and only cause a larger rift. Thankfully, that didn't happen. It went smoothly, and Bernie moved that she become the nominee.
The rest of the evening and night was filled with speakers telling personal stories about the ways she had impacted their lives both personally and through policies that she fought for. Then they capped it off with Bill speaking for about forty minutes. I feel this went a long way to humanize her as he talked about what she's done and how they built a life together. By the end of it all, I feel like the party has finally united. We can only get stronger over not just the next two days but the months leading up to the election and the years following as we work to make this country better for all of us.
Highlights (besides what I listed above):
-"Fight Song" montage
-National Anthem being sung by a young man with cerebral palsy
-9/11 survivor Lauren Manning
-Mothers of the Movement
-Alicia Keys
-Montage at the end of the presidents with Hillary breaking through at the end
-Elizabeth Banks
-Eagle Academy founder and students
I look forward to tomorrow and listening to Obama, Biden, and Kaine. Our convention so far has been great, espousing the virtues of this nation while also acknowledging the work we still have to do. It is far from the doom and gloom of Cleveland last week. We look professional and like the adults we truly are. I always get into the conventions, but I'm truly proud of my party tonight.
See you tomorrow.
The rest of the evening and night was filled with speakers telling personal stories about the ways she had impacted their lives both personally and through policies that she fought for. Then they capped it off with Bill speaking for about forty minutes. I feel this went a long way to humanize her as he talked about what she's done and how they built a life together. By the end of it all, I feel like the party has finally united. We can only get stronger over not just the next two days but the months leading up to the election and the years following as we work to make this country better for all of us.
Highlights (besides what I listed above):
-"Fight Song" montage
-National Anthem being sung by a young man with cerebral palsy
-9/11 survivor Lauren Manning
-Mothers of the Movement
-Alicia Keys
-Montage at the end of the presidents with Hillary breaking through at the end
-Elizabeth Banks
-Eagle Academy founder and students
I look forward to tomorrow and listening to Obama, Biden, and Kaine. Our convention so far has been great, espousing the virtues of this nation while also acknowledging the work we still have to do. It is far from the doom and gloom of Cleveland last week. We look professional and like the adults we truly are. I always get into the conventions, but I'm truly proud of my party tonight.
See you tomorrow.
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