Miscellaneous Missives

Friday night a couple of friends came to hang with me for the weekend.  When I realized they were coming (Thursday), I suggested they join me on Saturday for the No Human is Illegal March.  Many groups participated and spoke at a small rally before the March.  After the march, another small rally was held at Indigenous Roots Cultural Center .  Even though I was disappointed that the Women's March didn't have an actual march in Minneapolis/St. Paul, I was motivated to march.  The last few weeks, I've been fearful that we (women, progressives, Democrats...) are losing our fight.  Yesterday showed me that we need to keep fighting and many still are fighting. To end the day, we stopped at Punch Pizza .  Even though there was only three of us, we played Cards Against Humanity while eating our pizza and salad.  I blamed losing on holding the KKK card in my hand.  "The KKK is rarely funny," I replied as I lost.  Everyone seemed to agree...

The students made this four day week seem like an eight day week.  Motivation is at an all time low.  We've been working on persuasive speeches, and I am not looking forward to speech day on Monday, just saying.  This week, however, was not a complete waste.  On Thursdays I have a small eighth grade book group.  Last week I found out one of the girls (C) doesn't have and never has had a library card.  We planned a field trip to the library which happens to be across the street.   The librarian started off my given her a choice of three cards.  Another girl in the group and I groaned aloud since we were never offered a choice of cards when we first received our cards.  We may have also groaned when C was offered a plastic case to hold her card.  It's all good. Even though their was disappointment, watching C's excitement about getting a card and learning how to use the library's website to reserve a book was worth it.  Ya...

I saw this activity and thought I'd follow through.  Of course this letter is relevant today, but I feel as though we, white people, are letting others down as we sit back.  Things seem to be getting worse every day. If you are home today because of Marin Luther King Jr. Day, take a moment to reflect. I chose three quotes. 1)" Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garmet of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provinicial, "outside agitator" idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outside r." A friend recently told me she doesn't feel wanted in the United States after 45th's latest comments. She was born in this country and graduated from college in this country, yet she doesn't feel as though she is wanted.  Others were mortified by this on...

During (almost done) Four day weeks are hard, and last week was no different.  After doing nothing (video games and sleeping) for two weeks, the kids are struggling with the writing process and the work it entails.  The weather is horribly cold and so are the classrooms.  Getting up is not only difficult for the students, it's damn difficult for the teachers too...  Yesterday during my 6th hour class that typically drives me bonkers on a good day, my assistant principal did a "drop in" visit.  I really appreciate it when principals take the time to come into the classroom and see what's going on.  She left a kind note on the desk as they do that says what they saw happening (focusing on good teaching) in the classroom.  It was fun to read on a day when I was really ready to be done. Last night when I returned home to put on my flannel pj pants and layered long sleeved shirts to settle in and read Fire and Fury:  Inside the Trump Whitehous...

From the Elders of the Hopi Nation Oraibi, Arizona, June 8, 2000 To My Fellow Swimmers Here is a river flowing now very fast.  it is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid, who will try to hold on to the shore.  They are being town apart and will suffer greatly. Know the river has its destination.  The elders say we must let go of the  shore, push off into the middle of the river and keep your heads above water. And I say see who is there with you and celebrate.  At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, least of all ourselves.  For the moment  that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt. The time of the lone wolf is over.  Gather yourselves.  Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. For we are the ones we have been waiting for. This was read yesterday at church, and I th...

#2017bestnine according to Instagram First, I would like to say as I probably did last year, this is more for me than those who actually still read my blog.  That being said, I tried to minimize the biking pictures although I once again did a lot of biking.  2017 was difficult, and I would say it has a lot to do with #45 taking office.  It's unfortunate, but it really did make me feel a bit confused and distraught.  January Of course the Women's March was a big part of January as was saying good by to President Obama.  I also was privileged to see a former student of mine compete in the Minnesota Youth Poetry Slam series after helping her (not much) with her poems.  February In February I joined with others to #resist 45's travel ban.  It felt empowering, and I wish these marches were still happening with great frequency.  Looking back I'm also surprised at the biking I did in February.  It must have been mild for me to bike...

It's become obvious that my two favorite hobbies/past times are books and biking.  This year I read (IMHO) an amazing number of books.  This year's nonfiction has been amazing, and I feel more knowledgable (woke) by reading these books.  I'm not sure of the stats.  I tried to quickly go through and separate into fiction (26), nonfiction (30), poetry (5), school related (4), young adult (42), and picture books (6).  My numbers don't add up to good reads, but I will admit that I tried to do my calculations quickly.  In other words, my number doesn't add up to 165.  I'm sure Goodreads is more careful.  If I take out the YA and picture books, I read 65 books this year.  I rode 125.24 miles less this year than I did last year, but I still think I did a good job pedaling the miles this year.  Cycling is good for my emotional and physical well-being.  When we have these frigid temps, I am reminded of this more than ever.