Written by I really don’t mean to just update once a year around these parts. It’s just that Life gets in the way. So let’s catch up. READ MORE »
Posts in category Everyday Life
And, We’re Back!
So life got in the way of blogging for a couple of years. I haven’t written since before Zion died because it was really painful to try and come up with a fitting tribute to her. I’ve also been ridiculously busy trying to get my career back on track.
I left my job at CASA because honestly, my boss was impossible to work for. I don’t care if he or anyone I worked with sees this because he has refused to even acknowledge my existence for a year or so. I loved my co-workers but after I was humiliatingly forced to apologize to someone who was completely nuts for something I didn’t do, I had enough.
On a whim, I applied for 2 teaching positions in one of our bigger districts. I got interviews for both but only ended up going to one and taking it. One of the best decisions I’ve made, professionally speaking, because I absolutely love where I work. I have the best colleagues and have made wonderful friends. My first year back was bumpy. My students were lower level and I had a lot of kids with IEPs and behavior problems. Yearbook was rife with drama and kids who just didn’t really want to do anything.
This year, I taught honors and yearbook again. An amazing group of kids graced my door every day, funny, smart, interesting kids. My friendships with staff were cemented (Hi Shayna!) and I had a really rewarding year.
On the homefront, Eden had her first litter of puppies in January. She had 6, 3 boys and 3 girls. One puppy didn’t make it but the rest thrived and were adopted into loving homes.One was chosen to be a service dog. 
The cats continue to hiss and growl at each other but tensions between the boys and Monkey seem to be thawing a bit of late. It’s sort of like Trump and North Korea. One day they hate each other, the next they will be in the same room and not want to claw each other to death. None of it makes any sense, especially when Finn claims he’s up for a Nobel Peace Prize.
We celebrate our 10 year anniversary next month and we are traveling to England to celebrate. I’m excited to show Rob where I lived and worked, to introduce him to friends, and revisit a life I lived a lifetime ago. There is much laundry to do before we leave but the errands are done and passports are at the ready.
Valleys and Farms
Written by These mist covered mountains
Are a home now for me
But my home is the lowlands
And always will be
Someday you’ll return to
Your valleys and your farms
And you’ll no longer burn
To be brothers in arms
Through these fields of destruction
Baptisms of fire
I’ve witnessed your suffering
As the battle raged higher
And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My brothers in arms
There’s so many different worlds
So many different suns
And we have just one world
But we live in different ones
Now the sun’s gone to hell and
The moon’s riding high
Let me bid you farewell
Every man has to die
But it’s written in the starlight
And every line in your palm
We are fools to make war
On our brothers in arms
Judge and Just
In my younger years, I thought writing was something you did when you had something to say. You sat, you figured it out, you outlined your little five-paragraph essay, and you got to work. And sometimes, not often but sometimes, it does kind of work that way.
More often, though, writing is an exercise in trying to find your way in a very dark room, the confused mess of your own blind thoughts and feelings, working to get to a bottom-line truth that makes sense. And that’s sort of where I am today about recent events in U.S. politics and what is happening with the Trump campaign. Just trying to find my way, as I’m sure we all are this week.