Lately I’ve felt really on top of things.  School is going well and I feel like I know what I’m doing and kids are learning a lot more this year.  I’m getting to know my coworkers better this year and we have fun together.  Our house is clean (well, most of the time), meals are planned and fridge is stocked.  We’re hosting our church small group now, and it’s fun to have people over each week.  It feels weird that life is running so smoothly–perhaps in contrast to last year’s stress level of doom.

Stay tuned to see if/how it all comes crashing down.  :)

I was home sick today (after spending almost the entire weekend on the couch with a nasty cold.  No good!), so I got bored and watched the end of Oprah.  The show was about the Protect Our Children Act, which would give more money to fighting child predators.  For the first time, I actually emailed my senators about a cause!  You can too.  The bill goes to a vote some time before the 26th, so you need to act somewhat quickly.

Apparently we’re rather political over at the Jareba house.

Well, good thing I wasn’t planning on running for president anyways.  My metaphorical jaw keeps dropping lower and lower as I read the lies, dishonesty, slander, and more lies on the campaign trail recently.  It should be evident to most following closely that the McCain campaign has suddenly jumped to a clear order-of-magnitude lead in deceit.  I want to be clear that I’m not saying this because of my party (don’t have one) or candidate affiliation.  I hate what e.g. Bill Burton does just as viscerally as what e.g. Tucker Bounds spews forth, if at different strengths according to each particular sin.

I am ashamed of journalists who refuse to enlist common sense in their writing, daring only to cover “controversy” surrounding “statements”.  I am ashamed of the media bloodhounds eager to keep the 24-hour circus going lest the people change the channel if something approaching intelligent conciliatory discussion of real issues appeared onscreen.  Most of all, I am ashamed of the American people for not demanding better.  I am ashamed that we have let those running the show(s) believe that this is the way it needs to be – that we won’t listen to anything else, that negative trumps positive, and that lipstick beats foreign and domestic policy.

Integrity is all but lost as an American value.  At least, outside of The West Wing.

In short, life is really good.  The first week of school was great.  My students (I said “my kids” to someone recently and they got really confused) are adorable, though they have plenty of room to grow.  We’ve spent the first two weeks working on routine, routine, routine.  No, you shouldn’t run in the classroom.  No, you shouldn’t talk while I’m talking.  Yes, you really need to do your work.  I was quite delighted today when the kids nodded vigorously to both “Does Mrs. B. mean business?” and  “Does Mrs. B. expect so much out of you because she cares about you and thinks you’re smart?”  That’s what I want them to learn in the first few weeks, so I count it a success.

My first race was great fun.  I got a personal best time (it helped it was the farthest I’d ever run :)) and almost cried as I crossed the finish line.  In July I could barely run for two minutes at a shot, now I’m doing 35 minutes!  Jamie held my coat and took pictures (which I may or may not post–I don’t know how good I look after 5K).  A good time had by all.