December 14, 2012

When I was a kid of about ten I used to get sick to my stomach watching the news. If I learned about a car accident or a disease, I was certain that someone in my family was about to get hurt or die from a similar tragedy. I just felt so helpless and sad knowing that bad things could happen to people I love.

As I got older I outgrew this physical reaction to the news and learned to see things with a little perspective.

Yesterday's news, though, has me feeling like the ten-year-old girl I once was.

I am sick to my stomach once again. Feeling so, so sad.

This did happen to people I love. In a place I hold dear. Children. Students. Teachers.

But I'm not ten anymore. And I am determined to not feel helpless. It must be possible to make this world a safer place to let our children be children and to watch them grow.

It simply must be.

I am searching.

One Horse Open Sleigh

I've been into taking pictures of trees lately. I usually snap away while Sam buries various toys in the snow and waits for me to dig them out. We haven't lost one yet, so it's a game I'm pretty good at. We're not burying toys today because we've been to the doctor and back for Sam's latest illness. This time it's tonsillitis. Did he have that before? I can't even keep track. Whatever it is, I'll surely get it next. Of course, Sam's refusing to take the prescribed amoxicillin. I don't think he's against antibiotics or anything. He's just two. Almost, that is.

Tree Sequence: Three

Tree Sequence: Two

Tree Sequence: One

It's Beginning to Look . . .

Yesterday was the most beautiful weather day I've experienced in a long while. I just couldn't get over how gorgeous everything was under a thick layer of newly fallen snow (although after the twelfth hour of nonstop snowfall it didn't feel so new). I loved every minute. Even the third round of shoveling. It doesn't look like it, but these are some of the best days of fall so far.

Alpha Pig, To the Rescue!

Some two-year molars are working their way into a small toddler mouth at our house. This makes for a grumpy Sam and a grumpy mom. We've all been up since the 5 o'clock hour, and before anyone even took a bite of breakfast, yogurt had been thrown across the room. I believe I responded with an animated, "What the hell?" I can assure you this is not an ECFE approved response. Also not approved is the fact that Sam is on his second episode of Super Why! And I am drinking my second cup of coffee. This gives us some time to take a few deep breaths and hit the restart button. It is, after all, only 8:15.

Hard Angle To the Moon

I just made a calendar of writing events to happen in my life pretty much everyday until the end of January when I plan to finish writing this dissertation. It's possible, people, I'm telling you. And with Mercury finally out of retrograde, I am feeling the motivation. Mercury, you were really getting on my last nerve for a while there.