Yes, I am one of the fortunate (well, I guess it's how you look at it) folks that wears jeans to work. But I never forget that I am dressing for city-work. Which means pairing it with a black top. And until this morning I thought it was a pretty good look.
Today I wore a lovely tailored pant (can you tell I've been watching this year's sad season of Project Runway?) and paired it with a seasonally teal sweater. Nice, professional, and perfect for my workshop/training on Saturday morning. The participants in this workshop will wear jeans and be comfortable, so I fall back on the "slightly more professional-yet-exudes-warmth-and-confidence" look of the master trainer.
I thought I had it all going on until I got home and my child asked me if I had ever noticed that I wear a lot of black --- and blue. In fact, in the enthusiastic way only kids have - he mentioned "it's cool you dress like a bruise". And then he took his one sock, brown-shirt and khaki pants- wearing self back to the computer to play wizards101.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
VOTE '09
As a resident of one of two states with governor's races... yes ... the democratic incumbant was defeated. But it's not the result of Obama failure... it's the fact that our incumbant hasn't done much except watch taxes spiral out of control... and make a public service announcement about wearing seatbelts - after his huge car accident.
Even though the major news outlets are reporting this is a defeat for Obama - don't believe it. Believe the outrage in NJ voters over taxes (climbing to $14k on a house with 1.5 bathrooms and no backyard...), old school politics, and a governor who promised much, but in the end, couldn't get much done. Especially when his romantic scandels created so much distraction and distrust. And that's after lessons learned from McGreevy!
Took the boy to vote with us last night. He lost interest when he saw the line, but did think it was interesting that we were in the same municipal building that he visited on Sunday for his pigflu vaccine. Yup. Right up the nose. The kids were snorting and oinking, and the nurses were dutifully saying "it's proper name is H1N1." Just like there are proper names for all the body parts. But give a kid an opportunity to sound like a pig, and they will.
I digress. I was voter number 299 in my district, and I saw almost everyone. Not like the lines to vote for president, but line-enough to discuss neighborhood gossip, the school play, and dog walking schedules. Which means basically everyone was out to vote. I didn't reveal who I voted for - but surprisingly, the democrat whose blood runs blue in every election, voted for an independent candidate, and then a straight republican line! Which just tells you how tired he is of hearing about school overcrowding, property taxes, and corruption on every level of the state political scene. Wow.
And then again, as we were watching the news this am, he was furious that his votes were being interpreted as against Obama. In fact the discussion in the voting line last night was still about how people supported Obama, but that Obama would do well to distance himself from the useless incumbant here. As the blue-blood said, the only person to really get it right was the Time Magazine reporter.
Even though the major news outlets are reporting this is a defeat for Obama - don't believe it. Believe the outrage in NJ voters over taxes (climbing to $14k on a house with 1.5 bathrooms and no backyard...), old school politics, and a governor who promised much, but in the end, couldn't get much done. Especially when his romantic scandels created so much distraction and distrust. And that's after lessons learned from McGreevy!
Took the boy to vote with us last night. He lost interest when he saw the line, but did think it was interesting that we were in the same municipal building that he visited on Sunday for his pigflu vaccine. Yup. Right up the nose. The kids were snorting and oinking, and the nurses were dutifully saying "it's proper name is H1N1." Just like there are proper names for all the body parts. But give a kid an opportunity to sound like a pig, and they will.
I digress. I was voter number 299 in my district, and I saw almost everyone. Not like the lines to vote for president, but line-enough to discuss neighborhood gossip, the school play, and dog walking schedules. Which means basically everyone was out to vote. I didn't reveal who I voted for - but surprisingly, the democrat whose blood runs blue in every election, voted for an independent candidate, and then a straight republican line! Which just tells you how tired he is of hearing about school overcrowding, property taxes, and corruption on every level of the state political scene. Wow.
And then again, as we were watching the news this am, he was furious that his votes were being interpreted as against Obama. In fact the discussion in the voting line last night was still about how people supported Obama, but that Obama would do well to distance himself from the useless incumbant here. As the blue-blood said, the only person to really get it right was the Time Magazine reporter.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Sunday School Volunteer
November 1. The day after Halloween. It marks my start as the rotational Sunday School teacher for the 3rd and 4th graders. Yes, I know I won't be able to answer all the questions. Yes, there's a curriculum. Yes, I previewed the video. Yes, I was ready with my animal partners cards. Why? Because this month is about Noah - possibly the kids' favorite bible story. Usually there are 15 kids.
Today three boys showed up - one of whom is my own. Was it me? Was I starting too early? Um, no. It's the day after Halloween - and the kids that did show up informed me that most of their friends had too much chocolate or sugar or just plain stayed up too late because it was a holiday on a Saturday night. All reasonable excuses.
The first activity, according to the guide, is basically an animal charades game - and more than 4 participants are needed. Which I guess explains why one of the other classroom teachers (who was checking in on me) looked horrified as one child slid on his belly and became a snake, while another began clucking and pecking around the classroom, acting the part of a chicken. Hey - whatever works, I say. The boys thought about how hard it must have been to keep all the animals organized - and alive.
Bible story time... each child takes turns reading aloud, and I discover, pleasantly, that my child is really good - I mean really really good - at reading aloud. (For regular homework I usually get a muffled version with appropriate pauses...today, clear with tone differentiation and even emotion!) Essentially a terrifying story - God destroys the earth - but ends with a promise that God will never again destroy the world. Which unnerves them a bit until we talk about God's promise - and second chances.
That moves us on to the next activity - writing thank you notes. The assignment - just like Noah thanked God with burnt offerings at the newly built alter - you pretend you are Noah or a member of his family, and write a thank you note to God.
Here are two of the notes:
Dear God: Thank U for letting me servive and for letting me not get sick from the smell. I love you and I love my wife. Your friend, Noah.
Dear God, Thank you fer leting me and the animals live. The storm was a little strong. Thanks again. Love, Noah
A few more bits of conversation led to the questions I couldn't answer - but I'm sure have been answered somewhere.
Here are the questions I couldn't answer with authority.
Did any of the animals have babies while on the Ark?
Did any of the grown up animals eat the babies? (This came up when discussing rabbits and chickens and gerbils.)
If there were two animals of every kind, what was Noah's burnt offering? Remember, it smelled good and God knew it.
If there was only one window how did they clean up all the poop?
Did Noah forget any animals? (answered by a classmate - we'll never know, because it's dead.)
Did the Ark smell bad, or really super bad? Because of all the poop, you know? (I did offer that if cleaning up after one dog was any indication, it was probably very very stinky)
Why don't people live to be 601 years old any more?
I can't wait to see what next Sunday brings.
Today three boys showed up - one of whom is my own. Was it me? Was I starting too early? Um, no. It's the day after Halloween - and the kids that did show up informed me that most of their friends had too much chocolate or sugar or just plain stayed up too late because it was a holiday on a Saturday night. All reasonable excuses.
The first activity, according to the guide, is basically an animal charades game - and more than 4 participants are needed. Which I guess explains why one of the other classroom teachers (who was checking in on me) looked horrified as one child slid on his belly and became a snake, while another began clucking and pecking around the classroom, acting the part of a chicken. Hey - whatever works, I say. The boys thought about how hard it must have been to keep all the animals organized - and alive.
Bible story time... each child takes turns reading aloud, and I discover, pleasantly, that my child is really good - I mean really really good - at reading aloud. (For regular homework I usually get a muffled version with appropriate pauses...today, clear with tone differentiation and even emotion!) Essentially a terrifying story - God destroys the earth - but ends with a promise that God will never again destroy the world. Which unnerves them a bit until we talk about God's promise - and second chances.
That moves us on to the next activity - writing thank you notes. The assignment - just like Noah thanked God with burnt offerings at the newly built alter - you pretend you are Noah or a member of his family, and write a thank you note to God.
Here are two of the notes:
Dear God: Thank U for letting me servive and for letting me not get sick from the smell. I love you and I love my wife. Your friend, Noah.
Dear God, Thank you fer leting me and the animals live. The storm was a little strong. Thanks again. Love, Noah
A few more bits of conversation led to the questions I couldn't answer - but I'm sure have been answered somewhere.
Here are the questions I couldn't answer with authority.
Did any of the animals have babies while on the Ark?
Did any of the grown up animals eat the babies? (This came up when discussing rabbits and chickens and gerbils.)
If there were two animals of every kind, what was Noah's burnt offering? Remember, it smelled good and God knew it.
If there was only one window how did they clean up all the poop?
Did Noah forget any animals? (answered by a classmate - we'll never know, because it's dead.)
Did the Ark smell bad, or really super bad? Because of all the poop, you know? (I did offer that if cleaning up after one dog was any indication, it was probably very very stinky)
Why don't people live to be 601 years old any more?
I can't wait to see what next Sunday brings.
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