Heads or Tails!

Skittle's weekly meme is here! Today the topic is wonder OR wander...

I Wander and Wonder...

As I wander through
my so called life
I wonder about
the pain and strife
that fuels this world
from day to day.

I wonder if
we all forgot
what it means to
care and not
be evil and hateful
to one another.

I wonder if
kindness is gone
or if we are
wandering alone
in this world
that we call home.

I wonder if
we'll ever see
how unified
we can truly be
or if we've strayed
to far to try.

President Nader?

I heard yesterday that Ralph Nader is entering the Presidential race. I am bothered by this, not because I don't believe in the beauty of our democracy, but because all the other candidates have campaigned so hard to make it to this point and he just wanders in (hey...I could have waited and used this as my Heads or Tails post...) at the last minute...

I guess here is the other thing that irritates me. He knows he can't win...at least I think he knows that. I feel that is a bit of a slap in the face to the cadidates who have worked hard to earn votes so far...he is going to most likely take away votes from two candidates who can legitimately win. Plus, in a race that will be close anyway (I am guessing), all votes count.

Does this mean that I could enter the race as an independent if I wanted to? What exactly are the rules about that?

Warning--Serious Post Ahead

Everyone knows that I try to stay away from anything overly serious, but something has been bugging me for a month or so and I have to share my opinion with you. It is my opinion, so please feel free to disagree...

I am Pro-choice. That means that I believe that all women have the right to make their own decisions. It doesn't mean that I would choose to have an abortion, but I feel I have no right to tell any other woman how to make that decision. I also don't think anyone else has the right to tell a woman what she should or shouldn't do.

That being said, I must comment on a supreme disappointment in my State Legislators.

Recently our legislators voted to pass a bill that requires all women seeking an abortion to receive an ultrasound, have a physician review the ultrasound with them and provide them with images from that ultrasound. This new section of KRS 311.710 TO 311.820 states that women can avert their eyes from them images if they want to, but the physician has to provide the images to them. It also states that these requirements can be waived only in the event of a medical emergency that must be documented in the woman's medical records.

I have problems with this new law for numerous reasons. First of all, I think the decision to have an abortion is an emotional one to begin with. Forcing a woman to have an ultrasound and providing her with verbal (the required physician's review) and visual (the images) evidence of the fetus is harsh. No one can be inside a woman's head when she makes this decision. We don't know why she is making the choice, but we need to respect the fact that she has a reason. To try to guilt her into keeping the child is a tactic that I think is very disturbing. And, yes, I think that is what this law tries to do. Guilt women into keeping a child that she doesn't think she can support. How can anyone but the woman know what is best for her and her unborn child?

Yes, I know there are options (adoption, etc.) for the child if the woman changes her mind, but what if the woman is a drug addict or drinks constantly? Would that be one of the "medical emergencies' that allows a physician to fore go the ultrasound and the verbal review? What about a woman who was raped and is pregnant by her assailant? Would she have to listen to the review of the ultrasound and possibly look at ultrasound pictures?

I fear that if states and the nation continue along this path, abortions will, once again, become an illegal procedure. Although some people will agree with this decisions, we all need to remember that even when abortions were illegal, women still found a way to make the decision and some of them were not pleasant. (In the midst of this serious post, I can't help thinking of Dirty Dancing and the abortion that Penny had...and I think of how horrible it would be if women had to choose that route once again.)

This is such a touchy subject, and I am aware that many people may not agree with me, but I also know that I have been upset about this decision since it was made. I hope that those of you who disagree with me can still respect me as a fellow blogger...I am just not one who can hold in my opinions. If you agree with this new state law, I will not judge you or have anything less than respect for you.

I guess this is the beauty of America--we are all entitled to our opinions and we are all entitled to voice those opinions. Please let me know what you think of this new development...I want to hear what you have to say.

Arg.

We were off school Wednesday because we got two inches of snow overnight. We went back yesterday knowing that another round of winter weather was heading our way. The kids were all excited because they had a feeling that we were going to get another snow day. I was peeved because I have eight million things to get done with them before next Friday, so I really can't miss anymore time with any class...I need to see them all...and I really needed to see them all yesterday.

So first period starts and we bust our tails and we get through 20 pages of reading in 55 minutes. We even had time to discuss, ask questions, etc. It was great. We got interrupted five times with announcements and I got two phone calls, so I was really thrilled because I knew that if I could get through the reading with them and all those interruptions, all classes could get done. Second period came in and we got started. About 30 minutes in we get an announcement saying we are going to conduct a safety sweep and we had to lock all the doors and not let any students out. I wasn't worried--this happens from time to time and it never takes more than 20 minutes.

I was wrong this time. We got done with the reading and we waited. And waited. And waited. In fact, second period ran nearly 30 minutes longer than usual. You know what that means, right? That means that we last 30 minutes of third period. Which means there was no way for me to get finished with the reading. We got through 8 pages. Fourth period comes in and I know that I can finish with them. And we do finish. And then we get the email saying we are leaving at 1:30 because of the impending snow doom. Which means that our last two classes are split...and we had 25 minutes with each group. That meant there was no way I was getting finished with the reading sixth period...they got through six pages (we were interrupted 4 times with phone calls. It was great).

The storm rolled in much faster than anticipated (wait--weather forcasts being innacurate? That is so unusual!) As in five hours before they thought it would. So by 8:30 last night, most schools were already closed for today. Including some schools that NEVER close (private schools around here rarely close for weather problems). I'm actually glad they made the call realy. That meant I didn't have to get up and watch the news to find out.

Here is why I am worried. If it were just me I had to worry about, I wouldn't care. I can be flexible, make things work, play with time...whatever is needed. The problem is that I have a practicum student who has to teacher March 5-7 and she already has her lesson plans done and ready to go. I can't push into her week because she is being observed and it is very important to her. The othe rproblem? Because we have been out for snow so much, she has only been in my classroom 3 times. We always seem to get snowed out on Mondays or Wednesdays (the days she is supposed to be there). She doesn't know the kids, they don't know her, and she has to teach in a week. I wouldn't want to be in her shoes.

I know that kids everywhere are happy that we are off again today (we have gone to school 4 out of the last 8 days we have been scheduled to go), but we adults are going stir crazy. And today I am trapped, really--there is ice everywhere and there is no way I am going out in this. even my poor dogs are confused...their backyard is a skating rink. You should see them try to go out...it takes forever to make it across the yard.

They say it is going to turn to rain later today. Hopefully that will clear things out...but they also said the snow was goingto start at 7:00 last night...and we all know how that turned out.

Friday's Feast #1

Appetizer
Have you ever played a practical joke on anyone? If so, what did you do and who was your victim?
Yes. Oddly enough it was my eighth grade history teacher. It was an April Fool's joke. We (as in a couple friends and I) turned everything in his room upside down...posters, desks, everything. It was great. But he got us back big time, so we all ended up even.

Soup
What do your salt and pepper shakers look like?
It depends on the time of year. Right now they are plain (glass with silver tops), but during the holiday season I have snow man ones in the kitchen and penguin ones in the dining room.

Salad
Where is the next place you plan to visit (on vacation or business)?
We are going to Hawaii in July. I don't know if I am going anywhere before that...

Main Course
What kind of lotion or cream do you use to keep your hands from getting too dry?
This is an endless quest, isn't it? Right now I use Origins Ginger Rush Intensely Hydrating body creme...but it is seasonal and you can't get it right now. I hope my supply lasts through winter!

Dessert
Make up a dessert, tell us its ingredients, and give it a name.
Wow. There are so many great desserts out there already...how about Cool Whip with a few chocolate chips stirred in and drizzled with Hershey's Syrup...I could call it Chocolate Cloud :-)

Thursday Thirteen

13 Reasons I am Totally Over Winter

1. Snow--don't get me wrong, I love the occasional snow day, but we have had 3 (and if it does what they say it is going to do, it will be 4) snow days in the last 8 days. That makes it hard to get things done with students.
2. Ice--see number 1.
3. Static electricty--my hair is flying in a million directions with no desire to stay down anytime soon.
4. The Writer's Strike--I usually look forward to winter television, but I have been so disappointed. All of my favorite shows vanished.
5. Innacurate weather forcasts--okay, so this happens all the time, but it bothers me more in winter. Summer and spring mistakes usually don't result in 4 inches of snow.
6. Crazy grocery store shoppers--it never fails...predict a measly amount of snow and people around here go shopping like they are goingto get snowed in for a month. This especially stinks if your monthly grocery trip coincides with the crazy shoppers.
7. That "blah" feeling--winter always gets me down and we have been cloudier than usual...making me sleepier than usual. Even yoga can't get me out of the funk.
8. No good sports--sorry, but when football ends, I am done with sports. All I can do is wait until Fall.
9. Potholes--I swear I almost lost my car in one last week. And why do we have them? See numbers 1 and 2.
10. Wind chills--this has been one of the coldest winters that I remember. Our average tempertaure right now should be in the low 40's and we haven't gotten out of the 20's all week. This morning's windcill? -1. I know for some people that's nothing, but for us (at this time of year) it is frigid.
11. Early sunsets--I am ready for light until 8:00 again. I must admit that it is staying light longer, but it still isn't what I want. I crave sunlight.
12. Pale skin--arg. I know that tanning is bad for you, but I do it anyway (not as much as I used to, but I do it.) I want my legs to be skirt worthy again, and right now I wouldn't even think about showing them...and don't get me started on the bathing suits in stores...I can't even think about it.
13. Did I mention the snow? and the ice?--I thought I did.
    
    Bring on spring!