T.V., I love you...

As we've already discussed, my heart belongs to Glee, but I'm beginning a not-so-illicit affair with Community. The characters are goofy and sweet and SO funny...just like my long, lost love Freaks and Geeks. If Freaks is unfamiliar to you, rent it, Netflix it, buy it. You won't be sorry.

All are great shows that make you laugh and get all misty-eyed at the same time.

Ow. Pusch Peak and Motherhood

I'm a hiker, and I really love it. It is an enjoyable type of physical activity--you're outdoors, you can set your own pace, get some nice vitamin D from the sun. Lots of positives. I and my darling, precious husband "hiked" (really "climbed") Pusch Peak on Sunday. The reason it's taken me so long to post is that today is the first day I can actually lift my arms high enough to reach the keyboard. :)

Did I love THIS particular hike? Not really, but I did it, and IT WAS HARD. The thing that strikes me about it is that there was no doubt in Scott's mind that I COULD do it. He was completely confident in my ability to make it to the top...despite my obvious struggle to get there. The summit was an accomplishment, though the journey was filled with cacti, skree, huge boulders to climb--lots of challenges. We made it because we worked together. He was patient, and I asked for help.

I have to look at my stepmom/mom situation in the same way. Scott is completely confident that I can do this...despite my obvious struggles. No question about it. I, on the other hand, second-guess myself at every turn. He is patient, yet I allow the "cacti, skree, and boulders" of everyday life get in the way of my confidence. Asking for help is not in my nature; I always feel like I'm admitting defeat or highlighting a flaw in my character if I can't do something I've set out to do. My life at home feels foreign. It shouldn't feel that way, right? I'm a teacher. I am, after all, with kids day in and day out. My job is comprised of building relationships and communicating, so what's with the EVERY DAY struggle in my own family?

I know we'll get there together. Scott is my other half--a slightly messier other half, but still! :) Just like our hike, the journey may not be the funnest, but the peak will certainly be an accomplishment.

Highlights of House Bill 2011

"Debbie Downer" will not return after this post. It is Glee night, after all. :)

So, I don't want to go all political on you, but this scares the crap out of me. The following items have passed and WILL BE LAW within 90 days. Looks like the push to privatize education is well on its way. Essentially, teachers with experience can be let go at any time in order to hire new, inexperienced (read cheaper) educators, right out of college. I remember my first years as a teacher; I was terrible. It was overwhelming, and I often drove home (well after 8:00 at night) in tears. If you can't/don't/won't coach, you could be gone...even if you are a FAR better teacher than the guy they are hiring who can/does/will coach.

I'm not saying that a new teacher is bad; I'm saying that you spend so much of your day in management mode that you can't even get to teacher mode. Experience is valuable in every profession, is it not? Do I think there are some bad teachers out there? Absolutely; I think we all had one who was just punching the time-clock until retirement, but they are, by far, the exception.

***********************************************************************************
No contract dates
A school district will no longer have to issue contracts by May 15 to teachers.

Salary reductions
The May 15 statutory deadline for notice of salary reduction has been removed and school districts will now set their own salary reduction deadline.

Teachers with continuing status (those with 3+ years of experience)
A school district is prohibited from adopting policies that provide employment retention priority for teachers based on tenure or seniority.

A school district is able to reduce the salary of a teacher with continuing status in any manner. The prior statutory protection said that a salary reduction of a continuing status teacher can only occur under a general salary reduction.

The improvement time that a school district must allow a teacher to correct inadequate classroom performance is reduced from 85 instructional days to 60 instructional days after receiving notice.

Probationary teachers (those with fewer than 3 years of experience)
Probationary teachers will no longer need to be notified of nonrenewal by April 15.

Reduction-In-Force ( RIF )
A school district no longer has to give a preferred right of reappointment to a job for a teacher who has lost his/her job through the reduction-in-force ( RIF ) process.

When is "good enough," good enough?

I've been thinking about this a lot, wondering if my "if you're not early, you're late" mentality has become crippling.

Have our expectations changed so much that doing what you're supposed to do most of the time, just passing your classes, sometimes being on time is the new standard? What do we do when our children go into the workforce and cannot hold a position because they think that work is supposed to be fun all the time? That they should be rewarded for just showing up?

I've been holding off on posting for a while because I've been contemplating this idea, speculating that, perhaps, as I've heard a number of times in my life, that I need to "let things go," "look at what they DID do." Being a Negative Nancy is not who I am. I know that for a fact, so I kept assuming that this would pass.

It hasn't.

My teachers and parents had pretty high expectations, and achievement 50% of the time was not good enough. Not for them and not for me. So, what has changed? Can we explain it away by saying that it is a Millenial thing? Deterioration of the family? Pulling away from church?

I'm stumped.

Question: What's better than Glee?

Answer: Nothing.

From Jane Lynch to "Push It" to the hysterical pregnancy to the teen angst ending...seriously, I'm SO in love.

WW violation

Now, you might think that Fried Dill Pickles sound disgusting. I don't understand that view, really. Pickles? mmmmmm. Fried stuff? mmmmmm. Dipping sauce? mmmmm. What's not to love? My friend, this dish is sweet magic.

We were recently in Indiana for Scott's class reunion and had lots of bar-b-que and these yummy morsels. I will soon embark on a non-stop hiking regimen in order to clear my arteries.

Can't imagine anything finer...

Don't mention this to my dear husband, but tonight is the night I've been dreaming about for three months--So You Think You Can Dance AND Glee...on the same night...and I don't have any practice to drive to or a game or anything that has to be done.

Seriously, I can hardly stand it.