Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear

Watching the livestream on the Washington Post's page. Non-stop and no commercials. Father Guido Sarducci just finished.

GO WATCH!

Sam Waterston is the "most reasonable looking man" in America. When did Cat Stevens become "Yusuf"? And this was Jon Stewart's choice and Ozzy Osborne was Steven Colbert's?

Katabatic wind

Previous two nights and this night the wind has been quite loud and strong. Leaves are still in the change phase. They're on the trees, ranging in their glorious colors. They're on the ground, piled up along the curbs and gutters. I've got a nice collection going in the backyard. Don't really have any trees so don't know where they're coming from.

Made Frito chili pie (Thanks SJ!) last night for SciMan's homecoming. Made Thai green curry shrimp and rice noodles tonight.

SciMan is back and quite worn out from the flights. Chicago was also windy and rightly so, with the massive storm system in the region. How'd everybody make out back home?

My dad is going to the rally in DC. The Rally to Restore Sanity. Hosted by Colbert and Stewart. His boss is paying for the trip? Nice. And what's this I hear about 40 seats in the house going to Tea Partyers? I'm getting numbers from 33 to 93. Help a sister out here. From just what little I've read, they're going to make the US like the UK. Oh dear sweet raptor Jesus, no. I'm all for the Constitution myself. But I believe in a nice medium of government.

Happy Hermit Day.

Dan

Right now, Dan's airplane should be approaching Heathrow Airport. He should be home sometime around 2. Dan's planes were delayed and he won't be in until 6 or 7. I'm having happy thoughts and some irritated thoughts. Focusing on the happy more, though.

Got my National Insurance Numbercard. Yay me. Is the equivalent to the social security number one gets in the US. A notable difference: if the card is lost, I cannot get a replacement. So they recommend I keep it safe at home. I get this attached on a letterhead with the royal insignia and the initials "HM". This takes me by surprise every time.

We lost Sweetie Belle... Did I mention that already? It isn't a problem yet.

Remember, remember...

Yesterday I helped out a friend, Laura. She didn't have anyone to watch her two kids while she worked, so I told her I'd be happy to watch them for her. I had no idea if it'd be successful or not. It was. The boys were nice to Natalie. They played on my computer for an hour or so and then we went to the Play Pit for lunch and play. After, I had a brilliant idea of taking them to the library so they'd get to spend time on a computer without having to share. Then I dropped them off at the shop where Laura was.
Today Natalie is going on a field trip with her nursery to Tweddle Farm. And she's been invited to a little girl's 4th birthday party at Krazy Kingdom in November.
A few nights ago, I was on Skype with Dan and there was a knock at the door. It was some kids in Halloween masks. Turned on the porch light and asked, "who's there?", and they replied, "Happy Halloween!" It was a full week early! I told them they were too early and turned off the light. I realized later that I don't know the traditions of Halloween in this country, so I asked Laura about it. She laughed and said that yeah, it is to be expected but you can either ignore them or give them candy. Also that it can go on each night leading up to Halloween. Fantastic. But so far, it's only happened the once. However, fireworks have been going off each night. Bonfire Night is coming up and the London firefighters are planning a strike for that time frame. The English Defense League is allying itself with Tea Partyers. It's pretty scary here. Wish I'd brought my copy of "V for Vendetta"

Surprises

So, this week and change while Dan's been gone, each day I've had a surprise for Natalie. Nothing big but just something to perk her up. Today we got a box from my grandmother and Natalie used a pillowcase to wrap up one of the items from the box to give to me as a surprise.

On November 1, Natalie gets to bring to show and tell some item... I'm sending the rose rock. According to wikipedia, barite rose rocks have been found in California, Nunavut, and Egypt...but the source (Oklahoma Historical Society) doesn't say Nunavut, it says Kansas.

Having a blast kiddos.

So.

OU lost to Missouri. Dang.

Walk of Shame

You've heard of the morning after walk of shame. If you haven't ask someone else to explain, I don't have the inclination.
Jenifer and Kearby. Where have you been?

edit 10/25/10: Heard from Jenifer. Yay for her life and events! I'm proud and happy for you!  Kearby is non-responsive. Must be hard being a college student. giggle.

edit 11/3/10: Heard from Kearby. College is so easy.

Fringe is a great TV show. Gross, scary, twisty.

Russian Hat Man had 16 pieces. He went from zero to 16! And most of them were ones I hadn't seen before.

I didn't tell you: I got a rejection letter from Macmillan Academy. The wording was polite but (and I'm probably reading more into this than I should, so leave me alone) was thinly veiled. I quote:

The applicants for this post were of a very high standard and, on this occasion, we will not be inviting you for interview...sorry...will not be able to take your application further at this time.

Complimentary: implication that applicant is of a very high standard, just like everyone else
Burn: you didn't sparkle, kid. The buck stops here.

Every day, I make a difference. But I would like to be the architect of that difference. In my preferred choice. When I was working, I never thought to myself, "Gee, I sure would rather spend this time volunteering at a used store."  It was more like (and never acted upon really) what else can I do that I'm not doing already? But I didn't have the time or the allowance. I used to volunteer for anything at MMS... need help with pep rallies? I'm your gal. Start a club from scratch? you betcha! Take students on field trips on Saturdays? Why ever not? Need someone to take over afterschool detention? Look no further. Need a committee member, go-for, warm body? That was me.  And then there was Natalie. And I quit doing more than what I felt necessary to do my job. I quit bringing papers home to be graded except every once in a while, when I let myself get behind or if I needed to mark up a test. But every once in a while, I could be persuaded to help other teachers out, like the after school help program. Did that make a difference? Probably not an immediate one. I'm hoping for cumulative effects.
Which brings me to right now. Why am I volunteering instead of working at ANY job? Let me put it to you this way: They advertised for help, asking people to give time to help out. It was phrased so that I would feel like I'm the one helping them. In reality, I'm the one that's being helped. Even as I wait for my perfect  any teaching job to open where I'll be the difference in some kids' lives, I'm helping out others and me also. I prefer to be a teacher. I prefer my impact administered that way. But I'm getting used to this new paradigm. And in a quiet, small sort of way, I've found some happiness.