What is worse?

Wow, it's already mid November, heck - PAST mid november, and I haven't posted anything in a really long time.  I wonder why that is?  I guess it's because I just feel like I don't have the time to sit down and write anything.  I don't even have time to sit down and think about anything.  But I will tell you one thing.  It's a VERY SLOW lead up to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Today is our last day of school before we go on Thanksgiving break.  The one good thing about our district (yes there is one thing), is that we get Wednesday off as part of our break.  It used to be a professional development day, but they realized teachers were just calling in sick anyway.  So I don't know if it's to our credit or to our loss, but we get this as an actual day off.

The only problem is, I should be teaching something right now.  I shouldn't be blogging right now.  So you may be saying to me-- well, stop wasting your time, go teach!  Well, I would, if there was a class to teach.   As you may have remembered, I teach at a juvenile detention home school, and the kids don't go anywhere.  Except to their rooms.  And that's where they are right now.

Why are they there?  Oh I don't know, mostly because of the way the system is comprised.  It's made up of people who couldn't care less about the well being of a child, let alone their education.  I'm sitting in my room typing this because ALL the students are in their rooms because of--- wait for it--- not enough staff working.

So why aren't there enough staff?  Did they call in sick?  Did they have vacations planned?  Well, NO.  They had to take a kid somewhere for some kind of an appoinment.  Does this require the whole staff to go?  NO! No it doesn't.  So why would there not be enough staff? 

Because of money. That's right.  Money.  There are only enough staff to cover what is considered normal.  But, you're thinking to yourself, this is an appointment.  Couldn't they have planned for that?

And to answer that question, we would actually need someone to have a good understanding of why it's important to create consistency in this type of environment.  Which there aren't many.

So I sit.  I walk around, I read, I file, I do paper work, I prepare an art project for when we RETURN.  But I'm done, here I sit.  Not allowed to leave early, when the school is literally shut down, and the day before Thanksgiving break.

Yep, I'm a little bitter.  And then I laugh a little bit.  There are plenty things worse.  There are PLENTY.  But I hate idle time, and I'm running out of things to keep me busy.  I guess I'll go back to reading... from a book even. 

Too bad I didn't bring my own art supplies or I could be working on my own art work right now.  Oh well, I guess I should just enjoy these quiet moments in my classroom, they are rare. I just wish my classroom wasn't contained inside barbed wire, self-locking doors, buzzers, guards, and windows that don't open.

Although, at least I do have a window.

Election

No matter what your beliefs are, just vote!  I did today. It took a lot longer than I thought, but I was able to share the experience with my husband, neighbors, and pleasant people standing in line.  I'm glad to say that I can vote, and I do have a say in my local elections.   I voted on some local issues that are important in my county.

I'm not the most patriotic person in the world.  But I am glad I do have certain rights.  I can share my views and make my own decisions.

The one thing that I'm glad will be over are these stupid propaganda-- I mean campaign adds.  Living in a battle ground/swing state, is not a treat.  I've felt personally attacked myself.  I'm just so tired of seeing all of these negative ads.  It doesn't help me choose.  It makes me not want to choose.

However, just to get on the soap box a little bit.  I have felt attacked this election cycle.  With all the inflammatory remarks about women's issues, I have been personally offended that many people don't think I should be able to make my own decisions about my body.

Ahh, ok, enough of that.  There are plenty of reasons this election cycle to be up in arms about so many issues.  I won't go into them here.  Believe me, on facebook I've seen enough of people's rants and raves.

So Happy Election Day to you all out there.  I've used my right, and I'm so glad I have it. Below are a couple of pictures I took of today's process.  Played around with the light and exposure...

The looooooooong line.  2 hours, up and around a couple of corners I found my right to vote.

Right after J and I voted.  Yay for voting! (probably the only time you'll see with an American flag)

Photo craziness

Ok, so I've been introduced to Instagram.  It's only taken me years to get on board, but I love it.  It's a great way to bring a little something into pictures you take.  I love it.  So i've been trying it out with my phone.  I have an Iphone, and I don't really do anything with it.  For me, it actually is too much phone.  But since a friend of mine introduced me to free photo processing, I'm so excited to try it out.  So here are a few randoms.....

Walking around the neighborhood on a brisk fall day.

Some leftover roses.  A reminder of warmer weather.

Capturing the power outage that Super storm Sandy gave us, so lucky it was just 8 hours long.

Some fall foliage.

Lhotse face.

Little squirrel trying to keep warm.  Yep I see you way up there!

Walking through old town, a wintery window.  What is the dog looking at, you may ask?? See next picture.

A tutu made for grown ups and a tweed cardigan and fur... no thanks.