Happy Veteran’s Day. Thank you to all who have served our country – past, present, and future. We salute you, we honor you, and we thank you! 

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Good morning and happy Friday to all! An especially happy Friday to those of you off of work today. Hopefully you all got a few extra hours of sleep and a nice, slow morning. (<—Make sure you thank a veteran for that!)

I don’t have much on the agenda this weekend. It’s going to drop down to the 20s tomorrow and I don’t know if I am capable of dealing with that just yet. So, there may be a lot of time spent indoors. (Any advice on how someone from California can adjust to the FRIGID cold? I’m aware that it’s only going to get colder…)

Anyway, before I sign off for the day, here are some random tidbits from this past week. Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

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• I am officially addicted to Parks and Rec.

  

  Katy had me watch a few episodes a couple weeks ago. And, this week, since it’s been so cold outside, I’ve finished off the entire first season. I’m now halfway through the second season and I am loving it. Leslie Knope is my inspiration. (Side note: Did anyone read her letter to America?)
  

• I’ve surpassed my goal on GoFundMe for my 4th graders.

  
  Thank you to my friends, family, and blog readers for helping me reach my goal. With this money, I can host a Family Night, plan an end-of-the-year field trip for my students, and ensure that none of my students will miss out on any school activities for financial reasons. Additionally, many people who have donated – who I haven’t even met – have e-mailed me offering to send us school supplies, other materials, or even work together to have our students be pen-pals. I’m blown away by the support and love. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

• In case you’re like me and wondering what we can possibly do to begin fighting for the rights of our most vulnerable populations, click this link. There are a list of places you can donate your time and/or money. 

Questions of the Day:

• How am I going to survive this cold weather?
  
• Do you watch Parks and Rec?
  
• What are you doing this weekend? 

Here we are.

Another day and, somehow, we survived. It’s interesting how that works out. Just when you think you can’t live in this reality, you wake up and realize you can. 

I did the cowardly thing and I stayed home from work after finding out the results of the election. I was in a hyper-emotional state and couldn’t bear the idea of walking into a building where everyone was so publicly celebrating. (To give you an idea of what it’s like at my school, one of the teachers dressed up as Donald Trump for Halloween, walked down the hallways and there were chants of “Donald Trump. Donald Trump” and some kids (who probably see the slogan on the signs hung around school or listen to their parents ramble on at home) chanted “Hillary for Prison.” In an elementary school.

So, I was a coward. I stayed home.

But, in doing so, I spent a good chunk of the day scrolling through news articles, blog posts, and my uber-liberal Facebook feed.

I read Michael Moore’s “Five Point Plan.”

I read this great post by Ali Michael, an educator, about how to talk to our children. “Remind them ― to ease their minds ― that not everyone who voted for Donald Trump did so because they believe the bigoted things that he has said this year. Many of them voted for him because they feel frustrated with the economy, they feel socially left behind, and they are exercising the one power they have.”

I read through every single post in Pantsuits Nation.

And, slowly but surely, I crawled out of the deep, dark hole that I fell in on Tuesday night.

We must consciously believe that WE are what defines this country. Not our politicians. We cannot claim that he is “not our President.” He IS our president and he should be held accountable to it.

We can come together and make change.

“Our campaign was never about one person or even one election,” says Hillary Clinton. “It was about the country we love – and about building an America that’s hopeful, inclusive, and big-hearted.”

This is still possible.

There are so many good people in this country. May our revolution be one of kindness, empathy, acceptance, and love. Doing so against the backdrop of our President Elect – who does not embody these things – will be revolutionary.

I have no words.

I feel broken in a way that I’ve never experienced before.

I am experiencing a heart-wrenching sadness. Fear. Anger.

I am afraid for every non-white, non-male, non-straight human being that I know.

I cannot wrap my head around this. How I can live in a country that supports him as a leader.

I’d love to have something hopeful, something optimistic, something upbeat and “Let’s charge on!” to say. But I don’t have it in me today.

For today, I am going to cry and cry and cry in sorrow for this country. And, tomorrow, I’ll be able to wash my tear-stained face and begin the work to fix it. But, right now, in this moment, I just feel so much grief.

Last week, we celebrated Halloween in the classroom. The kids were ecstatic to dress up in their costumes, stomp around school in the parade, and eat pizza and watch movies in the afternoon.

In order to pay for the party, teachers asked parents to donate $3 so they could order food and other treats for the kiddos.

The kids had a great time and we all left around 4PM, crossing our fingers that the students didn’t come back to school the next morning on a sugar-high.

When we returned on Tuesday morning, I asked a couple students why they weren’t there. It was unusual that so many kids wouldn’t come to a day of fun at school.

Every one of their responses was the same.

“My mom didn’t have the three dollars so she didn’t want to send me to school.” 

When I asked the staff about it, they explained to me that this wasn’t unusual. 87% of our student population qualify for the free/reduced lunch program.  And many parents sit their kids out of events that cost money (e.g. classroom parties, field trips, etc.) A lot of them are either 1) struggling to make ends meet or 2) uninvolved in their child’s life.

Because of this, my students don’t get to enjoy these small little events that truly MAKE these years so memorable.

I never want my kids to feel that they have to miss out on these special experiences because of financial reasons. Whether it be a Halloween party or a trip to the zoo, my kids deserve to be at school, each and every day, and not feel forced to stay home because they can’t afford to participate in an activity.

That is why I am fundraising for my 4th grade class on GoFundMe. Will you consider donating $3 to support one of our students for the Thanksgiving party this month?

Question of the Day:

• What is one of the most memorable parties/field trips you had as an elementary school kid? 

Good morning!

It’s Friday and I’m back in Harrogate! The conference yesterday was really great and, though it was targeted at school administrators and superintendents, I felt as though I learned a lot. It was especially nice to be in a room with people who were so passionate about education. I think it helped pick me up out of whatever slump I was in earlier this week.

I don’t have much on the agenda this weekend, but I am looking forward to spending some time outside before the weather gets too cold! Before I sign off for the weekend, though, here are some random, fun facts from the week! Have  a great weekend, friends!

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• I’ve had Mexican food three nights in a row.

  

  We chased the taco truck around on Tuesday. Katya and I went to Chez Guevara in Knoxville on Wednesday. And, before I left Knoxville yesterday, I picked up food from Mexico Lindo to bring home for dinner.

• While waiting for said Mexican food, I popped into Old Mill Bread Company next door.

  
  I picked up some freshly baked rolls to make sandwiches on for the week! It took all my self-control to keep from buying ALL the bread.

• My goal was to listen to every single Presidential episode before Election Day.

  
  But I’ve only made it to Truman. Fun Fact about him? The “S” in his middle name doesn’t stand for anything. It’s just “S.”

• This is the soy creamer that I put in my coffee (when I make it at home).

  
  I first fell in love with it back in January of 2013 when Jen brought it with us on our trip to Big Sur. Since then, it’s been a staple in this household. Every time I drink coffee, I’m brought back to that cozy little cottage that we spent so many special days!

• 9 out of 10 times I heat something up in the microwave and I go to take it out, I always leave the microwave door open.

  
  This probably happens for the same reason that I take a bite before I walk it over to the table. I’m always just TOO excited to eat.

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Questions of the Day:

• What’s your favorite cuisine?
  (I could eat Mexican food every day, obviously)
• How do you take your coffee?
  
• What podcast are you currently listening to?
  
• Share a fun fact about yourself!