Out of the woodwark via Alaska FB, syracuse, MIAMi, and new Hampshire?

Well, louise is up in alaska but, FB is everywhere and thus, i am too. So this guy Jason, who is turns out went to Syracuse with her, and was on the rowing team with her, and never spoke to her much...asked to be her friend. And, she isn't so excited about it right now. the reason being, he is adamantly against any form of government supported or designed health care program. He is a capitalist, he is wealthy, he is selfish and not afraid to say it. he doesn't want to pay one cent towards healthcare for anyone other than himself or his direct family members. Louise, her friend Joe and I have been in a dialogue with this fool for two days now. we shoot facts his way, he shoots opinion and heresay back at us. He reminds us of the long lines all over the world, and the fact that people can't always get an MRI when they 'want it,' in Canada. Then, we point out that the US residents spend over $7000 per person, per year on health care. That, the united states spends more money on health care than any other nation in the world and yet, we rank 37 in the world for health care. he told us that he works hard for his money and he doesn't want to share it. He is a landlord of a building in Miami...okay.
He noted that our founding fathers and the pilgrims before them didn't want to be told what to do so, they moved here. Taxing tea is a bit different than providing health care to help citizens pursue 'life, liberty, happiness and property.' which is what we are all supposed to be doing, right. He is from New Hampshire by the way, he noted the state motto on the liscence plates,' live free, or die.' well, guess what....that is just what is going to happen. we are going to die. people without health care will get sicker, get virus's and they will spread and the top 1% of the population, who controls 40% of the wealth in the US economy, will get just as sick as the lower 99% of us. This is what will happen and he deserves to be first in line. Tell you what...if he flees to canada, they will take care of him for free.

Teachers should be held accountable. A New Day Will Come...But, Joe is Still Gone

I have a big deep hole in the middle of my soul where my dear friend Joe's heart used to live. I don't really or, rather I do really or, I just don't know or enjoy GRIEF! Dang...what happened. I keep thinking that I can come to terms with it. But, I can't. I just can't and won't. I keep waiting for him to call or, walk back in the door, or take me to a game. Penney is great. Joe would love him. New day...new pitcher with a heart of gold.

So, what am I going to do. I have another pit in my stomach...in my soul that needs to be filled....and it can only be filled by me. I need to find purpose. I keep wondering where and when to go. I keep hoping that I can figure it out. But, I am depressed and unmotivated. This is because I feel useless. I feel like a failure. I was laid off. I went back to school after sitting on the couch for a long year, and then I earned my BA finally. And then I earned and MA. I loved it. It was a challenge. But, a tremendously, fulfilling, extraordinary one.

But, the path I am trying to follow keeps closing me out and I don't know how to open it again. I can't play the games. I can't suck it up. But, I have to because there is no choice. There is no financial security for being a good teacher. There is emotional reward. But, that keeps getting tossed aside to. They take and they give take and give. This time perhaps forever.

Will the older, last of the tenured, ever retire? Can they? Unlike other professions, you don't age out of teaching. You can always do it. Especially if you are unable to be fired. So, you may do it; but there is no guarantee that you do it well.

I say 'last of the tenured,' because I really think that it is time to phase it out. I think of all the professions in the world, teaching is among the most important professions. Teachers need to be held accountable. We need to separate the teachers from the researchers from the writers...

We can all be scholars. But, we can be scholarly teachers OR researchers. Teachers can do research and continue to learn....but, should RESEARCHERS, who are not necessarily strong teachers be teaching?

I think this is the big conundrum.

So perhaps its time to start over AGAIN?

i am not giving up; but it sure seems as though someone wants me too! not my friends of course. they support me every which way they can and it means SO MUCH TO ME! I guess that is what it really is all about. I can't say that I am happy to be laid off next semester and perhaps for many to come; but I can say without a doubt, that I have the best family and friends in the world. I am loved and I love. And, ultimately that is what really matters.

I will I will I will write the book. I will I will I will write the book.

Oi Vey...the mantra begins. But, first...the civic mirror, food for thought learning community, john locke, michael pollan and the US constitution await my wonderful class at CSM! And, I am going to love every minute of it!