Merry Christmas from the right-wing teacher

The Right-Wing teacher has been in a bit of a malaise since the election, but things are looking up. Here's wishing you a Merry Christmas and Healthy, Prosperous (not over-taxed) New Year! Look for more posts in 2009!

Only in America

Only in America, can public school teachers who have job security, great benefits, and multiple weeks of vacation... complain.
Only in America, can a guy whose biggest claim to fame is helping Saturday Night Live get dismal ratings... stand a chance at representing Minnesotans.
Only in America, can a war veteran who risked life and limb protecting our freedoms in Vietnam... be criticized.
Only in America, can pro-abortion candidates...adamently oppose the death penalty.
Only in America, can a guy who orchestrated bombings of the Pentagon & New York City Police Headquarters be friends with the President-Elect.
Only in America, can a candidate whose campaign accepted millions of dollars directly and indirectly from a Public School Teachers' Union openly "diss" a school staffed by said teachers and choose to send his own children to a private school... and not be criticized.
Only in America, can a young, inexperienced, largely untested, albeit good-looking man with positive qualities like: great public speaking ability and likability...run for and WIN the Presidency of the United States, position of the Leader of the Free World! Only in America. . .

Tough Week in Review

This is how it went for the right-wing public school teacher during what was (quite possibly) the toughest week of 2008.

Sunday
Started the day with church, 8 a.m. if memory serves. Prayed selfishly for a McCain victory, but made a deal with God that I would respect the victor, whomever that might be. Also asked God to hold our country in the palm of His hand, safely, during any time of transition. Offered up prayers of thanks for my health and the health of my children. (See Tuesday and Thursday)

Monday
Went to school with a spring in my step, convinced that the rest of the electorate would take the next 24 hours to put their heads on straight, decide that they didn't want to be called "selfish" for desiring to keep their hard-earned money, and would be overwhelmingly leaning my way by Tuesday. Went to bed on Monday night suspecting middle child had something wrong besides a low-grade temperature.

Tuesday
During breaks in between teaching, bounced down toward the office to and from my mailbox (in my sporty "Elect to Give Blood" free shirt from last blog) several times to reassure myself that the VERY conservative community in which I teach had a good turn-out. Polling place is in our entrance hallway, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the young, 20-something female poll watcher. I knew she would report any fraud that ACORN might throw our way. During the aforementioned breaks, was able to turn on the Chinese-made radio in my room to Rush, and other local conservative talkers. This gave me mixed signals, as exit-polling data had not yet hit the wires.

At home later that night, dealt with the now VERY sick child diagnosed with a treatable yet nasty throat ailment. Somehow managed to hear the words, "Fox News is calling Ohio for Barack Obama." I then became sick too.

Wednesday

Took the day off for the many ailments of said child and said mother in her clinical depresssion. Pulled myself up by my bootstraps realizing that luckily my profession is quite recession-proof. Offered up thanks to God for that, but realized that if our new President-Elect still plans on raising taxes, if he plans on redistributing to people like me, I want no part of it. I'm already riding on the coattails of other hard-working Americans. With a nice set of vacation days coupled with a helluva retirement package, not to mention Cadillac insurance plan.

Thursday

Wept when I heard that "Marty!" from Sean Hannity's show had passed away. Thought the itch in my eye was from the tears, but unfortunately, realized it was the beginning of pink eye. After 24 hours from the election fall-out, realized that my building had gone back to being non-partisan, non-political, and avoided the few radicals with whom I share no values, for fear they would stop me at the water cooler and lead with, "So how 'bout that election?"

Received two emails from old friends, both male, who have such deeply held religious views. Now THIS my friends, was a radical "change". They both sent such reassuring and comforting words regarding this all being part of God's plan. They reminded me to offer it up to God. This released a heavy burden off of my shoulders.

Friday

Medicines kicking in in the house.

Surmised that this MIGHT be just what conservatives have needed to be conservative again. The "kick-in-the-pants" if you will. It gives Sarah some time to polish her politics of reform perhaps outside of the great state of Alaska. It gives us two years to let the American public see just how much things will change for the better by being taxed to the hilt, regulated, and talked down to. Finally, it lets the new faces we will see on many local and state levels have two years to try to radically impose their liberal left-wing agendas. All the while, the public will be screaming for a change back in the right-wing direction. The American public is paying attention and taking notes, are you?

You Callin' ME "Selfish"?

I'm REALLY steamed! How dare Barack Obama call the likes of me, "Selfish". In one day, yesterday, I did more acts of charity than his running mate did the last 6 fiscal years!

I started by setting my alarm on a non-teaching day at 5:50 a.m. in order to make it to the blood center to give blood at 6:30. I then, selfishly, went to get a haircut which I had put off for 3 weeks due to making sure it was in a subsequent pay-period so my kids could eat.

Next, I stopped at the post-office in order to buy more postage for mailings I needed to get out for a charity sporting event I am organizing in early 2009. That was 6 bucks I'll never see again.

By 9:45 I returned home to rake the neighbor lady's lawn since the house of the 86 year-old has remained vacant for the last six months. This begins the seasons of upkeep. My husband will resume his regularly scheduled "shovel-everyone-else's-property-like-there's-no-tomorrow" routine when the first snow flies too.

Then, I realized that if the stats are correct, Joe "I'm so damn condescending" Biden, had only given about $600ish bucks to charity last year! Next, I flipped on the tv to find tape of "The Messiah" being played back and him spouting off something about how if I'd like to keep my money and THEN decide where to charitably give it, I am practing, "The Virtue of Selfishness"???? GIVE ME A BREAK! My husband and I gave over 5x more than "Joe the politician" last year, and I am certain our income was easily 5x less! These people should stick to what they do best: hang with their friends at free-trade coffee shops and read the NY Times. Get out of the rest of our ways!

My Nerves May Get the Best of Me

Long time, no blog.
I've been known to have a rather Type-A personality. My family sees it, my friends see it, my students, Lord knows, see it frequently.

I am not sure why, but lately, I'm more keyed up watching my nighttime docket of political pundits than I am teaching prime and composite numbers to kids who still haven't learned their multiplication facts.

I am trying to find some sort of balance this weekend with a steady diet of Corona Lights and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups thanks to my kids' trick-or-treat buckets.

If I could just take my mind off of the election while at home, life would be so much less stressful. I hope that work will remain status-quo... on Monday. This means that no one will broach the subject of politics. People will exchange Halloween party stories, and smile and giggle. This might be a good thing to calm my nerves. Monday night I may be sent into full-blown panic mode... and well, Tuesday night... there are always Corona Lights.

I Know How Joe Must Be Feeling

The final Presidential debate produced a new star, Joe. He's a plumber, in case you hadn't heard.

When beginning my blog about a month and a half ago, I DID think about my desire for anonymity, fear of being "found out". Occasionally, I might be critical of fellow faculty or administration here.

Poor Joe, he called out good old Barack on his socialist views the other day, and now his world is being turned upside down. My impression is that Joe can take it. I hope so.

I don't know if I could. I'm pulling for you Joe! When it gets to be too much, just start a blog on which you can vent-like right wing teacher did!

Phone Calls: Short and Sweet

I'm going to make this short and sweet on this beautiful, crisp, fall day in America.

I've been up since 5:15 due to little ones tossing and turning in their cribs, but also because I've been thinking of student "C". Student C comes with a past history of academic and behavioral struggles. In terms of behavior and participation, he's actually off to a great start, and I truly enjoy him.

Academically with responsible follow-through is another story. Well, last week, or was it two weeks ago, word broke (from him) that a parent is dying of cancer and has 2 years to live. Now, as that parent, wouldn't it behoove you to actually PHONE the school yourself and mention something like this: "Hi, this is Mr./Mrs. C, I just want you to know that I've been told I have a short while to live, and you might see a change academically and/or behaviorally in student C." ????

I thought that might have been a good idea, as I am still wondering how truthful C is being to our support staff. But I digress... three examples of lack-of-follow through occured yesterday. I need to make a quick phone call to let Mr./Mrs. C know about it today, a sunny, mild, crisp autumn day.

After sleeping on it, waking up to it, I'm ready for what might be an eye-opening phone call. In a public school, it takes all kinds.