onthebrightersidestuff

[onthebrightersidestuff]

Thoughts from Abroad

I try to read and listen to a variety of news sources and opinions from people who are not democrats (I am not sure if they are really republicans, independents, libertarians or ????) But some of what I hear and read from those who oppose Biden is that he is an embarrassment on the world stage, that America has gone down in the opinion of foreign powers. In my conversations with our many friends…

[onthebrightersidestuff]

Just Luck - A Long Ramble

Trump was shot at by a disturbed, bullied, desperate, young man, that most of us would consider barely an adult. Twenty years old, twenty, thirty, forty or fifty years ago was a lot different than twenty years old is today. This, like most mass shootings, was the act of an unhinged disaffected person who spiraled down a dark hole that ended in tragedy. I am sure they will find loads of internet…

[onthebrightersidestuff]

Not Long Enough - A Ramble of Thoughts

Not Long Enough – A Ramble of Thoughts

I haven’t written a blog for a couple of years… towards the beginning of the pandemic my voice was silenced by my fear of retribution for myself and my school. But, today I am compelled to write. I wish I wasn’t. In the 1950’s our country had roughly 93 guns per every 1000 people, in 2017 we own 120 guns for every 100 people. The guns have gotten more powerful, more abundant, and those who wish…

[onthebrightersidestuff]

When You Realize You Don’t Matter

Last night many on our school board had the toughest decision of their lives. They got to choose whether or not they would close our school district to in person learning. Early in the meeting parents gave impassioned speeches and asked the board to care about our children. They talked about supporting each other and being strong together. They talked about missing assignments and poor grades.…

[onthebrightersidestuff]

Protesting the Protest

A picture is worth a thousand words…

Standing against the anti-racism protest were people holding a Trump flag and an American flag. So they are pro-racism?

Hmmmm….

[onthebrightersidestuff]

Trump's America ~ Our America

Trump’s America ~ Our America

Our local Black Lives Matter organization has put on at least five anti-racist, BLM protests in our small conservative Christian town. At the first protest we had 150+ people of all ages, but I would say that the majority of them were older white women. At that first protest cars drove by honking and giving a thumbs up or a fist of solidarity… we got a few “All Lives Matter” or even more blatant,…

[onthebrightersidestuff]

I Have Cockroaches in My House

I Have Cockroaches in My House

I have cockroaches in my house. This is not just a metaphor, I really do have them… they are totally gross. They started appearing about three weeks ago, I know… really it’s true. We’ve had them in the past, a few here and there, but three weeks ago… they were beginning to be an infestation. My husband would see them at night, three or more scurrying across the floor when he flipped on the lights…

[onthebrightersidestuff]

I Don't Mind So Much

I Don’t Mind So Much

Up early, at least I slept most of the night…. but even though I’m teaching from home and don’t have to drive 30 minutes to work to be there at 7:30 AM all dressed, with make-up on, I’m up early… before 6 am.  Even though my students who used to show up at 7:45 AM stay in bed ’till past then, even tough I can sit around in my robe until whenever, even though no one is watching me walk in the…

[onthebrightersidestuff]

Covid-19: It's Message About Our Next President

Covid-19: It’s Message About Our Next President

Obviously Covid-19 has taken the world by storm and has us all sheltering in place – at least I hope that you are sheltering in place.  It has highlighted our broken medical system and has united, however briefly, our broken political leaders AND our broken medical system.  Broken medical SYSTEM.  The medical workers are amazing, dedicated professionals… our pandemic heroes. But the SYSTEM is…

[onthebrightersidestuff]

What You Can Do Today ~ My Lists

The first night of this craziness, when we thought we were going to be off of school until April 1st, my husband suggested that maybe we should have a daily routine.  My response to him was an off the cuff remark that my routine was that I would be getting up every morning.  And so, I have done an excellent job of sticking to my routine.

I know that many of you are essential employees and are out…

[onthebrightersidestuff]

Just Don't Let Him Talk

Just Don’t Let Him Talk

Can we get daily updates about the Coronavirus without having to listen to President Trump go on and on about what an amazing job he is doing… hasn’t anyone in the White House thought about giving him the wrong time for the briefing, planning a meeting with some amazing big business people, who are very great people, during the press conference?

OMG, just watching him drone on and on about all of…

[onthebrightersidestuff]

Taking It Seriously

Please, people, take this seriously! It looks like the general population of Roseburg is going about business as usual… yes, our local restaurants and breweries have gone to takeout or delivery only, some have even shut their doors… but the majority of businesses are still open.  My husband and I went for a walk yesterday just to see what was happening in town… the streets were crowded with cars,…

[onthebrightersidestuff]

You've Got This

You’ve Got This

You’ve got this, and no, I don’t mean Covid-19… I mean that you can stay home, social distance, quarantine, and find the joy in your days.  In Oregon, we had a practice run last February when many of us were house bound without power and some without water and heat, during the coldest, snowiest weeks in recent history… and you got through that.  This will last longer, but at least you have power…

[onthebrightersidestuff]

America First

It is not a competition.  We should not have tried to do this on our own and we should have been looking at the world and frantically preparing for what was sure to come rather than letting someone in power minimize the crisis beating down our doors.  We should have been manufacturing ventilators, prepping for school closures, stocking up on rice and beans, frozen veggies, canned foods hand…

[onthebrightersidestuff]

Don't Call Me Crazy

Don’t Call Me Crazy

I am taking this social distancing seriously.  Yes, it is a privilege.  I am lucky enough to be a teacher in a state where our governor took the warnings of medical experts seriously at an early stage. My husband is a substitute teacher and an architect who can work from home.  We can both stay home and only go out to get groceries when needed.  Not everyone has this ability. You may work in the…

[onthebrightersidestuff]

A Day of Prayer: Brought to you by our President

This president, our president, has blundered, misrepresented and miscalculated his way through this global crisis. He has sabotaged his own appointees, placed blame on others and claimed victories that did not belong to him. But, we are for now, stuck in this circus with this crazy clown careening around the center ring in a tiny car packed with far too many of his crazy clown friends.

But…

[onthebrightersidestuff]

A Surprise Gift

My sister’s blue eyes came from our dad, her beautiful gray hair was from him, too. We both have his artistic talent, his musical ear, and his ingenuity when solving problems. Our dad made childhood a little bit of magic, whisking us off to Disneyland on a rainy school day as a surprise, dressing up as Santa and waking us on Christmas Eve, bringing us to work with him to test the toys ideas at…