Attentively Attentive to all Things

Recent events have made me to return to blogging as a creative outlet for my frustrations.  A longer blog post will follow soon!

Reminder: All of These Republican Candidates Are Horrible I saw this article posted on a Facebook wall this morning, clicked, and found myself nodding in agreement almost immediately. See, I didn't watch the entire GOP debate last night.  I was too busy channeling my inner Van Gogh at Wine and Canvas (ear still intact, thank you very much!).  I only caught the last part of it as I got ready for bed.  I don't feel that I missed much at all, though.  Thanks 24 hour news on almost every channel.... First though, let me say that I am more of an independent who agrees with a lot of Democratic policies.  I did vote for President Obama in both elections, and I am fine with my vote.  Did he do everything he said he would?  Of course not!  Do any of them?  NO.  Politicians make promises during the campaign that they try to push through, but cannot for whatever reason.  Partisan politics, whiny senators who go out of their way to block legislation, bad deals, whatever.  The point i

Constitution Center Yay for Constitution Day!  On September 17, 1787, the Founding Fathers of our nation signed THE most important document in the history of our country.  This document created the framework of our government and the rights and freedoms we have today. If I had to choose another subject area to teacher other than English, it would be Social Studies!  Maybe one day I'll try to pass the educator exam... But until then, allow me to nerd out on Constitution day facts! The day was created by Senator Robert Byrd passed a bill believing we should celebrate the day this important document was signed, and learn about its origins.  He also wanted to ensure the our nations upcoming generation were taught about this important document.  The bill mandated that schools that receive federal funding must teach their students about the constitution.  WIN! The Constitution museum this year is honoring the 150th ratification of the 13th Amendment which brought about the begi

Since SMWC's shocking announcement last week, I've refrained from posting all weekend.  I needed to let my heart heal a bit and my head to begin processing the facts without those pesky emotions getting in the way.  Plus, I needed a break!  So many students, both current and past, are very upset about this decision, and have been posting on social media all weekend.  I couldn't get my own emotions in check while having my heart ripped out by the posts of others.  I could have easily taken to social media and voiced my frustration and anger, but I chose not to.  I'm not brave enough, I suppose, to put all those feelings out there.  Kudos to those who were. As we reach a week out, I know there are a few points that I've been focusing my frustration on, and have questions about.  I'm incredibly upset for the current students- many that I know- who are getting thrown into blindly.  While it's easy to say that there have been guys in campus classes for years (m

This has been a very difficult week for Woodsies.  Many have asked me my take on the recent announcement that Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College has decided to go co-educational.  Per the announcement Tuesday, men will be allowed commuter status to take campus courses starting this fall, and then can be residential students in Fall of 2016.  I've had a very difficult time putting my thoughts into words about this change to a place I feel very much a part of, and a sister to those like me, a woman of The Woods. But, because of what I learned becoming a woman of The Woods, I'm going to try to work this out using my words, as all good writers try to do. First, my status as an alumnae is unique in a way. I am not a campus alum- the majority of my classes were online- but I did participate in many on campus activities and groups.  I've graduated from the amazing Leadership Development program, and am currently enrolled in the Transition to Teaching program (another online progra

Those who've known me over 6 years are aware of the issues we had while trying to have a baby.  For those of you unaware, I lost 4 pregnancies in about 2-3 years. What I'm about to say is a reflection on those times. Mother's Day was a painful day for me for a few years. It wasn't easy to explain my quietness or lack of good cheer. It wasn't that I wasn't happy to celebrate my mom- I was. But it was more for me. It was a reminder of the losses I'd experienced and the frustration at my body for what I believed was betrayal. The worst was when I miscarried just a few days before Mother's Day. The depression was suffocating and my mind simply would not function. My husband had no idea what to do with me while battling his own grief. In short, I began to hate Mother's Day. Then suddenly everything worked and in May of 2010,  I celebrated my first Mother's Day. There are simply no words to describe my feelings that day. Those years of desolation a