Y’know…

Here’s what I need to do. I need to stop reading news that makes me mad. Check that. I don’t need to stop reading news that makes me mad, I just need to stop allowing bigots, politicians and profiteers to dictate my mood after reading it.

To the John Kasichs and Rick Perrys and Pearson Corporations and Bill Gateses and Arne Duncans and Rahm Emanuels of the world: I block you. I exorcise you not from my consciousness, but from my conscience. I will no longer take on your idiocy as my personal problem.

I “tested the waters” on my Facebook page with regard to my disgust and rage against the Common Core machine. All of my teacher friends, I think, are afraid to “come out” on the matter. Likely, there are many who are scared of losing their jobs, or causing a backlash against teachers in our small district. I have to regroup and decide another course of action.

But this day, I decide that I will enjoy my work, gain a feeling of accomplishment, and call the day a success. How about you? What are you going to do today to make you feel great by bedtime tonight?

I must admit it helps that the sun is actually out in Ohio this morning, and the view from my front porch is bright and pretty. Yay, God’s not mad at us anymore, and people in my area can start cleaning up the flood and wind damage.

So, as David Hartman used to say on Good Morning, America in the olden tymes: “Get out there and make it a good day.” I’ll do it, Dave!

FO

But…it’s summer break and you had a great vacation and you get to spend time with family this week and you have a job you love and some nice things and good, good friends and you’re healthy and feeling good…

So, why so serious?

I dunno. Years ago, during a particularly bad time in my life, I’d force myself to sit down and make a mental list of what was bothering me. You know — easier to deal with the devil you know than the one you don’t. So, the list:

1. A friend and colleague lost her 24-year-old son to a horrible, tragic accident. The funeral is today (I’m unable to attend), and my heart aches for her and her family, and all of Zach’s close friends who loved him.
2. Another friend is going through a second cancer scare. The waiting for test results is excruciating, and I can’t imagine her agony.
3. The whole Common Core/high-stakes testing/commercialization of public education thing is making me angry, depressed and tired.
4. I look at the work I have to finish before school even starts, and I want to go back to bed.
5. I miss Rousseau.

Actually, I think #4 has me most wanting to kick stuff. But hey, no time like the present to jump on it, right? Last night, I told Mavis that I was taking this week to basically “be on break” and do nothing, but naaaaaaaaah…that ain’t working out too well. I have letters to write to parents, phone calls to make, website to update, numbers to crunch for choir tour, stuff to do around the house, and the dreaded bottle dance choreography to start for Fiddler. Procrastinating won’t get it done.

But I’ll worry about that after lunch.

Sorry for the spout-off negativity today, fiends. It happens rarely around these parts, but when it does, we get the full Monty. Better days ahead, ja? Jawohl!

Oy.

Ah, familiarity breeds contempt sometimes, yes?

In 9,600 miles of travel (19 states over the past 27 days), we had to run our windshield wipers twice, during light rain showers in Washington. Then we hit the Ohio border two days ago, and the deluge started and hasn’t quit yet!

We also realized that after leaving home, our seasonal allergies dissipated. By the time we reached Mississippi, they were almost totally gone. Now? Kleenex and Allegra, sneeze and snort.

Back in the old routine; yeah, man…

But hey, that won’t dampen my spirits today. Time to get back at it, as preparations for school are staring me in the face. Today will be spent restocking Mother Hubbard’s cupboards, with a trip to Costco and Whole Foods. The rest of the week will be catching up with family and friends.

I want to thank you all again, dear fiends, for coming to read and share in our Odyssey this summer. It meant a lot to me! I had a few more “visitors” stop in this year than last, although only a few posted comments. (I can see stats on whereabouts in the world readers are, but no identifying information.) Still, I hope you enjoyed the pictures.

As a result of the last four journeys, I plan to write an e-book about preparing for and executing the Great American Road Trip. I know books have been written on this topic already, but my joy will be writing about how to do the little things that, in our experience, make the voyage more enjoyable and less stressful. Very few may read my little treatise, but it will surely be a labor of love.

Where to on the next Fink Odyssey, you ask? Why, Virginia, DC, Maryland and Atlantic City, of course! Plans begin in 3…2…1…

As we cross the Texas-Oklahoma border, I thought I’d check in with y’all.

At present, I can’t find enough superlatives to accurately describe the joy and fun of the last 48 hours. What an amazing experience! BoomR and I were in the studio yesterday afternoon, finishing up the project, and we decided to run a couple of the duets we did back in the old days. We both got choked up. It was all at once surreal, nostalgic, bittersweet and utterly fantastic. And don’t forget slammin. There was the slammin part.

It’s a memory I will keep for all time (at least until *next* time…hey, what am I saying? I’m supposed to have retired from this craziness…).

Today, we’re off to Kansas for the night. Since WordPress is acting goofy on the iPad, I’ll sign off for now. Hard to believe the first two big experiences (Daddy’s and BoomR’s) are already done. I have a feeling this will be a faster vacation than we ever thought possible. But we’ll enjoy every minute!

Check in with you tomorrow, fiends. Happy Fathers Day to all of the papas out there!

We’re down to our last day at home!

Yesterday was ka-razy, but ended on a fun note with having the Js for a final overnighter before we (and they, on Friday) leave for vacation. The Thriller, in his inimitable, efficient fashion, has the car almost completely packed up and ready to jet:

Trunk

Back seat

We had a nice evening with the boys, chatting over dinner, playing Wii, walking down to Uncle Lars and Aunt Helen’s house, and making our own frozen yogurt sundaes:

Back home, then baths and bedtime. By 9 p.m., Grammie had about had it.

Today is busy with a last-minute trip to the store, some laundry, and hopefully some rehearsal time for the Dallas gig this Saturday. Tomorrow at 5:30 a.m., we hit the road for the first leg of the Odyssey, en route to Mississippi to visit Daddy and Kathy.

I remember thinking at Christmastime, June will absolutely never get here. And now here it is: the penultimate day. Am I too worn out to be psyched?

Nah.