Let me tell you about my commute.

Today I took the CTA home. At the Loyola stop a whole bunch of collage-age kids got on, and two women sat behind me. A few minutes later I feel something brush the side of my head. It felt just like someone running their fingers though my hair. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a woman behind me putting on her coat, so I figured her coat sleeve brushed against my head. That woman got off the train. Then when it was time for me to get off, I looked at the other woman who was sitting behind me. She smiled at me and kept staring at me. Then when I had reached the door and was waiting for it to open, I looked again and she was still smiling and staring at me.

Maybe she did actually run her fingers through my hair. But who does that to strangers on a train?

I remember being aware of some of Reagan's policies because I was writing a report on alternative power sources when he took office. He pulled all the funding for the projects I was researching while I was working on the report.

Then Reagan and James Brady were shot. John Lennon was killed. 6th grade was very sobering for me.

John Lennon getting shot had a big effect on me. I cried myself to sleep.

Reagan, NSM. I was pretty apolitical in high school. (But I did think it sucked what happened to Carter, with the hostages being released hours after Reagan's inauguration....)

Reagan, NSM.

Although it did produce one of the best running sketches ever (Buckwheat was shot!) on SNL.

I was raised political & outraged (now I'm just weary.) That's what happens when your parents are active in the local hippy-dippy (I never really understood there was any other flavor of it until ...college?) Quaker meeting and LWV. I got an ERA receiving blanket and onesie when I was born.

That said, I don't know when I engaged to where it wasn't just a mimicry of my parents' views.

For the record, I t heart sara's family.

The Kidspace museum is having a snow day tomorrow! I wish Noah were well enough to go. But alas.

Hee. It's mutual.

Reminds me, I need to ask my mom about who I'm (middle) named after. I know only the sketchy basics, but I think she was someone mom met in LWV, but that's a very vague memory.

I need a "Don't Blame Me, I Voted for McGovern" bumpersticker.

Granted, it was in my 3rd grade class, but my liberal bent started early and strong.

meara, I'm so very sorry -- that's a blow indeed. However, I'm hoping that in the end, a new job will make you even happier than you were.

In a semi-selfish plea for positive thoughts/prayers/etc. District Drama festival for my students is this weekend. Tomorrow we perform our one act at 10:30 am (EST) and our individual events are all day on Saturday (from 9 am-3:20 pm).

The kids have worked so hard. We have a record 20 individual events performing in addition to the one act that has 15 on stage and a crew of 6. I hope we do well!

Wishing them the best!

I'm really tired of sinus pain. It's not like they are stuffed up or anything. There's just a spot in one that's panging and it is making me nuts.