For what it is worth, I knew about lynching when I was five. I also knew about Harriet Tubman, Mary McCloud Bethune and John Brown, and had heard "Strange Fruit". Then again, my upbringing was not average, and I'm not sure I turned out alright. My first creative work was inspired by my parents raising money for Angela Davis's defense fund. It was an embarrassingly bad poem. And while I have mercifully forgotten most of it, I do remember comparing Davis to Joan of Arc, and rhyming "Angela Davis" with "Only the people can save us".

Well, I don't think you need to go into the whole historical context of lynching to say "Singing a song about why someone can't be in your group is mean. Singing a song about how a whole GROUP of someones can't be in your group, especially because of their skin color or religion or sexual orientation, when that skin color/religion/orientation is historically looked down on, is not OK. Singing a song about how you want to KILL THEM is SO NOT OK AT ALL IN ANY WAY". ...I mean...it definitely doesn't get into the whole point across, but you gotta start somewhere? And there's a part of me going "if your kids were black you wouldn't get the choice really, you'd have to"?

(ETA: Obviously you know your kids and their sensitivities best--and what they may or may not hear from friends/classmates/teachers/news. I think I read Roll of Thunder in 6th grade maybe? But I don't feel like it stuck with me, because I think I processed it as "old time stuff just like Little House and Caddy Woodlawn", even though it was so much more recent and the repercussions and issues continue, if that makes sense?)

Bossman bitching:

Bossman is back to pulling his absentminded professor routine to act surprised about something we've had extensive conversations about. Then he was back to his underhanded methods of investigating the value of the ed department sharing facilities with us, even after we talked specifically about the subject at a staff meeting. The new part that really got my goat was that, after I explained all the valuable reasons why we needed to share space he said "good for you, for defending your buddies".

Condescending assbutt!

Like I'm part of an exclusive clique that excludes him and his wants for favoritism. No, I was defending my colleagues right to the space. If we'd all started on the same day with no shared history or affiliation, me and him would still not have exclusive rights to the space. Also, we've already had this conversation! Please don't insinuate some sort of personal preference that supercedes professionalism. If there is anything, it's a preference to maintain the cooperation and teamwork and mutual support within a small staff where we all have each other's backs, for the good of the organization, and not just ourselves or our sole department. I'm proud to say that that's not a party line.

We really need to sit down, all of us, with the ED, and have a very frank conversation. I don't know if I should do it without the ed department first, which would be terrifying for me. But whatever happens, I really think the ED needs to be there, because bossman will simply forget we ever had a frank conversation, and the ED needs to be aware of this divisive bullshit.

breathes out

How is that I can graze on a huge salad for an hour or two at work, starting later than I prefer to eat lunch even, and feel super full, but by the time I get home I'm starving?

I had a huge bowl of beef and barley stew at noon with a hunk of bread and was starving three hours later.

Doesn't seem right.

I think I've got everything packed except the things I can't pack until the last minute. I'm down to one jar of salad and an orange that need eating. Pretty much infinite cleaning that could be done, as always, but I think I'm in pretty good shape.

Project lead (aka rabid-cat wrangler) was driven to tears out of frustration today. And exhaustion. I'm surprised it didn't happen earlier, I completely sympathized. Was really glad I brought cookies to that meeting. So was she.

If I can get this damn 311 missed trash request in online, that will be the highlight of my day.

It was that kind of day.

I'm so jealous of you guys, -t!

I'm sorry sarameg.

I, on the other hand, am eating Fireworks Chocolate (dark chocolate with chipotle and pop rocks) and watching Gravity Falls. It's kind of a perfect moment.

Also, I have a lot of pre-vacation giddiness going on. A lot.

Nora, I have decided that our duel should consist of presenting a pairing of beer and dumpling to some neutral judge. Kale not required.

Nora, I have decided that our duel should consist of presenting a pairing of beer and dumpling to some neutral judge. Kale not required.

Very civilized, I approve!