Mostly Because I Miss Those Days

                I was volunteering at the library the other night and was given the assignment to find some missing books.  As I was searching the shelves I came across Heather Vogel Fredrick’s book – Pies & Prejudice from The Mother Daughter Book Club series. I grabbed it for the series title.  One of the books that Jaime and I had read at the library mother daughter book club was Pie by Sara Weeks (here). I did not see it as a play on words from the title “Pride and Prejudice” until later nor a book series.  Nor do I understand why something in the Juvenile section would have such a tiny font.  I have seen bigger fonts in the young adult.  So for the most part I have been reading with a magnifying glass.  That is getting tiresome.  Thus I may not finish.

            I was also reminded of the Beehive Award when reading that this particular book is an Oregon award finalist.  Jaime also loved reading and voting on Beehive books. The characters in this book are older than Jaime and targeted youth of the book club as the reading material suggestion was made for ages 8 to 12.  Jaime and I both LOVED the book club.  For me it was an opportunity to read together and explore the pages in a creative way.  Though I’m sure she enjoyed reading with me she also enjoyed getting together with girls near her age and engaging in some kind of craft.  It was fun and meaningful all at the same time.

            The characters in the book have just started high school – I’m guessing their freshman year.  But nowadays it’s hard to know what age starts at which school as the age groups are different across the nation.  I had gone to sixth grade my last year at the elementary school where I had started kindergarten.  My mom had gone to a school that went from 1^st to 6^th grade and completed her 7^th and 8^th at a school that went from first to 8^th. I was in my last year of junior high as a ninth grader and hadn’t been referred to as a freshman.  Jaime started 6^th grade at Middle School – the equivalent of my junior high and completed four years of high school as freshman to senior.

            The book club takes place not in the library but in each of their homes.  Thus far I have only been introduced to three characters – each telling a chapter in first person.  I do like that.  Thus far I haven’t relived any of the nostalgia I had with Jaime.  I don’t really expect to but did think it would be fun to try.  Mother Daughter high schoolers . . . I guess it's possible.  

            If I don’t finish the book it will be because of the font size more than anything.  But I may take up reading books that are targeted to the 8-12 year old to act as a guide for the librarian who would like to start some kind of book club here.  I’d like to see that event unfold.  I don’t know if it will though.  Happy to see that it is still a part some libraries across the nation. 

Hoop Jumping and the Lion’s Den

         It’s been just over a year that I had made the decision to cut expenses and find less costly alternatives to the essentials and just do without wasn’t necessary.  Pulling the plug on the entertainment system did not set well with Richard who decided he would find another job.  Everybody seems to be screaming for employees and yet finding a job has been rather challenging. Thus we have been living on Richard's social security for a year plus equity (that was his alternative) and when school let out he decided he would go back to work as a substitute teacher. 

        He jumped so many hoops to get there.  When we went out of town during Labor Day weekend it was still unclear if he’d be working.  But every weekday we were gone Richards phone went off with job offers (or at least one job offer) within the surrounding school districts which he was unable to accept until this morning.  Though the message said to report at the school at 7:30, the message was not received until 7:40.  I told him not to worry about the time.  If he showed up even two hours late, the school would be happy to have him that they would not hold it against him.

        This morning he left for his first assignment in a neighboring district – about a 20 minute drive.  I personally preferred accepting assignments over Frontier and please don’t bother me with the phone.  But of course Richard and I are opposite and he prefers the phone and has no idea how to get into Frontline (at least that’s what it was prior to the pandemic; I don’t know if the districts still use Frontline?)  He will be subbing for a 5^th grade class. 

        And I am at home left alone with my thoughts and two rooms that need attention.  A sink full of dishes and a bunch of other projects that I should probably be doing rather than creating a post.  But it has been over a week. And I do have many posts inside of me, but thus far don’t seem willing to come out.  I haven’t felt well and have been so tired.  Perhaps now that the weather seems to be cooling down (at least currently in my neck of the woods) that will change and I will wake up refreshed and ready to go.

          I hope Richard encounters a positive experience today.

Statistics

         Currently there have been over 57,600 recorded cases in Oregon and over 700 deaths due to the cornavirus disease.  

As of this week Douglas County makes up for 862 cases with 10 deaths.  Douglas County is 5,134 square miles with a population of just over 112,000. The largest city within the county is Roseburg with the geographic size of 10.93 mi² (whatever that means . . . math) with a population of almost 24,000.  

Douglas County is considered to be a part of the Red zone. As of tomorrow to at least January 22 all students attending Roseburg schools will have to do so online except for K-3.  Apparently they are to remain in school until the authorities learn that it was probably never a good idea to do that in the first place. I don’t know about the other surrounding cities, but the two school districts within the area in which I live seem to be in full operation right now and will continue . . . or so is the plan.  I think they should keep it safe by following along what Roseburg is doing instead of chancing that things my get work – which I expect they will.  Students get sick at this time of the year without COVID.  And then there’s Thanksgiving coming up. Seminary is still going.  All in person learning as far as I can tell.

2020 may have cancelled a lot in the way of holidays, birthdays, graduations, and other events.  LOTS of events missed or celebrated virtually, dates moved around  - for example my cousin celebrated Thanksgiving outdoors – spaced out tables.  They had the event on a really nice day in October.  I believe there’s snow on the ground right now where she is.  We have rain her.  Lots of heavy rain.  Falling. 

Jenna took this picture from I5

Bonnie doesn’t like the rain.  She mopes around longing to bask in the sun.  We’ll give her a bone toy for her to chew and entertain her.  It’s her mama’s birthday today.  We haven’t seen her since she went to Salem over two months ago.  I bet she’s missing Bonnie. 

What an odd century 2020 has been.  Brought out a lot of creativity with some.  For that I am grateful.

A Frustration Many Share - Apparently Not Enough

                 I had heard that Portland was making all of their education virtual.  Other areas have had the option of returning to a brick and mortar school or continuing online.  There have been reported cases and temporary school closures. Are you kidding me?  Temporary? The announcement is as follows:  “              school will be closed today as one or more students have tested positive for the coronavirus.  The school will be closed tomorrow in order for a deep cleaning . . .”  Really?  The school is going to be closed so that disinfected and rid of all germs so that it will be safe to return the following day?  Give me a break!  One school was closed as it was understaffed and unable to find instructors.  Well, duh?  My concern about reopening schools has always been for the instructors as I had believed they’d be more targeted for the virus than would the kids. 

        I can't believe how many parents are sending their children to school.  Corona is not shy about who it targets.  It can affect all people of all ages.  Anyone can get it.  Even Trump.  Or so they say.  I had written a post about my skepticism but had removed the post temporarily when I learned he was in the hospital.  I returned it three days later when he magically emerged from the hospital and removed his mask because “he’s immune” – yes.  Because he’s a villain and the virus evidently does not work on villains. Rumor also has it that if he doesn’t win he plans to flee the country.  Oh, please.  Let that be true! But then again, who in the world would be nuts enough to allow him into their country?

            The media will give facts about COVID and advise to stay home – no large gatherings – even with family at Thanksgiving.  COVID outbreaks always happen after the holidays.  Oh, by the way the pumpkin patch is open if you and your family want to head on down.  What?  Did they just tell us to stay home and avoid crowds and are now inviting us out to an area that may be crowded? 

            Jenna will be crushed to have Halloween cancel this year.  We have been invited to a virtual Halloween.  I think we will have to do the same for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Because it isn’t just about corona anymore.  The weather has turned and not everybody is dressed for it.  Cold and Flu season.  Militia and voting results.  Scary times.

Work and Halloween

One of my goals this year was to post a specific word at least every other week.  I don’t know that I posted any words in the month of October.  I haven’t been making good use of my time and didn’t post what I had in mind for yesterday.  I had to take the car in but figured I would write my post after I returned home.

While at the mechanics I received a phone call but couldn’t seem to answer it in time. I saw that it was one of the elementary schools and tried to return the call, but it didn’t go through.  I realized there was a message and listened to it.  The assignment is not until next week.  I called back to let them know that I can only work one of the two days that were mentioned.

I went home and looked up available sub jobs to accept the assignment, only it wasn’t listed.  Instead, I saw a position at the middle school for yesterday – though it was passed the time posted.  I called the school to ask if someone was still needed.  Thus, I worked yesterday for four hours and returned home.  I suppose I could have made the time after my return but chose instead to be with Roland who had gotten off of work early.

Downtown Trick or treating started forty-five minutes after Jenna returned home.  She had worn her elf costume to school but had changed into what she called a pastel demon.  We took her downtown and I took several pictures but have not gone through them all thoroughly but did make a scrap page from three of them to show her costume.  I will go through them more thoroughly eventually. I’ll be working again today as I had accepted the position on Tuesday morning.

After we returned from the Halloween festivities, I received another phone call to work today.  At first, I was thrown off believing yesterday was Friday and so why would I be asked to work on a Saturday?  But then I remembered that yesterday was Thursday.  It was a weird Thursday.  I somehow remembered that I was already working and so had to turn her down.

Jenna does not have school today.  But she will be going to the school’s homecoming dance tonight.  She will be dressing in costume and not a formal dress.

We All Have a Voice But Not Always Heard . . . We All Have Ears But Not All Listen

          I dragged my family to the high school last night.  I understood the meeting to start at 5:30, but it must have started at 5:00 as we walked into a mass production that had already obviously started.  It seems that the focus was mainly on just one school, though the elementary next to it had been mentioned.  There were parents there for both group.  I saw several youth but not a huge number.  The meeting was at the high school library and it was filled and overflowing.

          Three separate events had taken place.  The first was a threat made by a person that was being bullied.  The threat made was toward the bullies and not the entire school.  On October 23 a "prank" phonecall had been made to 911 about a shooting.  Two youth were arrested.  Last week there a note had been left in one of the bathrooms leaving the impression of a bomb threat.  The school was placed on lock down and the adjoining elementary was put on a soft lock - dismissed from elementary - and I have learned they keep all of the doors locked anyway.

          Of course there were and are concerns about each time the police have been called in.  While searching the lockers, police did find evidence of other misdemeanors NOT related to  the bomb threat.  It was announced last night that 17 youth have been arrested for various reasons - though the only I remember mentioned was possession of drugs which were discovered when the police were combing the area for evidence of weapons and just happened upon other criminal activities during their search.

          Sadly, there are some youth whose parents just don't care.  I was pleased by the turnout of so many who do.  Unfortunately, many of them are so caught up in speculation and fear of what might be that they aren't seeing that the school and police really are taking measures for the safety of the students.  Not enough tax payers were willing to pay for a new school when it was proposed on the election of 2016.  Our school buildings are OLD - they start in the early 1900's - I think Canyonville (the main building anyway) may be even older than that. The most current building was probably built in the 1950's.  Architects didn't make plans for extra securities as it was a foreign concept at that time. 

          Some of the parents want the police to patrol the schools and add securities - which of course, require money.  But I am not fond of having the school appear have the a prison feel to it.  I think about 1989 film "Lean on Me" in which Morgan Freeman portrays a principal determined to change and not live in fear.  I don't want our schools to become how they were before he stepped up and made changes - many against the parents' wishes. 

          I've learned that it does not matter which direction you take, someone is not going to like it.  Someone is going to be offended.  Others are going to react - but not all the reactions are going to be positive.  Some are going to create more problems if they feel ignored or if they misinterpret or (here's a big one) they panic.  Don't panic!  Don't make worse.

          I think some valid points were made last night, but for some nothing was resolved.  Some will be (or already have) removing their children from the school.  Home schooling for some.  Transfers perhaps for others.  Jenna and I share the same attitude - don't stress over what you can't control.  Changing schools doesn't guarantee that your child will be any safer.  Stop the bullying.  Chances are really good that they are connected.