i inadvertantly placed myself directly in the center of educational politics central by attending this conference. it’s titled “NCTE education policy and language arts day”, so i knew we’d be addressing legislation. however, i did not anticipate so obvious an agenda. we were briefed this morning and then sent out to lobby. i felt like i should go to the hill with a big sign over my head reading ‘educator.’ while for the most part i support the proposals, i do not favor being treated as a blank walking billboard, ready to be written all over and pushed into the capitol for the reps and senators to see.

my pre-printed nametag had nothing on it except my first and last name. no doctor, no title, no NCTE position. i was completely out of my league there. i can’t believe i ever wanted to do my doctorate in EPPL. that would have been a disaster.

the conference further expanded my frustration for and dislike of politics. the last speaker, a member of the majority staff, explained that basically from now until november, very little gets done on the hill because of the “significant rise in bi-partisanship.” that just seems like bullshit to me.

i would be so much more interested in government if it wasn’t for politics. HA.

i’m getting really excited about michelle doing the dc breast cancer walk this weekend. my dad and i are going to be there at the finish line, and i am hoping to get to some of the cheering sections en route. of course it is my nature to overdo things, so i am planning on making signs, a ‘go michelle’ t-shirt to wear, etc. those things do make a huge difference to the walkers though, or at least they did to me. i still remember this girl who was at like every cheering station during the walk i did with carter 2 years ago (was that all it was?). the chick wore a boa and had a boombox and must have danced, shouted, and clapped her support for hours. it rocked.

my sister is flying in this weekend from denver and our agenda is cleaning my mom’s things out of the bedroom closet. tanja is down for her characteristic 30-hour stay , which yet again makes me bitter. she never uses any vacation time when she comes home, and as a result her time here is rushed and harried. i know my dad resents it too. i’d like to talk to her about it but i know she would get uber-defensive; i think she knows she is being kind of shitty.

seduction is when you know there will only be one answer.
-aurelie sheenan, the anxiety of everyday objects

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