forecasts of 100 degrees

Sometimes things work out kind of cool. A while back I received an email from an airline agency containing the itinerary for Janine's mother's trip to visit here. I noticed that Janine's email wasn't on it after I was tempted to just ask her about the trip. But I waited. I asked Brad, whose email was also in the address bar, and he told me it was to be a surprise. It worked. MaryAnne flew in last night and surprised Janine and the kids this morning. I was very happy it worked out and am happy that she is here to hang out with us for a week (even though I will be working for much of it). I took Friday off and hopefully the weather reports are wrong and it will be cooler than they are calling for (forecasts of 100 degrees, ugh). We'll see what happens.

Today Shirley went to her first day of summer school, where she was placed in the class with third graders again, even though it would make sense to place her with second grade. The idiocy of the system drives me nuts, as she is now expected to continue to do work that is at least a grade level above what she has done in her schooling in Colombia. Of course it would be speculation to say that this is how it will stay for the summer, as Janine plans on discussing the issue with whomever she can find who can actually do something about it. I hope it works out for Shirley to be in at the second grade level, as that would be far more beneficial to her in helping her to catch up on some of the things that she missed when they placed her two grade levels above her last completed grade upon her enrollment in the school system. LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE SCHOOLS!!! Geniuses that they are.

I got a book in the mail today that I ordered last week and started leafing through it. I always look in the indexes at names and look at the bibliography for other books, sources, etc. I was very surprised to see the name of a good friend of mine in the pages as a contributor/writer of one of the essays in the book. It was very exciting and I very much look forward to reading it when I get a chance. He was in our wedding seven years ago (anniversary this weekend!) and sang one of our favorite Son Volt songs very poignantly. Congrats, buddy. I look forward to your first book.

I have been hearing good things about "What is the What" from other people. Just so you all know that it isn't just me that likes it.

I just watched "Why We Fight" last night (at least finished it, after watching parts of it the previous two nights) and was very intrigued by the information presented within the documentary. It certainly echoes my sentiments regarding the power of corporations and the non-human influence in being the functioning activist in our political and social actions (or ills or mishaps, as I might call them). Why is it that we fail to desire to know about atrocities, not simply in a worldwide format, but as a result of our own doing? How are we to even begin to understand, to question, to strive for a better humanity without first hearing and discussing? Too often we are encouraged to simply keep quiet, whether overtly or in patronizing ways (as if calling someone idealistic is not patronizing). The reality is that most of us do not think about the consequences of where we shop, the items that we buy, the food that we eat, the pollutants that we administer freely and tremendously, let alone our addiction to oil and the vast social and political implications it has worldwide and in our own backyard. Recently there was discussion in our church about solar panels to offset our use of electricity. Good. But the discussion was not about using less energy or about environmental concerns; it was only about saving money. Money. And I thought God made the world go 'round. So what do we think? What do we do? Do we continue on in our consumption that encourages and fuels our imperialistic nature, our desire to protect a way of life that has become to big for itself, allowed itself to tumble out of control? Or do we start discussing, beginning the quest for understanding, and the preamble to solutions that are not yet graspable to our limited realms of thought? Can we do this? Can we do this in the face of adversaries who continue to swallow the over-saturation of nationalism, indeed, over against a commitment to God, and in many cases common sense. I would guess that some can answer "yes", but that most will answer with complete and unrepentant indifference. And that answer is a resounding "no." What about you?

I really need to change jobs. I really need to find that place where our family becomes more of the solution than the problem. Any ideas?

Keep on rockin'.