Weekend Update

It's a cold and clear Saturday morning here in Urbana. I'm watching giant, cornfed midwesterners bash into each other in the Minnesota vs. Iowa game, while the radio is playing "Commodity Saturday," the all important weekly corn and soy crop report. It all feels very American. Fortunately Robyn is making some eggs benedict. Delicious, treacherous eggs benedict.

Remember what I was saying about how awesome Pac-10 football? Well, Sports Illustrated agrees with me. So there.

The senate is supposed to finally vote on the health bill today. But, wait - what do you mean that the effects of the Health-Reform Bill won't take effect until after 2013? That is, not until after 2012, when Obama has already either been re-elected or not, and after I get the chance to either show my approval or disapproval of the Healthcare in the 2012 election, and, most importantly, the bill won't take effect until the apocalyptic cataclysms of 2012? That sucks.

Yesterday was Library Friday in for our 8th grade reading and writing class, which the students really like and is a nice, relaxing way to end the work week. I have been spending most of this time reading The Diary of Anne Frank with one of our students. Yesterday, while we were reading, he suddenly turned to me and asked, "What did you major in in college?" "Philosophy." I said. "Oh." he said, and turned for a minute back to his book. After a pause, he looked at me again and asked: "What's philosophy?"

Gulp.

Threats to Public Health

Blerg. Today's Friday, and I have opted to stay home from school. I'm stuffed up, have a headache, am fatigued, and have a low-grade fever. At my past jobs, I probably would have gone into work regardless. However, working at a public middle school is a little bit different. All over the building, there are friendly "reminders" about the importance of personal hygiene, and how, if you (the students) feel even a little bit sick, it's best not to risk starting a pandemic and to stay home. On top of that, there have been additional take-home "reminders" distributed to the student body regarding Swine Flu. Again, this being a public middle school, the administration has been flooded with calls and notes and open house visits from concerned parents about the chances that their kids could - thanks to the brilliance of public education - become infected with the next incarnation of the Black Death. And what can the school do other than repeat ad nauseum* that they're doing everything they can to maintain a safe and healthy environment, that the flu isn't actually that dangerous, that if you feel sick don't come to school, and that, even though they're not really necessary in most cases, flu vaccinations are available here, here, and here.

So I figured that, given these circumstances, it'd probable be best for me not to go to work today.

*That would've been an awesome pun, except that I don't actually feel nauseous. Oh, well. Maybe next time.

No Time To Blog! No Time To Blog! No Time To Blog!

We moved to Urbana! Mom and Dad came out to help us move out! It rained a lot! I'm working as a teacher's aide for Champaign Public Schools! R.A. starts classes next week, and will be working in the UIllinois library! 77% of Americans polled think that it is important to provide both a public health care plan administered by the federal government and a private plan for their health insurance! My cat's breath smells like cat food!