Uncle Roger's Notebooks of Daily Life

Photos updated!

After a year's hiatus, I'm going to start updating my photo journal again. Head on over and, if you haven't been there before, take a look at some of the older ones as well.

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Dad of the year

One of our neighbors, talking about what it means to adopt:

"Back when we were talking about this and freaking out about having a kid, I realized that it meant that we would have to give up some things in order to give someone a home who doesn't have one. I can do that."

You can read more about this over at ParentDish.

This post is part of the second annual Blogging for LGBT Families Day event.

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In The Merry, Merry Month of May

I know it's going to be a nightmare for Rachel, but I'm kinda looking forward to the month of May. She always spends a lot of her time at home doing schoolwork, but lately, it's been much worse. She has a split class this year, with first- and second-graders, so naturally she felt it necessary to develop all new materials, projects, and centers for the second-graders. The other second-grade teachers are totally loving this, of course, and the kids are definitely benefiting from it, but it's a lot of work for Rachel.

Recently, she had Open House to prepare for, which for some reason requires lots of work. Then, after that, there is all the work she needs to get done before May, since she won't be able to do it then. That's basically double the work for her right now. Plus, we're going to Jared's school picnic in the middle of the month so she needs to write a sub plan (more like a book) for the teacher that will be taking her class that day.

So what's so special about May? Rachel hasn't gotten a raise in six years and, in fact, her net pay has actually decreased because the amount the district pays for health care has remained the same even as insurance costs have skyrocketed. Six years ago she had to pay about $50 over what the district paid for insurance. Next year it will be close to $1,000. That's per month, by the way. So we're talking about her annual income decreasing by thousands of dollars.

In May, as sort of a warning shot before striking, the union has called for a slowdown -- what they call "work-to-rule". That means the teachers will only do that which they get paid for. They'll show up when they're supposed to (not two hours before) and leave when they're supposed to (not two or three hours afterwards.) They won't be bringing any work home to do at night or on the weekends. They won't be staying late for things like talent shows or literacy nights or what-have-you. I imagine they're also not supposed to buy stuff for their classroom either.

I know this May will be a very difficult month for Rachel and her cohorts. I'm thinking it might be fun.

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The view from up here

You know you're getting old when the people you think of as "kids" start to look like they're getting old.

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A little bit about me

I wear Merrells because I'm too lazy for Velcro.

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Whence God?

Sitting on the sidelines of an evolution/cosmology/science-versus-religion discussion, I suddenly had an epiphany regarding religion. God doesn't really exist; all those creation myths and parables and so on were merely the frustrated ramblings of a tired parent dealing with a curious child.

Child:	"Where did the world come from?"
Dad:	"Um, Some guy made it. Now go away. I'm on the toilet."
Child:	"What guy?"
Dad:	"Well, it was God. Yeah, this guy named God. Now leave me alone."
Child:	"Why did he make it?"
Dad:	"Uh, he was lonely. He wanted some friends. He wanted someone to play with. Why don't you go play with him?"
Child:	"Where is God?"
Dad:	"He's everywhere. You just have to look for him. Now GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!"
Child:	"What's Hell?"

So all those churchgoers are really just following Calvin's Dad.

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Dreams

Don't you hate it when you know you had this awesome dream about something really cool like Land Rovers or lesbians (or even better -- both), but you can't for the life of you remember what it was? The worst part is that it's like a part of your life that you know should be there but isn't.

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Addressing the problem, not the symptom

I think we can agree that no one "loves" abortion. The problems arise in trying to deal with it.

The thing is, abortion is not the problem. It's a symptom of the problem. Dealing with abortion is like mopping up the blood after you've cut your leg off.

Read more ...

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If I had a nickel...

Jared, forlornly:	"My poop fell."
Me, worried:	"Your poop fell? Where?!?"
Jared:	"In the toilet. My poop fell in the toilet."

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A little bit of fatherly advice

"Don't put your penis in the drawer!"

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Sage Advice

"If you want somebody to stay with you, then you love them" -- Jared, on relationships.

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Brings a tear to my eye

"Hooray for Lightning McQueen" -- Jared, watching (yet again) Lightning McQueen help The King and totally getting the whole point of the movie.

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Perspectives

"That's a straight up mansion!" -- Some unknown trick-or-treater from another neighborhood, commenting on a neighbor's home -- not much bigger than my own.

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Quote

"Mommy, Jared, Sara, Milk, Jared, Daddy" -- Sara, naming everyone in the family picture from Yosemite

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Um, no.

"Um, daddy, can I drink beer?" -- Jared, precocious as always, showing me once again just how old I really am.

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