So, like, I'm good

It just occurred to me - while Alaska is near Russia, Juneau is actually further from Moscow than the eastern United States. Boston, for example, is closer and D.C. is only a little further away. If you don't know why I'm babbling about this, then you probably wouldn't find the reason interesting anyway.

The Twins are playing well and may win the division. Things are going well enough for me at school. Lisa takes the last of her exams tomorrow. The new season of The Office starts tonight*. So, like, I'm good!

Oh, and, after a busy week in which we couldn't find time to cook or clean, Lisa decided that we should look for a wife. Any takers?

* My prediction, Jim's failure to propose after having joked about it for a little while leads to arguing between them, allowing the writers to add complication and drama to their relationship. It would be a hack job, and irritating, but I think they telegraphed the move. I hope they prove me wrong.

The District Sleeps Tonight

You may know that my employing district is not good in the traditional, not-horrifyingly-flying-clown-wrong, sense. It is, in fact, bad.

That's your cue.

"How bad is it, Steve?"

They're thinking of throwing in the towel. I think it's time to flood the place, saving two textbooks from every class, and start over.

Well, you know my name is Simon...

Today, instead of recording, I worked on the cover for my next collection of songs. Here's what I came up with:

I wish the lines were thicker, but so it goes. It was fun to draw while listening to a new Portastatic collection.

A Good Week

You already know that I heard Obama speak. I also saw Andrew Bird play a terrific free show in Chicago at Millennium Park. Zipping off irresponsibly on school nights for solo road trips is the sort of thing that helps one feel alive.

I also had my first week as a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing. I'm working very hard, but it's a cool group of kids and I get to work with a friend. I spent this entire weekend planning for the coming week, and am not done; this will be very hard work.

Additionally, I'm now a college student again. I'm rushing to find books at libraries and complete assignments. Posting may become infrequent.

Politics

So I lean way left, politically, and have been an Obama fan from the get-go. Today friends of mine invited me to join them at a labor rally featuring the man himself. It was really cool to sit in the bleachers of a historical event (his candidacy in general, not necessarily this speech). His speech was written specifically for the event. He spoke of the unity Americans demonstrate in the face of hardships, such as the pending hurricane Gustav and how it's important to maintain that sense of community and service the rest of the time, as people struggle with "quiet storms", such as poverty and joblessness. It was then just a short hop to tie this to the union movement, in which there is strength in unity. It would be wonderful to have a president who can string sentences together. On the way out, his caravan passed us and he waved through his tinted glass window.

Unfortunately, the McCain campaign has a newfound competency. His ad at the end of the DNC was classy; his choice in running-mate was, I believe, shrewd; and his decision to alter the RNC to make it service oriented in the face of a hurricane (instead of letting Dubya speak and partying) seem likely to pay dividends. 

Tomorrow is my first day teaching the deaf and hard of hearing. I'm a little nervous. Wish me luck!