Bookmarks, Videos, and Things

+No one actually watches the MTV Movie Awards anymore, right? But I have such a respect for Chris Pratt. Not only has he washed his hands of AH-na Faris (I don't like her very much), but he speaks such wisdom. 

And this is advice for everyone:

+This video is heart-breaking but I get it. I always knew I couldn't do this job for 30+ years, so my plan was always to move into higher education. Maybe someday. I'm waiting on the chance to get a masters. We've been busy and all. We'll see how the next few years go.

+This article on why the gender issue is affecting teacher walk-outs. The interesting thing is that this made PERFECT sense to me. I went into the profession knowing I'd have to make ends meet on my own and I was fine with that. When I got a job in Missouri, the principal apologized to me because I didn't have a Smartboard "yet" (I'd been hired late) and she made sure I got a big ABC area rug ASAP...brand new, right off the truck. I'd also been given everything I'd wanted/needed in Alaska, right off the bat too, including a 4-5 day conference at MIT in Boston, tons of valuable professional development, and one-on-one time with my building mentor and state mentor (free sub days to meet up at a coffee shop to go over things). 

When I got to Colorado, I had to make do with chalkboards, not enough books for students, and a heater I had to turn on myself every morning when I got to school. Maybe it's something about the southwest? (since Oklahoma and Arizona have the same struggles)

(Fun fact: going back to chalkboards...at some point this past year, they stopped cleaning my chalkboard that I used every day. I didn't have time/didn't want to clean it myself...and I didn't have the supplies to do so...so I just stopped using it.)

+Gretchen Rubin has some advice on clutter and keeping your home in order. While she has annoyed me lately and I can't listen to Happier the podcast these days, this is all pretty useful advice. Since we've downsized and a good share of our belongings are actually in storage, I'm making the best possible use of every inch of space I can find, without succumbing to clutter of course.

+I really want to get one of these name signs for the baby's room. I've been putting it off just because, and maybe it'll be something I splurge on for Christmas. I always feel slightly bad about myself when I think how we've not gone "all out" on his room but most military families don't (most, that is), just because it's usually pretty temporary. I wasn't going to insist on murals or specially designed walls or anything because it doesn't matter in the long run. Everything has to be easily moved and transferrable and I don't want to get attached to anything that's not.

I mean, currently, we have no living room furniture, so attached to things I am not.

Mid-week (slightly controversial) reading

Yesterday was the Show Us Your Books link-up, so you can find what I've been reading-reading in that post.

However, I've bookmarked some good things lately that I've meant to share...

+Education is an aspect of the government that I can tend to get really upset over. I don't like the way some people act as though education has just recently been attacked under the current presidential administration. This all started in 2001, and continued through President Bush and President Obama. Education has been under attack since the new millenium started, essentially.

Nothing has *really* changed in the last year in regards to public schools. Ideas are just being thrown about that get people more riled up. The status quo is the same.
All this to say, I'm glad teachers are finally standing up for themselves, so here's an article about that. 

+As well as...a lot of my opinion on education is colored by the fact that I've spent 4 years teaching in Colorado and Colorado teachers are some of the most underpaid in the nation. Sadly, a lot of the teachers here have never taught anywhere else so it never occurred to a lot of them to go up against their state government. I think that the teachers in Denver need to strike because what that article says about a teacher not being able to afford a 1-bedroom apartment in Denver is 100% true. Most brand-new teachers I know in Colorado Springs have to have roommates because that's their only option.

+Raise a mentally strong child by doing these things.  Do a teacher a favor. They'll appreciate you, I promise.

+From Amber, a blog post on the fact that we can be kind and accepting of each other without agreeing on everything. I know that my opinion won't change your opinion and will ruin a friendship. It's not worth it. This is why it's also helpful to have relationships based on things other than politics or religion.

And, finally...

+The last conversation you'll ever need to have about eating right. When people tell me they feel better when they "eat paleo", I don't believe them. A doctor's diagnosis (like, a legit, licensed doctor) of allergies is one thing...but that type of lifestyle is unsustainable and that makes me sad.
The fertility doctors and the acupuncturist I went to last spring tried to convince me that eating only protein and less than 30 grams of carbs a day was the best possible way to live.

Thoughts? 

Links I've Bookmarked.

I'm taking off from the blog for a few days. Here's some links I've found myself coming back to more than once though. Thoughts?

Be back next week!

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I've thought about microneedling...have you tried it?

Gretchen Rubin posted this the other day: what it's like to work at the Apple store. 

I want these shoes but can't quite justify it. They're just Keds. You don't have to click and I promise I won't make any money if you do.

I'm not a fan of flexible seating in the classroom but could never really explain why. This blogger/teacher has lots of good reasons. 

Has anyone used Diigo? I think it's like Evernote. Ideally, I'd like to be much more organized in my online life (hahaha) but I didn't last long with Evernote.

And the best link ever: All the Bachelor in Paradise spoilers from Reality Steve. You should read them.


Do you bookmark so many links that you can never find what you're looking for? Just me?