Happy Halloween

Here's to hoping you had a DEVILISHLY good time,

as did I:

It is always FUN when you can spend it with MISCHIEVOUS

TRICK-OR-TREATERS

like these ghouls:

While enjoying such FESTIVE DELICACIES as these:

And, perhaps, making a bit of a fool of yourself:

(I never knew the monstrous capacity of my mouth until the moment I saw this image.)

Good times were had by all...

Even if it was

FRIGHT NIGHT:

Monday Comes After (or "I Clean Off My Point & Shoot")

This weekend, there may have been hiking:

I might have wasted my time stalking a few of these fellas with the point and shoot

(resulting in what is, perhaps, the world's worst wildlife photography):

(I might've laughed at myself later for it.)

*

I could've attended a bridal shower that I chose not to record with any images.

(But I might tell you all about it later.)

*

I probably taught Sunday School.

And maybe I flirted with someone at church.

(I'll likely never fess up.)

*

The bestie and I possibly made a last minute decision after church

to make the commute north for the fireworks at my/our alma mater.

There was probably some game-playing:

(We are, in truth, far over 21)

And maybe we goofed off with the camera waiting for the show to begin:

(Until I realized the camera was zoomed...)

(ahhh, that's much better!)

I probably cropped the above photo so that you can't see

the spectacle of the painfully hormonal adolescent pair behind and to the left of me.

(And let it be known that my future children are never attending the fireworks unchaperoned.) (Period.)

I certainly appreciated this spectacle while waiting for the fireworks:

And maybe I took the following picture last night, or maybe on the 4th of July...2007.

You'll never know.

*

Perhaps one day I'll get around to posting

about my excursions in the red rock a couple of weeks ago:

And how it was miserably hot in Grand Wash (that smile is only because I'm in the shade)

Or how I probably snap too many photos of sunsets:

Or how I made roasted tomato & eggplant pizza on a whole wheat crust from scratch.

I'll let you read that again: from scratch. And it worked!

But if I were you, I wouldn't hold my breath.

Things that Must Go: Scapegoating Public Schools

The Issue: Childhood obesity has reached such a crisis that it is a threat to national security.

The Reason: Potential recruits don't meet the strict physical requirements for military service.

The Solution: Fix the school lunch system?

I heard about this on the news, then read this article about it. Honestly, I am incensed. Is it unacceptable that 27% of young Americans are obese? Absolutely. Are school lunches (and breakfasts for that matter) sub-par? Why else do you think I brown bag it each day? What frightens me here is that, once again, society's ills are solely depicted as the schools' responsibility.

I call foul.

We educators are in the business of educating. That is why I became an educator--to teach. However, schools as a whole have been assigned the task of playing band-aid to societal issues better suited for surgery. If there is one thing I've learned about the public's attitude toward education it is this: it is ALWAYS our fault. Whatever it is, we did it. Blame us. Sorry 'bout that.

But I can't help but wonder: why not tackle the entirely corrupt and completely disgusting system of mass-produced "food" companies? What about city governments that allow for a fast food joint on every corner in the lowest socio-economic neighborhoods? And whatcha gonna do about those who believe good parenting is as simple as sitting their child in front of the nearest video game console?

I'm sure part of school scapegoating originates because government agencies can ask favors of other government agencies. And there is some truth here--school lunch isn't anything to write home about. Furthermore, when you see what is being served it becomes a bit saddening that those students on free and reduced lunch in my neck of the woods eat two of their daily meals in the cafeteria--Monday through Friday. I completely support that school lunches should be addressed as a part of the solution to this epidemic obesity. But something tells me that school lunch is where this big government solution for obesity ends.

The recipe is simple: Fix something about the school system, pat yourselves on the back, call it solved. Works like a charm every dang time. Except when it doesn't.

To "The Man's" credit--it has to be difficult to point fingers when some of these "food" companies tip their hats--and wallets--to certain politicians. But what happens when a school lunch revolution is the only attempt at fixing this issue?

School lunch: definitely a place to start. Frankly, if lunches improve I might be able to buy my lunch every now and again without fearing the Frankenstein Food down in the cafeteria. It isn't so much the notion that we need to improve the quality of what we put in our mouths--including school lunch--but that the first (and potentially only) culprit for blame is placed public schools. If I could change one attitude in this society it would be this: The public school system is not the culprit of every societal ill, rather, it serves as a microcosm of the society it in which it exists.

Things I Sometimes Wonder

Ina Garten, East Hampton yuppy snob though she may be, is fabulous. I don't care what you say; I love watching her cook beautiful food in her popped collars and pearls. But when I watch, I wonder things...

Do you think she's ever barefoot whilst cooking?

Do you really think she entertains that much?

Does she own any collarless shirts?

Where does she get all those shirts?

Do you think random residents of the East Hampton area get phone calls from Ina's "people" to appear on her show for a staged? authentic? brunch or soiree?

Do you think her food is really even as good as it looks?

Do you think she'd invite me over for one of said brunches?

How much do you think her grocery bill is?

How likely do you think it is that (in all my non-yuppy white-trashiness) I'd ask this if ever invited over?

Yes, I think it is best I watch Ina from the comfort of my couch, eating the drivel I typically eat.