Are we there yet?

As I've aged, I have grown to enjoy winter less than anyone I know. Why didn't we evolve to hibernate? I have this obsession (maybe more than one) with this weather forecast. It's the ten day forecast for Columbus. I keep looking at it hoping: a. there's no snow and b. I see it end on March 1st. To me, March 1st means I made it. March 1st is essesntially spring. It could be -10 degrees but I know Spring is just around the corner; it's enough to keep me going. Unfortunately, all I'm seeing is light snow and December 9th. Yuk. I think I'll go and watch the Grinch.

Meetup

The folks at ColumbusBlogs.net are hosting a meetup at Max & Erma's in the Arena District tomorrow night. School night for me, so I won't be attending, but hopefully, I'll be able to make the next one.

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We Survived

Amazing the aids for parents in airports these days.

Well, to Boston and back with a very active toddler. We made it and even enjoyed ourselves. Thanks Donna and Joe, Joe, Anthony and Jess for the incredible Thanksgiving Dinner! And, of course, all our other gracious hosts.

No Elephant in the Trunk

Penn Jillette did the This I Believe piece this week. It's excellent.

Layoff teachers and hire more bean counters, that'll do it

Gene Harris, delusional Superintendent of Columbus Public Schools, will ask for an unspecified amount of money in next year's budget to staff an office that will be responsible for enrollment projections and drafting new school attendance boundaries (Columbus Dispatch, pdf).

Students are leaving Columbus Public Schools in record numbers to charters and with vouchers and the solution is to count them. I must be missing something.

Just in case you were wondering ...

1. Clocktower Port, a cheapie but goodie
2. G.C. to Columbus Fish Market
3. Lincoln's Melancholy
4. Chimay, any flavor
5. Grappa
6. to be continued ...

Date night itinerary

Last night Frankie and I spent a few hours out and about. But she's still trying to get the potty thing right. This was our path: Daycare -> Wendy's bathroom -> dinner at Wendy's -> Whetstone Library -> Whetstone Library's bathroom (oops, a bit late) -> Whetstone Library -> Denise's Ice Cream -> Denise's Ice Cream's bathroom -> Home -> plunk down and rest. A fun but challenging night. Can't wait for those security lines at the airport.

Prancing elk and everything!

My new winter hat knit for me by my love.

3 by 3

Don't go here, you may never return.

Voucher ≠ Scholarship

If you live in a school district with a school that's failed (by standardized test scores) for 3 years straight, your eligible, in the 2006-2007 school year, for a voucher.

Maybe.

You see, the enlightened folks at the Ohio Dept. of Education (ODE) might give you some of your tax money back because their school system failed you. It's actually called a voucher but they're calling it a frickin' scholarship.

So, my tax money will fund my own scholarship that I have to apply for and maybe, just maybe, I'll get it so I can put it toward my daughter's education in some private school. Thanks ODE!