The State of Education

We are pretty lucky (if you can call it that) because we live within the boundaries of one of the school districts that consistently ranks in the top 10 in California. However, as I'm sure the entire world knows, California has fallen on difficult times. It is not just California, though, the entire globe is struggling right now but, humor me, lets focus on the great state in which I reside, California.

So, California ran into some difficult budget issues this year and had to balance the budget. I know everyone has to give in these situations but it does not appear that everyone is giving. The state government reps know which side their bread is buttered and it's not the education side. To balance the budget, our wise senators and assembly persons elected to cut more money from the public education budget. Why is it that California is the 5th largest economy in the world but is dead last in the funding of its education system? Can we not see that if we continue to cut funds and resources from the very hand that continues to feed this state that we may be an impoverished nation in the not too distant future?

I find it amazing that we can fund building projects, roads, and even earmark one BILLION dollars for truck drivers to take their trucks green all the while depleting the budget for education. Don't get me wrong, the environment is very important and I get that if we use up all our resources it will not matter whether anyone had a proper education because there will be no one here to know but, we could be educating the future to help solve these environmental problems. We choose not to though, that is what amazes me.

Budgeting is tough for every one in these hard times but it is all about priorities. We set priorities at home to determine what we spend our money on and our priorities are our children. I think anyone who has children would agree that we would rather give our children the last bite of food and starve ourselves. Are our legislators blind to this? Are they really acting in our best interests? I really have to wonder.

Okay, what brought this on? I drove my children to school this morning and the teachers at their school who have received pink slips are all lined up in front of the school in pink shirts and the ones that have been spared are wearing black. With my kids in the car it took all I had to not break into an all out bawl. It really choked me up. Our district like all others in California is facing some harsh cuts and it is hard to see that happen.

I think we need to rethink how we spend our money in this new era. Reform in many areas is calling, education being one of them but, not the one receiving the most money. Maybe what we need to do is to have a survey on the next ballot where the people rate the importance of spending in various categories, it might be an eye opening experience for all.

I apologize for the rant, not the importance of the topic, though. Maybe with all of our great minds put together we can come up with some feasible solutions to turn this system around.

Recharging Batteries

During the holidays my husband and I had to work so our children went to visit their grandparents for the weekdays, they were home, however, from Christmas Eve through the Sunday after Christmas for some well-needed family time.

But, since the kids were gone and my husband had nothing more than working on our plates for a change, we had a chance to recharge our batteries.

So the first morning that the children were with their grandparents my husband decided to leave for work a little later than usual. Well, he left then came back a few minutes later and explained that his car battery was dead so he would wait for me to get ready and we could take my car. He asked when I would be ready, to which I replied, "About 45 minutes." His jaw dropped onto the floor and he said, "How come so long?" Need he ask? It always takes me longer than him to get ready.

When I emerged from our bedroom ready to go we headed for the garage together. When we got into my car I thought it odd that someone turned off the dome lights. Turns out that my car battery was also dead. What a coincidence that both car batteries could be dead at the same time. I thought it was just that both cars needed their batteries recharged also after the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. My husband gave me a sideways look.

We were able to get jumped and off to work but, who wants to start off on a Monday like that?

I Glove Breakfast

Do you ever notice when you order your food at many places that the food handlers wear gloves? And sometimes they do all sorts of things with their gloved hands then handle your food? Don't you just want to say, "Did you know that those gloves are actually supposed to be for MY protection?"

"What raises this?" you might ask. Well, this morning I decided I wanted a breakfast sandwich so I went to a local hole in the wall and ordered. There was only one dude on duty, the regular register person must have been on break. He rips his rubber glove off of one hand, handles my money transaction with the ungloved hand being very careful to not touch anything else with his gloved hand, then places a new glove on the ungloved hand and proceeds to prepare my meal. Although not ideal this was an acceptable practice to me. Because he was so careful not to use the gloved hand to handle the money (or anything else) is the only reason I think I noticed.

I cannot tell you how many places I have been where the staff has done so many things with their gloved hands that I'd rather not think about it enough to repeat any of the sightings, the proceeded to prepare a food item. Those places I have walked out of. Do they not get it? Those gloves are for my protection, not so they don't get my food on their hands! If they want to avoid getting food on their hands then they should work in retail clothing or something else.

Anyway, my sandwich was excellent and I ate it all! Yum!

Do Rolling Briefcases Make Good Dance Partners?

The popularity of those rolling briefcases has really taken off, have you noticed? I see them all over now and I understand their popularity. I'm not crazy about carrying a heavy bag on my shoulder but I have to say that the vain side of me (and that is my much, much smaller side) would much rather carry a smart looking bag that I can fit everything into, throw over my shoulder, and run.

During my commute I see many people with these wheeled briefcases. They just plop them on the ground and go rolling these briefcases along behind them. So, I bet you can see my beef coming...why do those people that have these rolling briefcases feel the need to plop them down right in front of my feet when I am walking? Don't they have some obligation to be sure that they watch where they and their rolling briefcase is going? And, come on people, at the top or bottom of an escalator is especially dangerous to stop to plop your wheeled briefcase!

I cannot tell you how many times now I have almost landed on my head because someone has stopped abruptly in commute foot traffic to drop their rolling briefcase directly in my path. There is one person in particular that I run into plenty of times who seems to be especially oblivious. He feels compelled to not carry his wheeled briefcase any further than absolutely necessary even if it compromises my safety and the safety of those around me. And he is consistently the one who stops dead in his tracks at the top of the escalator to drop his briefcase, walk around it, like he's doing a samba, the proceed off pulling the little devil behind him.

If one day I quit posting to this blog, well, you will know what happened.

Most Moms Would Like to Work Part Time, Surprised?

I'm sure it comes as no surprise to any of you moms that most moms would like to work part time. Though even a part time schedule can be a challenge. The issue is that most companies will not hire people into part time positions. I believe that this comes from the corporate mentality that if someone is not willing to spend all their waking hours at work then they are not loyal to the company. But, times, they are a changing.

As women have their children later in life, they are usually well established in their profession. Companies have invested time and money in training these women, also. After entrenching themselves in their profession, women have their first baby, then elect to stay home because their priorities change and they cannot find a suitable schedule. Because of this paradigm change, companies are beginning to feel the talent pinch. Some companies are starting to take notice and offer more flexible schedules for professional women. Staffing agencies, like 10 til 2, as well are picking up on the trend and specializing in placement of professional women in part time and flexible positions.



In fact, an Arizona newspaper reports, that a poll suggests that moms are more inclined now to want to work part time than ten years ago. It also lists the Top 10 part-time jobs for moms as:

• Administrative or executive assistant.
• Accounts payable/receivable.
• Appointment setters.
• Accountant or bookkeeper.
• Data entry.
• Legal secretaries.
• Marketing specialist.
• Sales.
• Office assistant or manager.
• Graphic or Web designers.

The task of balancing a full-time job with all of its demands and a family, because, let's face it, children need their mommy, is stressful. The stress is what forces women to leave the workforce if they cannot cut back the work schedule. Companies now are beginning to realize that they are missing out on a talent pool that they had available to them ten years ago. This realization is what is prompting companies to offer more flexible schedules for moms and dads alike.

My experience proves that most moms want to work. It gives them an outlet in other areas of life so they can feel successful on those days that being a mother makes us doubt our abilities. There are no rules for parenting (as we all know) and therefore the ability to work in an environment where there are boundaries and the possibility of positive feedback on the job that we perform is critical.

As the next few years pass, I hope that more opportunities arise for people who wish for the part time schedule become more abundant. I think it might just make as a more rounded society. Oh, how I am hoping that this really takes off.