Grutz says, "The reign of Nolan must come to an end!" or "You know, there's a lot in this world NOT related to Nolan."

WARNING- This post has very little Nolan info.  Go ahead, I'll wait while you go to your favorite site.

This is NOT Nolan.  This is a harpy eagle.  No. 1 harpy eagles are from South America, Nolan is from Chicago.  No. 2 harpy eagles are birds, Nolan is a boy.

Body Catch-up.


My life in the Cult of Nolan, though blissful and joyous, has not been without its challenges.  Primarily sleep related (though it must be said Carleen endures much, much, MUCH less sleep than I) and its negative effect on work.  Work, in turn, wears me out also.  Couple that with an exhausting (mental/emotional) visit back to Iowa to see my ailing Dad, and BOOM!! I'm sick.  So I've holed myself up in the spare room recouping.  And not leave anything for the All Mighty Nolan to catch, which in turn, would incur the wrath of his High Priestess Carleen.  She can, with effort, be that kind of High Priestess.

Hangin' with Mr. Grutz.

I've been teaching 3rd grade now for a couple of weeks at a charter school.  The combination of longer day (8-4 with the kids vs 9-3 at public school), beginning in the middle of the year, a +1 year of NOT working (sigh), and new baby has made this transition into a new teaching role a little less smooth than I'd like or expect, knowing my skill and experience.  It has been a wonderful opportunity and it is nice to get back into the classroom.  Again, I'm faced with that age-old dilemma: Never being satisfied.  Struggling to be patient in the process.  The students are HERE.  I want them THERE.  It's a process, I know.

Wisconsin 2012 - Recall is a b!tch.

As I've pointed out in the past, the crazy hi-jinx of Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin would land him in some scalding water.  And it has.  I'm still amazed at his handlers and aides.  Does he know the state and labor history of Wisconsin?  Or the demographics.  If there's one thing about upper-midwest democrats and liberals, it's that they're industrious.  The weather of the midwest does not lend itself to leisure and lying about.  It's about doing (or surviving, winters in Wisconsin are tough*).  Take this work ethic and apply it to a ethical platform and you get things done.  Would this have happened in California?  No.  The weather is too nice.

Continuing with politics....Iowa 2012 - Caucus of the Damned!

Whew, I'm so glad the caucus is over.  And I don't even live there!  The constant (half-baked) coverage and the terrible national take on the the state or the much sited piece from Stephen Bloom (mostly truthful, a bit harsh).  Enough.  Well, I'm sure you've seen the Iowa Nice video.  It really sums up a lot of what I've been going on and on and on about for ages (sorry to all you people that put up with my Iowa homerism.  I am the Patron Saint of Iowa Pride, St. Nicholas of the Tall Corn.)  If you haven't, sit down punk.  (BTW, some cussin' in this here video, don't play it at work or in front of the wee ones, unless they're Iowans because they totally get it.)

Thanks Paul D. Benedict and Scott Siepker for your lovely take on the great Hawkeye State.

I'm out.

And I have a hunch Nolan will be back in the blog shortly.

*Wisconsin is cold.  But this is worse.