My Cardboard Balcony

This week was Teacher Appreciation Week. When you're a high school teacher, you don't really get a lot of gifts or outward thanks from most of your students. It's not that they're not thankful; it's just that, unlike elementary schoolers, they're not being constantly reminded of it anymore. And that's fine. I'm not teaching to receive accolades; I'm teaching to make a difference and help students learn in a safe, open, and creative environment. I did get some very nice emails from a couple of my students, though! Names blotted out for privacy's sake. This student sent this email out to all his teachers, which is nice. This one was just sent out to me. :) In this crazy timeline, these little messages and comments mean the world to me. They're worth more than gold. Because I want to make sure that my students, despite all the chaos of the universe they live, get a steady hand guiding them through their education and providing...

Nuanced Perspectives by Belinda Roddie As we grow older, we tend to realize, after a while, that our accomplishments tend to blur with serious downfalls. I think it's safe to say that the difference between success and failure is very much in the eye of the beholder right now. Based on one's mood, based on one's circumstance...you get the picture. For example: I spent the entirety of today in my pajama shorts, even when I wore a costume for the role of Don Pedro during an online reading of Much Ado About Nothing. Now, is that a major failure, or a major success? My wife and I agree that it was the latter. Sure, finishing a creative project or beating a video game is all well and good. So can eating the rest of the spaghetti in the pot can be a serious triumph. So can sleeping for thirteen hours straight and catching up on shut eye. So can doing a three mile jog or a fifteen minute walk. The possibilities are endless. Find your own victories, lovelies. Even if someone else d...

Drag King Day by Belinda Roddie I love a good excuse to draw on facial hair.

Black Lives Matter by Belinda Roddie Ahmaud Arbery did not deserve to die. Justice for Ahmaud!

The Pooches' Perfect Crime by Belinda Roddie The dogs were happy to keep their humans at home.

That Smile by Belinda Roddie Love is photogenic, and at various angeles, she shows perspectives one can only capture by a dirty camera lens: Clean it, and the glare and flare both get in the way. But between the spots and smudges, you can count how many times she said, "I'm here for you." How many times she reminded you, "I'm not going anywhere. I promise." By the time you've gotten a hold on Love, she spins between your fingers, but the glitter she sheds sticks to the skin - you can never truly shake it off, no matter how much you've been hurt. "It's not a big deal. Don't be so hard on yourself." "I wish you could see yourself the way I see you." And one by one, the sequins become stars in a sky personally woven just for you and her. Love is not afraid of showing her "ugly side." She adores her double chin, her love handles, her wrinkles, crow's feet, and many, many stretch marks. A...

Making My Bed And Lying In It by Belinda Roddie I made some killer guacamole. No more room for dinner.