Finally. A well deserved Friday, if I do say so myself. Things are on the upswing after a month at school that I can only describe as a nadir. Driving home 5:43, turning onto country-gravel access road, and there’s still phosphorescent blue in the sky, defying even the low mid-winter cloud-cover. Has the tide turned too for the stars? Can the light be already longer?

Querying Google re which particular date WAS in fact the shortest, result #3 caught my eye. Briefly, from the US Naval Observatory website: “…the period between the first week in December and the first week in January could well be called the "dark days" for the mid-northern latitudes…”

How appropriate.

Sage advice on classroom management from Mr. G, high school English: “It’s like Hustle and Flow, man. People striving to achieve their dreams with limited tools. We’ve got certain limited tools as teachers. You’ve got to use them. Don’t take it personal, they’re paying YoU, after all. I tell myself ‘teaching is my hustle, and I’m not gonna let some punk youngsters stop my flow!’”.

Making lifestyle changes: Coffee in the AM at the Royal Donut. Gym after school. Strawberries. Television has an appeal that it hasn’t had since the 6th grade. Shorter school hours. Less work at home. Pie. Blueberry pie.