Sunday, March 27, 2016

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Hey, Senate - Do Your Job!

Vote to confirm or not confirm the (elected) President's Supreme Court appointee. I mean, based on that appointee's merits. You know - your job.

Wednesdays with The Subversive Children's Book Club: Strong Girl Characters

In honor of Women's History Month, this installment of the Subversive Children's Book Club features fiction books with strong girl characters.  Enjoy!

Primary and Lower Elementary:


  • A Chair for My Mother by Vera Williams
  • Madeline By Ludwig Bemelmans
  • Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
  • Mirette on The High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully
  • Chester's Way by Kevin Henkes
  • Just Us Women by Jeannette Caines
  • Rumplestiltskin's Daughter by Diane Stanley
  • The Ramona Books By Beverly Cleary
  • Tatterhood and the Hobgoblins Retold by Lauren Mills
  • Little Women By Louisa May Alcott
  • The Anne of Green Gables Books By L.M. Montgomery
  • Seven Brave Women by Betsy Hearne 

Upper Elementary and Teen:
  • The Tequila Worm By Viola Canales
  • The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by  Jacqueline Kelley
  • Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt
  • The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
  • Sugar by Jewell Parker Rhodes
  • One Crazy Summer & P.S. Be Eleven By Rita Williams-Garcia  
  • Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes 
  • The Betsy-Tacy Books By Maud Hart Lovelace (the later ones) 
  • The Alice Books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor  
  • Like Sisters on The Homefront by Rita Williams-Garcia
  • The Highest Frontier by Joan Slonczewski.

Monday, March 14, 2016

SDG Mondays: Resilient Infrastructure

Hello!  Today we focus on the 9th of the United Nations' new sustainable development goals:

"Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation."

This goal has eight associated targets:

What do you think of this goal and its associated targets?

What can you do to help reach this goal?

I intend to keep voting for candidates and policies that support sustainable energy infrastructures and decent wages for workers.

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Sunshine Days!!!!!

While no mama likes to lose an hour of sleep, there is always coffee and now we get SUNSHINE BACK!!!!!!  I really, really, really like the Spring and Summer when we get to have sunshine in the evenings!  I get happy!  I can go for walks after work!  I can drive home in the light!  It is woooonnnndddeeeeerrrfulllll!

Often, I hear people bemoaning the ridiculousness of Daylight Savings Time and saying we should just get rid of it, but I just looked it up and it is now, the sunshine-y days, that are Daylight Savings Time.  The dark, depressing days are not.  So, um....no.  We can never get rid of Daylight Savings Time.  Never.

Now that other time - standard time or whatever you call it, when it gets dark at 6pm....feel free to get rid of that mess.  I will happily embrace Daylight Savings Time all year long.  I am quite certain it would make me a happier, healthier person.  You must never take it away, though.  Never.

Sunshine forever!!!!!

Thursday, March 10, 2016

In Like A Lion

March has been...wet. Fields like bays and medians like creeks.

Wednesday, March 09, 2016

You May Want To Avoid Austin on Friday

I hear they are having a visitor and expect the traffic to be really bad.  Think Austin traffic on a regular day and then try to imagine the sort of traffic that might cause them to offer a warning about it.  I'd be scared. (Also, their breakfast tacos are not very good.)

Wednesdays with The Subversive Children's Book Club: Women's History! (Herstory!)

In honor of Women's History Month, this installment of Wednesdays with The Subversive Children's Book Club features books about herstory, which we still do not learn enough of in our schools (still thanks to bodies like the Texas State Board of Education).  Teach it anyways.  Make it anyways.  Enjoy.


Books About Herstory for Kids

  • Cool Women: The Thinking Girl’s Guide to the Hippest Women in History By Pam Nelson
  • Rad American Women A-Z:  Trailblazers, and Visionaries who Shaped Our History...and Our Future! by Kate Schatz
  • Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals
  • The Ballot Box Battle By Emily Arnold McCully
  • Dolores Huerta:  A Hero To Migrant Workers By Sarah E. Warren
  • You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer By Shana Corey
  • The Librarian of Basra  By Jeannette Winter
  • Amelia and Eleanor Go For A Ride By Pam Munoz Ryan
  • The Value of Friendship: The Story of Jane Addams By Ann Donegan Johnson
  • Wangari's Trees of Peace By Jeannette Winter
  • Rare Treasure: Mary Anning And Her Remarkable Discoveries By Don Brown
  • Maria’s Comet By Deborah Hopkinson
  • Almost Astronauts:  13 Women Who Dared To Dream By Tanya Lee Stone

Tuesday, March 08, 2016

Breakfast Taco Wars

Corpus Christi.  No contest.  Get a life, Austin.

Happy International Women's Day!

This year's theme is Pledge for Parity.  What can we do in our communities to promote gender parity? Pledge to take action - publish an article, campaign for equal pay, support women in the workforce, lead a Girl Scout Troop - there is so much you can do.

Please read this post of mine on the United Nations' SDG about gender equality...and take action.

 What will you do today for gender equality?


Monday, March 07, 2016

SDG Mondays: Economic Growth

Good Morning!  Today we focus on the 8th of the United Nations' new Sustainable Development Goals:

"Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all."

This goal has 12 associated targets:

 What do you think of this goal and its associated targets?  

What can you do to help meet the targets? 

I think of continuing to support candidates who support labor unions and environmental sustainability and health insurance.

Tuesday, March 01, 2016

Super Tuesday - Vote!

If you have not already voted, Mamas, you have to vote today at your precinct's polling location.  Find it on your county's website.

Voting is our duty to our children.