What constitutes a failure?

There is a story in the Washington Post today that reveals there is a report issued by the Government Accounting Office that is currently being reviewed by the defense department. The significance of the report (done by the Investigative arm of Congress) is that it details the failure of the US to meet all but three of its own benchmarks in Iraq. The official who leaked the report to the Post did so out of concern that it would be watered doen prior to being released to the public next week.

So, out of 18 benchmarks, three have been met. Does that mean we have a long way to go and need to dig in deeper, send more troops and spend more money? Or does that mean it is time to pack it in, and start bringing poeple home? I am not the one to answer that.

What gets me about all of it is that somehow, this administration will highlight only its successes and downplay the abject failure of it all. Of course, the case could be made that it is human nature to highlight your strengths, etc...

So how come yesterday, I had to sit in a meeting where I was told that because our students' test scores slipped by one point we had better figure out where we went wrong and what we were going to do about it? Why, across the country, are thousands of schools being labelled as "failing" by this administration and facing sanctions and take over by the government when they don't meet their benchmarks? (They can even be making improvements and showing growth, but still be labelled failing!)

Every day, hundreds of teachers and students are told that they are failures on a field where the goal post is moved every year, yet this administration will defend its choices in Iraq and paint them as successes- SAD!

Daddy's Girl- Lisa Scottoline

This is a fun legal thriller that I got i at the library the other day. This is the second book I have read by this author and her stories are tight, funny, action packed and smart. She writes strong women characters and took the plot of this one someplace I did not expect. If you like Evanovich, Stuart Woods, etc. check out this author.

lucky number 7

seven, seven, I would never have thought that I could accomplish it...
the first two miles were out of whack-kath noticed i was doing something funny w/my right foot the other day and so now I am hyper aware and trying to fix it...
at mile 4 i needed hammer gel (YUM to the chocolate!)
at mile 5, i dropped my water bottle cap and had to hop off the treadmill
at 5.5, the treadmill went into cool down mode, so I had to restart it
and mile 6 and 7 were sweetly serene...as long as I kept on with my affirmations-
i can, i will, i'm able
si se puede
don't be a baby

as someone who lives in "her head" a great deal- always thinking, always worrying, always wondering, running is lethal because so much of it is internal debate: keep going or turn around?, push harder or take it easy?, you can do it or who really cares?

so, as you all head into the weekend- whatever challenges you may be facing (big or small) I hope you are in touch with your inner fierceness- you can, you will, you are able!

Fierce

I was fierce today!



wOw-sry its hrd 2type whl pattin myslf on the bck..

chaffing

oh, i know u don't want to talk about it, but i'm tired of suffering in silence...chaffing...trying to run, thighs too big, contact, rubbed raw....who'd have ever thought i'd be thankful for spandex?

if anyone needs a fire started, the friction from my little thighs going down the road might help you out...

HP# 7

well, i finished it yesterday morning and I can't believe it is all over. I feel like so many fans who have had to say good-bye- we knew the 7th book was coming, we always knew there would be 7, and yet it is hard not to have another to look forward to.

Don't worry, I am not going to give anything away! J, K and I meet in a quiet corner to discuss our reactions, so as not to ruin it for Joe.

I will say that i am pleased that, once again, JK Rowling returns to her orginal premise that love is a saving and protecting power. this idea has always been the core of these books and the singular idea my kids and I took away from them. (That is why I marvel at people who won't let their kids read them: parental love as eternal protection and guidance is a great lesson for kids)...

"Tell me one last thing," said Harry. "Is this real? Or has this been
happening inside my head?"
"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should
that mean that it is not real?"

DC pics

this has to be one of my favorite cities...joe and I could have sat all day in the senate gallery and watched the senators speak....

the kids were great travelers and they are still my favorite companions at museums, as they love to stop and look and read

i think their favorites were probably mt. vernon, the capital building, and the art museum

we also enjoyed using the metro to get around and took in a nationals game, too

most importantly, we were somewhere all together, and it does not get better than that!

home again, home again

back from dc- such a great experience for our whole family
will post some pics in the next couple of days