There was a big thunderstorm last night, and I guess it might be to blame for our loss of Internet access. So there’s no post for today. Well, no post other than this. And since this, technically, is a post, this is today’s post.

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com

A few weeks ago there was a wildfire in our state, and it took firefighters a week or more to put it out. It was about 100 miles from our city, but for a couple of days we had smoke in the air. I took the below picture at 10:00 in the morning in the parking lot of a local shopping center.

It’s an eerie sight to see it live, and the smell, though not overpowering, was bad. Having seen this little example around my home, I can only imagine what the folks in California are seeing. And I won’t even try to imagine what those with homes in harm’s way are feeling.

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com

Yesterday was Calfgrit7’s first day of 2nd grade, in a new school, on a new year-round calendar. He was nervous, as was expected, but he took to it all just fine. We were all in the van to take him in, but we couldn’t find a parking spot — everyone was doing the same that first day — so Cowgrit (who was driving) dropped CG7 and me off. I carried his school supplies in a Target bag, and CG7 hauled his backpack.

The local TV news crews were on hand, filming and talking with the principle and teachers. When we walked in the front door, there were eight women in school t-shirts in the main hall greeting everyone as they entered. We (Cowgrit, CG7, and myself) had visited last Thursday for the open house to see the inside of the school, find the classroom, and meet the teacher. So CG7 and I made our way directly to his classroom without delay.

Other parents were in the room with their 2nd graders, and we all hung around and talked for ten minutes or so. We talked to the teacher, again, and eventually CG7 was comfortable enough for me to leave. He gave me a big hug and I left him. I snapped a picture of him talking with his classmates and teacher as I walked out the door.

One of the fun things about living in America is the wonderful diversity that keeps you from making assumptions. CG7’s teacher has a Spanish first name, a Scottish last name, but is of Asian decent. At first, we had only known her last name, Mrs. Scottish-name, so when we met her in person, it was a fun surprise to see that our natural expectation was completely wrong.

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com