First day of school with students was today. My day went somewhat off the rails before I even left the house. I was zipping my backpack, getting ready to leave so I would be at work five minutes early, when there was an urgent pounding on the door.

I am so accustomed to children grabbing my hand to hold that when it happened at a ball game recently, I didn't even really notice. The friend I was with had to tell the kid I wasn't his mom.

It feels like it should be wrong to put a stuffed animal into your luggage.

Who wants to have feelings

did you know I dream of tacos and no war?

This is not immaterial!

When you see Oklahoma's abbreviation listed right after Ohio's, it's like, oh ok

Sesame street got me on the ropes with this

Everyone who walks by on the sidewalk, she asks their name. I think she might already be running for mayor. (Her parents sit on the porch and watch her chalk the sidewalk or play in the rain. I like to sit on my porch and pretend I'm gonna read but really I'm there to gab.)

My next door neighbor kid is five and is going to start attending the school where I teach this fall. Neighbor Kid: HI CAITLIN Me: You know, you're going to need to call me a different version of my name pretty soon. Neighbor Kid: You mean like Cait?

Today was the last day of summer school. Looking forward to being a different kind of tired starting tomorrow.

LOUD

I didn't want to be disrespectful and take a photo, but we walked past an Amish buggy with four passengers and at least two visible Stanley cups.

my parents expected As & were aghast at A-s. there was no celebration of excellence & no tolerance for mediocrity. grades were a measure of my worthiness. I think about this when I assess my students. what do grades mean to them & what are alternative ways to motivate learning?

you know what people love at parades? fire engines. bright and loud and heroes use 'em

I don't mean to brag but I'm like if Pedro Pascal was a chick. Not as in looks, but like. The vibe.

Kids around the corner are selling balloons. (Last year they sold paper airplanes.) I had no cash but they insisted on giving me a freebie, so now I am walking the dog all over the the neighborhood while carrying this lovely, um, sword.

They're bad habits now, but at some point they were coping strategies or survival skills, so I can't be too mad at myself for them.

Dear Caitlin, If an object has a cool function, but you never use it, then to you, it is useless. Sincerely, Your Kitchen

Today is a Wednesday that wants to be a Saturday.

the third amendment finally gets its news cycle