All the sad news

There's been a lot of sad news this week--the shootings in Arizona, LK Madigan's sad announcement about her cancer, e-piracy, etc. There were also the ALA awards, in which Jordan Sonnenblick's book After Ever After won an award. I haven't read that book yet, but my library does have his book Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie, about a boy whose little brother gets leukemia. The point of this book is a good one to remember when it feels like things are horrible and you can't change them: don't despair over what you can't change. Find something you CAN change, and do it.

Sounds like a good thing to keep in mind.

Speaking of doing something...

The snow that was supposed to be "trace amounts to one inch" turned out to be closer to six when we got up this morning. And naturally, second son had this model of an atom he was supposed to get to school today (which he told me about last night, of course). He made it out of play-doh, but didn't glue anything, so it was pretty fragile, and he wanted me to drive him so it wouldn't get messed up on the bus. So I went outside to shovel the driveway. Um. Lots of snow!!! Our driveway happens to be the bus stop as well. There was a kid already there, basically digging a snow cave in the pile at the side of the driveway. When I started shoveling, he asked if I had an extra shovel. When my kids came out I made them shovel, of course. But we have fewer shovels than people. So another kid ran home to get his own shovel. When all the kids were ready and my husband came out (he was cracking the whip inside and getting ready for work himself), I passed a shovel off, and then the bus came anyway. But our driveway sure got cleared fast! It helps when you are the bus stop for the Boy Scouts... :)