Mike O'Connell

Last week when my local school district called five snow days in a row I thought it was possibly the most foolish decision I’d ever witnessed.

Scratch possibly, but not because I think it’s moved up to number one. It’s definitely not the most foolish decision I’ve ever witnessed, because I’m now living through this week–the week of two-hour delays.

Yeah, my local school district (that would be Loudoun County Public Schools) has called for five consecutive two-hour delays, an unprecedented move set in place Monday for the entire week. (I’d never heard of calling more than one day at a time, even in a God damn blizzard.)

The two-hour delay schedule exacerbates one of the great problems in education today: too much “teacher” time and not enough “student” time. Squeezing the student-facing time a little more just makes the not-enough-time problem a little more not-enough.

One word for this week…

weak.

We’ve come full circle on snow days this week, literally, as Snow Day #5 today completes the full-week cycle of school cancellations.

Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but yeah, it’s now beyond the tipping point, no longer amusing, and a classic case of be-careful-what-you-wish-for.

But on today’s episode of Math and Musings you’ll hear Franklin and me basking in the glory of Snow Day #1, pondering the possibility of whether we’d get another or perhaps in a crazy scenario three in a row.

Those were the days.

Enjoy.

Snow day today ’round these parts, leaving me ample time to think of things perhaps unrelated to my employment but enjoyable nonetheless.

For example, I like to make lists.

I’m list guy.

I especially like to make lists by months. For example, months by color, months by beverage, months by fruit.

You’re welcome.

But somehow I never listed the months by popularity.

Allow me to right that wrong.

1. June

2. July

3. August

(Okay, that was the easy part.)

4. December

5. October

6. May

7. November

8. September

9. April

10. March

11. February

12. January

Again, you’re welcome.

Talk about the Commonwealth the past few days has concerned the sartorial choices of our new governor, Abigail Spanberger.

Spanberger is the first female to hold the position of Virginia governor, and apparently the first(?) not to wear something called a “morning coat” at her inauguration.

According to “A Guide to Virginia Protocols and Traditions” (yeah, that’s a thing I guess), “morning coat” is the proper attire for such occasions. (Yes, morning, not mourning.)

Spanberger wore a white coat. And apparently not “morning.”

The horrors.

My friends in the opposition jumped on the opportunity to criticize. (Never miss a chance, right?) But let’s wait a minute, folks. Soon enough she’ll mess up something that’s actually real and let’s work on that one. Frankly I can’t believe I’m on the side of let’s-not-worry-about-what-a-woman-is-wearing-but-what-she-actually-does, but here I am.

Now let the criticism begin!

Today on Math and Musings Franklin and I discuss Disney World again, this time focusing on the rides and experiences that make for the happiest place on Earth.