Last week was such a nightmare! Key Results, Principals' Leadership Institute (where I sort of said something very inappropriate...so what else is new?), Principals' Professional Development Meeting (four hours long - teachers should be very happy your staff development sessions only last one hour), and Principal for a Day (thank goodness I didn't say anything stupid). I'm hoping the upcoming week will be a little calmer...I think it will be. I didn't do any school work on Friday - honest. I ran a bunch of errands that I don't have time to take care of during the week. One of my Friday stops was to the Torrance Barnes and Noble (my fave). Parking was a nightmare, as always. I bought a couple mags (The New Yorker and Los Angeles - I probably should just subscribe). I also bought Barack Obama's book, The Audacity of Hope. I haven't read a pleasure book in a long time. I think it's time to start reading again. So, before bed, I'm going to read for at least 30 minutes. Maybe even more! I'm loving this book. On page 25, the Illinois Senator writes, "And we will need to remind ourselves, despite all our differences, just how much we share: common hopes, common dreams, a bond that will not break." Smart words. The Senator is talking about the American people, but he could also be talking about us - teachers and staff. We do have common hopes and dreams for the kids we teach. That's why we became teachers in the first place, to make the world a better place and to give kids hope. We want our kids to succeed, to live good lives, and to make the world a better place. No matter how long the days (and weekends) are, no matter how many angry parents I have to deal with, no matter how many piles of paper I have to move around, I will always remember why I became a teacher in the first place - to make sure kids believe in hope and dreams.