Fun Size Bytes

For awhile I was running a “West Wing Scene A Day” Tumblr which was titled Bartlet’s Quotations because I am, after all, a huge nerd.

I was reminded of this scene today because someone told me that (based on this scene) they would pick me to be their Chief of Staff, which is probably the biggest, nicest, and most meaningful compliment I have received in years.

Which, of course, meant that I had to re-watch the episode (“He Shall, From Time to Time,” which is episode 12 of season 1). Afterwards I went to BQ and realized that this scene was the last one that I had posted before it went on unplanned hiatus.

And so now I repost it here for your enjoyment.

bartletsquotations:

{Roger Tribby, the secretary of agriculture, has been chosen to stay at the White House during the State of the Union. If the President and other higher-ups on the chain of succession were killed in an attack at the SOTU, he would become the acting president. He is meeting with President Bartlet before he leaves to give the speech, and Bartlet is giving him hints on what to do in the unlikely event he becomes president. Leo is in his office and can overhear the President, but the President and Roger Tribby are unaware of his presence. — ed.}

BARTLET You have a best friend?

ROGER Yes, sir.

BARTLET Is he smarter than you?

ROGER Yes, sir.

BARTLET Would you trust him with your life?

ROGER Yes, sir.

BARTLET That’s your chief of staff.

Look, I know 2012 hasn’t been a great year for a lot of reasons, but I also know that we tend to forget the good stuff if we don’t spend the time to think back on it.

So I’m starting a list of all of the good things that I can think of from 2012.

And I hope others will add theirs, either as answers, replies, or reblogs.

(They don’t have to be big huge things either. Just things worth remembering.)

1. The Wife finished school. After 2 years of being gone for most of the week and busting her ass at school-work, she graduated, with honors.

2. Then she passed her board exams.

3. Last year The Boy was doing fine at school academically, but was really not enjoying it. This year he really seems to have hit his stride.

4. In June we had a budget meeting which I expected to be a huge contentious stress ball, but it ended up being very productive and affirming.

5. We adopted Kaylee, the latest little weirdo in our family.

6. We spent Thanksgiving in Chicago with Lindsay and Bridget.

7. We were also in Chicago for Jason & Jessica’s wedding (which I guess might be on someone else’s list too) and then got to spend a few extra days with Toni & Dan & family (watching Ethan morph into their 4th son :-) and then with Jessica & Jason & then with Lindsay while we waited for the power to come back on at home.

8. The Boy & I cleaned out the basement (no, really, this belongs on the list, it needed to happen for years.)

9. Went from “thinking about doing a thing” to being ready to do a thing, even if that thing has been delayed longer than I would have liked. Hopefully “doing this thing” will be on the 2013 list.

10. Me & You

accuratelyawesome:

No, really.

I was checking out at Target and the lady in front of me was buying a cart load of school supplies and bitching the entire time about how teachers expect so much and how “They need to realize I pay their goddamn salary and shouldn’t have to buy this shit”.

Guuurl. Hold on. LET ME TAKE MY EARRINGS OUT!

I looked at her and said, “Ma’am I’m a public school teacher. Thank you for paying my “goddamn salary” I’m sure the meager amount you pay in taxes will buy me a delicious case of ramen noodles, but if you don’t shut your mouth and realize your children go to school essentially FOR FREE—-imma smack you right here”

I then dropped my stuff and walked out.

I cannot even believe I did that.

This was my favorite part of today, and you should know that earlier in the day I had free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. And this was better than that.

“That 2½ hour budget meeting was really productive, helpful, clarified a lot of unresolved issues, and I think we’ve done some good work towards addressing some of the communication issues that have been causing a lot of divisiveness based largely on unstated expectations, misunderstandings, and misinterpretations.”

— me

Pretty much thoroughly exhausted, but I feel better than I have in a month, or more, with regard to the work situation.

Seems like a good day to revive #favoritepart.

kimlisagor:

Wes: [throwing fit] I WANT TO WEAR LIGHT BLUE PANTS AND I ONLY HAVE DARK BLUE PANTS! 

Me: Wait a minute. You’re crying because of PANTS? 

Wes: YES! 

Me: We don’t cry because of pants.

Wes: But but but … 

Me: You have a whole drawer full of pants. Did you know that there are children whose parents can’t afford to buy them ANY pants? 

Wes: There are kids who don’t have pants? 

Me: Yes there are. Lots of kids who don’t have pants. 

Wes: Well … what do they wear to school? 

Me: No pants. 

Wes: There are kids who don’t wear pants to school? 

Me: That’s right.

Wes: Hahahahahahahahahaha [end fit]

Favorite Part.