58 degrees just isn't right

My quest to not have to turn on the heat until November came to a reluctant end tonight when I set the upstairs thermostat to 63 degrees, clicking on the oil burner, which you can now hear shuddering in the basement.

The daytime temperature upstairs today dipped to 58 degrees, which may be the reason why noses are running for everyone in my family. It was an act of mercy -- I felt a little guilty when the kids' cheeks were cold in the morning -- and to avoid co-pays at the pediatrician.

But, mostly, I felt a little stubborn.

Let's see how long 3/4 a tank of oil lasts us.

Note: Tomorrow morning, once everyone's up, the heat goes off.

Breaking News!

Well, it's not really breaking, but Education Week, the fine weekly (not daily) paper of the education industry, published my new essay/commentary, titled, "How My Three-Year-Old Taught Me About Education."

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/10/08/07polochanin.h28.html