safe and sound... sort of

After a 7 hour trek across California, we made it to Fullerton. Natasha is hyper and biting my legs. I took my pill and I'm seeing double. Ethan is bleeding from a facial wound -- bad shaving incident. We have to get up in 4 hours to go to the airport. New York here we come!

Ugg

I thought I'd out myself. I'm so ashamed. So ugly, these shoes are. Blasphemous. And yet, so comfortable. And I will NOT conform to teacher-wear, and I WILL wear heels to work. So, I wear Uggs at home.

At first they were just slippers. Because it was really cold outside. Then, maybe I'd go the drugstore in them, maybe some grocery shopping. Tonight, I went to the mall. In my uggs.

Oh, and they're not real Uggs. They are knock off uggs. I'm not sure if that makes it better or worse.

Tomorrow I teach and then drive 14,000 miles or so to get to the airport. If you don't hear from me or Ethan, we've been kidnapped by country folk near abouts Palmdale. We'll send Natasha for help.

Desperate PTA Moms

I must clarify: kids draw weird things sometimes. I let them draw whatever they want, unless it has excessive murderous tendencies. Then maybe I'll try to steer them in another direction. But for the most part, creativity should not be squandered. Let kids be kids.

That's fine, right? Today I went into the school to make up a few classes that I will miss because I'm going to New York this weekend. As I left for the day, one the more prominent pta moms on campus recognized me, smiled hello, and went to help set up the bake sale. I think it's a weekly bake sale, and that could be dangerous for my jeans. Self control. Sorry, tangent. So, I walked by the sale to see what delicious sugary goodies I could treat myself to. I settled on a donut. While normally 75 cents, I was excited to learn that my teacher discount got me a 33% discount. I shelled out two quarters for the baked good.

"You know," the mom said as she helped the other moms put out brownies and lemon cake, "you had my son in your class yesterday!"

"Oh, really? How wonderful."

Tales from the Art Teacher

Today at work one of my younger students pointed to a color wheel by my supplies. "You know what that looks like?" he asks.

"It's a color wheel," I say.

"Yes, but you know what it LOOKS like?"

"What?"

"A star of david!"

"Oh, look, so it does."

"You should be Jewish. Then you would know."

"Well, actually, I am."

"You're Jewish?"

"Yep."

"And you didn't see that it was a star of david?"

"I guess not!"

"Well, that's okay. You can't be expected to know everything."