School.

So, occasionally I am a nice teacher and give my kids a fun project to do. (I am also having them write an essay the week before Spring Break-can't be too nice.) Today, we are coloring and painting greek pottery (on paper). Yesterday, we watched a Power Point on Greek pottery so they'd know how to do theirs (after which, Daniel said, with sincerity, "That was the best 20 minutes of my life." I have thoroughly taught them how to suck up.)

Today, they used crayon to color their pots with a scene from The Odyssey and are painting the background with watercolors. So, I have put on traditional Greek music, also known as Weezer's Blue Album (which is my favorite. I know the cool kids like Pinkerton better, but the blue album is one of my favorite albums EVER). "In the Garage" just started and let me tell you, the boys in my honors class like to say EVERYTHING out loud.

"That's the harmonica!"
"I play the harmonica!"
"I play with windwhistle."
"I play the recorder!"

All of this was at full volume, which I could hear across the room. Bless their hearts. And their unintentionally loud voices, which I understand completely. After this exchange, I looked around the room and felt genuine affection for them. I like my classes this year. And I like listening to Weezer at work.

Done.

I mailed my National Boards Portfolio on Saturday.

I just submitted my final spread for the 2009 yearbook.

Fin.

It's 12:05pm...

...and a kid in my class just yelled out, "I'm the Mexican Zeus!! Viva la Raza!" during our Greek myth play practice. Ah, I love my school.

A request...

I would like The Simpsons to make spoofs that go along with all the lessons I teach, please. We watched "Tales From Public Domain" after we read The Odyssey in class...they loved it. And, I told them that everything is funnier if you're smart. A valuable life lesson indeed.

You say you want a resolution...

My New Year's Resolution for this year was based on my sister's friend Mary's blog or Facebook (can't remember...all the technology runs together) which at some point said, "2009-Year of makin' it happen." I decided that rather than choose few specific goals, I would just make myself do the things I always talk about doing, but never get around to, either out of fear or laziness. Thus far I have...

-gotten a tattoo

-dyed my hair a crazy color (purple, to be specific)

-signed up to run a 5k

-joined a lifegroup to get more involved at church, which also qualifies as joining a book club, since we're reading Flannery O'Connor.

I am also planning on taking surfing lessons this summer (which terrifies me, to be honest). What else? If you can think of something you've heard me say I'd like to do, call me out and unless it is ridiculously expensive, I'm goin' for it. Life is short, man. (Apparently a hippie typed that last sentence. But a smart hippie, who knows what he's talking about).

The best laid plans...

Yesterday, I ran to the grocery store and then walked home. It actually worked well-the grocery store was too close, so I ran down and back up the pier which is cool because you are running into the ocean. But when I arrived at the store I was hungry. So, unfortunately, my eyes were bigger than my arm muscles.

The walk home was rough. I bought a bottle of water, so I stopped and drank the whole thing, to lighten the load. I briefly considered hucking the bottle into the bushes, to make it that much easier, but thought better of it and carried it home.

But, I got to use my new shuffle, which delivered "Jump on It" by Sir Mixalot while I was running-it was mid-90's perfection.