Life Is Kind Of OK

Today is my birthday. As usual, the students tried to trick me into giving up my age. Not gonna happen. One of them guessed, "36?" So, ever the outsmarter, I said, "That's it. You got it." And she said, puzzled, "Oh. I guess that's not it."

On the home front, my gaggle of gifts was much better this year, what with last year's bounty consisting of a pack of SnoCaps and a $3.00 pink change purse. This time, I raked in a set of Dry Erase markers, four rolling writer pens, six ink pens, a notebook, a mini notebook, an ergonomic wrist thingy mouse pad, two lottery tickets, and a giant mug. Yeah. My guys really shouldn't get me such personal items, huh? Oh, and I bought myself a cake at The Devil's Playground, because I had a feeling that such a thought would never occur to them. I was right.

My best buddy Mabel gifted me with something I have been searching for over a long time now. It will make an appearance when I get a picture that I can post. I'm not giving it away, but believe me, it's quite appropriate. I'll just say it's something I have been looking for since November 5th. Mabel ROCKS!

HEY! Today is also Sarah Palin's birthday. That chick will do anything to steal the spotlight!

The students had an early out today. I, on the other hand, lost my plan time and had to sit on a hard chair in the cafeteria through an insurance meeting where we were told to use the $4 Wal*Mart generic prescriptions so that the insurance we pay for won't be charged anything, a rousing presentation on suicide, a side note that the Feds are trying to steal us blind by demanding Social Security withholding from some school employees at the ruination of the Missouri Teachers' Retirement Fund, and a little dessert cup of career ladder changes. Viva la developmente professionale. (Mrs. HM does not speak Spanish. Perhaps that is obvious).

Last night, on the way back from an Academic Team meet at a school about 50 miles away, the #1 son's bus broke down about halfway back. HH was already at school waiting on him. #1 said it would take about an hour for a new bus to get there, so HH decided to drive to the bus and pick him up. According to the #1 son, the bus had no headlights. He said the bus was not all the way off the road, though they were on a side road to a state park, and not on the main road that is curvy 2-lane blacktop with no shoulder. He said that the driver had on all the inside lights, and the strobe, so cars could see not to run into them. Today, the parent of the Left-Hand Man said the the problem with the bus was that the headlights went off when switched on bright. Hmm...

This is the never-ending school year. I understand why prisoners carve the days into the wall of the cell.