over.

I have $32.38 in the bank to last me the rest of the month.

Kenterious' dad died yesterday.

And I'm probably going to a baby's funeral this weekend?

I'm a wreck.

♥

I am worn . . . out.

My classes today were so up and down. One class, amazing; the next, off the walls. As frustrating as this rollercoaster gets, though, the barrage of hugs at the end of the day during dismissal makes it all better.

The perfect evening would (and hopefully will) consist of:

• a hot shower;
• a nap in my big, warm bed;
• Harmony;
• and movies on the couch under mah new, extra soft blanket.

The Bukkake Boys' record release is tonight. I'm friends with most of the band and Rachel and Ashley are going. But I'm so wiped. A night in sounds amazing.

We'll see, I guess.

Oh! By the way. Kindergarten is making clay pinch pots this project and to prepare I've been letting them play around with the clay to get used to it (most of them have never used the real stuff). At any rate, Kenterious--a particularly cute and humorous student of mine--walked up to me with a *cough* log of clay proudly displayed in one hand. When I asked what it was, he immediately exclaimed, "a pirate ship!" But what I heard was, "a pile of shit!" I could not stop laughing. I had to ask him a couple more times what, exactly, it was he'd said.

The perks of being an elementary school (Art) teacher, yeah?

In the mood to make art again. Dunno if it'll happen.

Post Script: Amazing how one, "I miss you," from the right person can stick in your mind and brighten your day.

peeace siiiigggnnn.

Sorry for all the dramatics yesterday. Heh. I was convinced I had a bad observation during first grade and I'm a little overwhelmed . . .

Anyway. Last night was nice. A good ending to a crap day. Chilled at Mom 'n' Dad's till Dooley got off work. We had Harmony and exchanged xmasx presents because in real life we're little kids with no patience/a habit of blabbing. Then came home and crashed on the couch in front of the tube with Mom. He got me this:

which I've been lusting after for weeks but didn't tell him I wanted. And an http://www.amazon.com/ gift card so that I can replace some of my stolen dvds. Amazing.

I got him tickets to this:

I felt like such a dipshit for waiting too long to get Burning Fight Chicago tickets that I had to get him these when I found out about 'em. He's pretty stoked. Of course, those tickets don't get him there and travel arrangements still have to be made. But one-half of the battle is won. No pun intended.

Also. My day today rules so far. Firstly, because Kenterious asked me how I turned balloons into paper balls (fifth grade papier-mâché projects all over the room). Magic, of course. Secondly, because of my girl Natoria. The sassiest-pantsed/most amazing/cutest kindergartener you'll ever meet:

I did not pose her. She's just that naturally sassy. She can't help it.

Four days and counting, buster!! Weee!

king kong? king ken!

I was reminded this morning why I do what I do. And that sometimes, I really love my job.

So, Khalil comes up to me sporting this serious fucking, twelve-inch-long handlebar mustache like, "What's up?" Could not stop laughing.

Needless to say, the other kindergarten boys (and a couple girls) got the same bright idea, and what ensued was nothing short of Mustache Mania:

Everyone of those mustaches is totally different. From left to right: Khalil, William, Jermaine, Kenterious (who has been featured in three--yes, three--of my posts thus far), and Jordan.

Anyway. Awesome Braves game Friday night, followed by a brisk sprint through a mother fucking monsoon. Spent Saturday with Rach and cooked out at her house with Stan and Dooley. Didn't do much that night. Sunday, dragged Eddie with me to see a house for rent, had Vortex, braved a hurricane in Target, back to McDonough.

Spent $59,075,980 on groceries last night. Ugh. Determined to bring my lunch to work and stop eating out so much.

Out with DGJ tonight, I think.

I have 26 lioness masks to make for our production of The Lion King (Come see! 6:30 Thursday 14 May @ Banneker High School! Only $5.00!)

I'm gettin' sick again, too. I suppose I'll call the doctor's office and tell them the antibiotics didn't work, despite the fact that I took every pill in the bottle for what is probably the very first time in my life. Ha.

good good things.

Today . . . was not so great: I was frustrated with my students for most of the morning; my checkcard was declined for like, $6.00 (despite having considerably more than that in the bank); I bashed my head on the handle to my industrial-sized papercutter (the only way I might be sort of alright with this is if I end up with a ridiculous bruise and/or knot right in the middle of my forehead); and upon receiving my paycheck, was sorely disappointed in the amount of money printed on it (it was much less than I had anticipated).

But I spent time with my parents and little sister, and I'm feeling much better. I love my family more than anything on Earth. Especially my dad; we have an identical sense of humor. This is him, by the way:

See from whence I get my striking good looks? Hahaha. Check out his fucking Rolex. He's about as All-American as they get, yeah?

Some other circumstances putting me in better spirits, lately:

• Blake being in town for a couple of days. We are going to Soul Veg this week. I hate RVA for stealing him away from me.
• Kenterious singing, "No one on the corner has spiderback cots," today instead of, "Swagger like us." With a lisp, to boot. Hilarious.
• Rediscovering the mixed cd Ariel Ali Arro brought me when he visited; it is amazing.
• Getting PMA tattooed between the fingers on my right hand. I am determined to have this accomplished by the end of the week.
• Realizing that this is the beginning of the rest of my life. And being more than okay with it.

To work and to bed.