Drinking and Ebaying

Friends don't let friends drink and Ebay.

I am four glasses of cheap wine in, and finding myself fascinated with retro 80's spandex body suits. Well, maybe not the body suits...but DEFINITELY the bike shorts!

I think I have just had a major craving for my childhood these past few days, as the reality of "Summer Vacation" has gradually sunk in. Oh, have you noticed that I haven't posted for almost a year? Could be the whole "first-year-teacher" craziness, mixed with teaching community ed night school classes and that little matter of grad school. I have been a tiny bit busy.

But NO EXCUSE! I could have spared 10 minutes a month...

Ahhhhh....no time now for repentance. The blog must move forward! So I repeat: I LOVE SPANDEX!!!

But the bod must follow the passion. Remember Jim? Poor Jim. I've been cheating on him with Ben. And I also had a fling a while back with Jerry. I visited Jim exactly once during my adventure teaching this first year of high school, and immediately afterward...I puked. Dammit Jim, I thought we were friends!

But tomorrow baby, it's all us. Us and the new collection of Flogging Molly...yeah...

I think that's all I've got in me for tonight. I feel like I should recap my year, but as our friend Inigo would say...well, you know the drill...

1. Crazy kids need love too
2. Crazy kids sometimes try to jump off balconies
3. It is my legal and ethical obligation to stop them
4. There are some babies I can't help
5. There are others I can...and will...
6. There are other teachers out there who will dance on tables with me
7. I sometimes feel like a hypocrite telling my students to behave
8. Jason buys me emeralds when I come home crying for a week straight
9. My bosses agree with me that I should cry more often
10. I have found a place where I can do some good

Ahhhhhh...how's THAT for therapy?!? 2 more months of freedom...stay tuned...

Celebrating Dad

The first song I remember learning, in its entirety, is 'That's The Way That The World Goes 'Round' by John Prine. I was barely four years old, and the memory of how the song starts is tied in with Dad's thumb on the low E string of his guitar. I remember feeling proud that I remembered every word, and could sing along with Dad. I imagined funny scenes like a silly clown splashing around in his bathtub and a laughing husband chasing his laughing wife around with a soft hose. The lyrics to the song might be a bit adult for the average four-year-old, but thanks to Dad I was not average.

Still so new to the world, with my tiny fingers and long hair, I learned early that things happen...but the world keeps turning. You might feel bad one day, but the next day will be different. Better. I miss him all the time, and it can be easy to get swept up in sad feelings. But Dad taught me to live life every day happy-- that is why I wanted to share a happy memory with you today.

Sending love and laughter,
Kirsten Lena
(Daddy's girl through and through!)