Teacher Prison Blues

October is rough for teachers and their dogs.  Last week was Bessie's first big escape.  She dug under her fence and made a run for it.  I was lucky the first time to find a nice friend who was willing to go pick her up for me before they brought her to the doggy clink, but today I was not so lucky.  I thought I had secured the perimeter, but the little bitch pushed right through the barriers and wandered back to her friends at the office complex on the other side of the bike trail.  I tried parole, but I think she is officially being put in solitary confinement tomorrow now that I am out $60 for a reclaim fee from the pound and another $50 for a dog at large ticket.  She can spend the day thinking about what she's done.  

Meanwhile, I feel pretty close to lockdown lately as well.  Perhaps its partly my own doing taking on so much extra this fall, but I legitimately feel as though I have no time.  I haven't been to yoga in a week.  Brutal.  However, I did find time to travel to New Orleans this weekend with the fam where we visited an actual prison with an actual rodeo where I purchased actual art from a lovely incarcerated gentleman.  So, despite my prison metaphors, I am quite happy that my life is far from the confines of the real deal...and I still get to pick my own outfits.

Monday

 Tuesday

 Wednesday

 Thursday

 Friday

 Monday

 Tuesday

Thursday

This was a conference night.  I looked like shit.  Whoops.  I wore my orange flat-front corduroy trousers and a navy and white striped t-shirt.

Friday

Teacher trade day.  I was in New Orleans.  

Smell Like A Monster

I think I have spent the better part of this school year smelling like a monster.  Grover would be proud.  My classroom is a sauna (that is a metaphor NOT a simile--there is no like or as about my sweaty pits around 1:30 in the afternoon).  Some days I make my kids do Yoga just because it seems a shame not to put that perfectly heated and humid climate to good use--yoga studios pay big money to establish those tropic conditions!  In any case, I played this video at least 4 times for my last class today.  I don't know if my students were laughing at the video or laughing at how hard I was laughing each time I replayed it.
Smell Like A Monster
This, clearly, is the reason teachers have technology in classrooms.  I plan to write an entire technology grant based on the argument that regular viewing of YouTube hits will improve student learning therefore necessitating a SmartBoard and brand spanking new sound system in my terrarium...I mean classroom.  However, I learned today that I can't just go ahead and apply for grants any longer.  If I want to put in the extra time and effort to acquire resources for my classroom, I first must jump through all sorts of district hoops and get approval from the boss lady over there in the administrative offices who has no idea who I am.  Fuck that.  I'll stick to beer drinking fundraisers to earn my dollar dollar bills.  Who's coming to Upslope on Oct. 29th for pints with a purpose (take 2) to raise some funds for the second annual Girls Outside Hut Trip???

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday--Sick Day!

Friday

Caxy Posse

Back to back travel weekends really takes it out of me.   Family picture weekend in Park City was a perfect fall getaway in the mountains: running with my brother at the Round Valley Trails, dining at Stein's with my family including cousins and aunties, and drinking chai up and down Main Street for Sunday Silly Market.  All of this mellowness amongst the changing birches was perfect prep for my 10 year high school reunion weekend which could not have been more opposite.  I can't remember the last time I saw 1a.m., but somehow being back at the old stomping grounds with old friends (and maybe a few new) tricks one into thinking you can hang in your old ways--drinking and playing til the wee hours.  The LFA Caxy Posse was in full swing!

Monday

Tuesday

 Wednesday

 Thursday

 Friday

In staying true to the theme of the weekend--sloppy drunk like a high school kid--there was a red wine incident on Friday's outfit.  I was wearing red and white striped tee with gray jeggings, black Frye boots, and light brownish/grey grandpa sweater.

Saturday

Alexander Wang doesn't give a shit about dress code.  Best LBD ever.  

Lake Forest Academy--Class of 2000 (well, at least some of us)