Monday, Monday

This morning dawned cold, rainy and gray. I'm never a huge fan of workday mornings like that, but when it happens on a Monday, I tend to think G-d is pouring salt into my already festering wound. ::sigh:: I somehow managed to pull myself out of bed and to work, although it wasn't easy. Mondays are hard too b/c the kids are back from two days of reprogramming with their families so we spend a lot of time reviewing routines and expectations.

"Please do not yell my name to get my attention. Please raise your hand and wait quietly for me to call on you."
"You may disagree with me, but please do so appropriately by talking with me at a neutral time."
"We do not throw things, even supplies, across the room."

But hey, this weekend was productive and fun, so there's a big silver lining.

Friday night I met coworkers (old and current) at Cap Lounge for beer and pizza (although I had a lot of water since I was supposed to avoid alcohol and caffeine while on antibiotics). It's supposed to be a happy hour thing, but of course we were there nearly four hours - I was the second person to leave and that was at 9:15pm. Then EBeth and I went to see The Illusionist, which was better than I expected, but that's probably b/c I knew basically nothing about it.

Saturday I ran some errands and then went into work around 12pm. I figured I would work until about 4pm (grading, hanging up work, etc) and then head home for a nap, but I underestimated how much I had to do. I was at work until 6pm, but I got so much done. I put together an inventory of African American studies' resources and connections that I use for each of my four classes. I graded six sets of papers. I hung up exemplary work for both 7th and 12th grade. I wrote a referral for the kid who copied his homework. I finished my weekly lesson plans for AP Government. I put together and emailed out missing work lists for 7th grade. I cleaned and organized my desk area. See? Big, productive day. Then I took the 12th grade papers to a local bar/restaurant to grade, eat dinner and watch Notre Dame kill in football. If only Texas had had a similar impact on OSU (stupid OSU).

Saturday night Ebeth had a bday party for her friend Noa who just moved to Philly from Cali and still doesn't have a lot of friends. It was me and the lesbians, which is nearly always a good time. Seriously though, it was a really good time. The group of people was just about perfect since not everyone knew everyone and it was enough people, but not too many. There was also a plethora of drinks and quite the spread of yummy snacks. I turned in early (around 1:30am), but the party continued on past then.

Sunday morning I met the family I am going to start babysitting for. They live WAY up in NW DC, almost in Chevy Chase, MD and they have three kids and two dogs. The house is great, the yard is nice and the kids - Leo, Gus and Daphne - are adorable. I'm watching Leo and Daphne on Saturday mornings while Mom takes Gus to music class and Dad is at work/running errands/out of town. The dogs will be the hardest part for me, as one is a very large puppy who tends to jump and slobber a lot. Still, I am excited about working with younger kids again and the money will be nice as well.

Yesterday afternoon was the alumni association's Beer 'n' Brat picnic at Carderock Pavilion. EBeth and I were "those girls" who rolled up late and looking a little worse for wear (I was just tired, EBeth was pretty hungover). Still, we made new friends, drank some beer and ate good, Wisconsin food (brats, cheese and kringle mostly). One of the people we met was this kid Adam who graduated from Madison this past May (so he's a baby) and happens to live near us, so we gave him a ride home. It was mausing to step outside of myself and listen to me painfully try to make conversation. I like to think I did a pretty good job. Then Ebeth and I went shopping - Target & DSW - and out for dinner (where we watched the Bears destroy the Packers (I was so happy) and the end of Dallas/Jacksonville) and ice cream.

All in all, a happy weekend at home. The negative effects of the kidney infection/strep throat are gone, thanks to the antibiotics, and I have a follow up doctor's appt tomorrow afternoon for the final "all clear." I now drink water like a woman obsessed (as if I wasn't bad enough before), but I figure there's no harm in that. I'm starting back at the gym today so I need to get set up for school tomorrow and get going. Happy Monday, y'all.