Back to School
Well, after a three-day delay because of the fires, school finally opened. I decided to start the year with a different look - if I can't be sleek and stylish in size 30 slacks, then I figured I'd go the other way - biker/porn stache and close-cropped head. If the world were black-and-white, I'd be one mean-lookin' mutha-fucka! However, when a tie and vest are added to reading glasses, it all softens up a bit. Still, I had two good days, I teach a few small classes designed for intervention to get non-readers to read. Even though I only have 60 students in my day, I've already spotted some kindred spirits in my room. I'm not saying he's gay - hell, he's only 11 - but... come on!
And then, on Friday, I was offered a 20% pay raise for the school year! This is in addition to the department chair bonus I already get and the small stipend I get for being the Podcasting/Vidcasting club facilitator. The trade off? They want me to pick up an extra class of 25 students. I say it's totally worth it. So, I may have to spend more of my own after-school time making my plans and such, but I'll be getting a big bump in salary to make up for it. And since I have no lovelife, and relatively few mid-week outings... this should work just fine. In fact, I should be able to pay off all my school loans and my credit card by next July. Awesome!
Happy Hour
Despite the fact that it was a short week - a very short week - the staff needed a Happy Hour on Friday. We all took off to Acapulco's about two blocks from my house. Our new principal bought the first round, so some double grande Cadillac margaritas were consumed. And I remembered that I should do tequila. I thought I was getting buzzed, but realized it was just really painful heartburn. Next time, I'll stick to vodka!
Under the Plantation
To celebrate my raise, I wanted to go out to celebrate! And what says celebration more than vegetarian dinner and diet soda? Right. So I called up Don and we went to the Souplantation for some dinner. All-you-can-eat mind you. Why is it that I simply LOVE salads when someone else does all the work, but I won't really take the time to do it all at home? Maybe because I'm lazy? After dinner, we kicked back with home movies a DVD of Preaching to the Perverted. It was a rather sexy romp through England's dark and seedy fetish underworld. I want to go to there!
The Fires Continue
The fires that are less than 7 miles from my house are still blazing. As of today, they're less than 50% contained. I learned that the excessive heat and particulates in the smoke cause actual clouds to form above the fire area. Strange.
