Back From the Dead and Ready to Party

So, camping with 65 fifth graders: it's not just a job, it's an adventure.

I came home tired, dirty.... I'm sure you all can fill in all the adjectives you can think of. Have you ever been with your students for more than 24 hours? Just fill in those blanks.

Some kids said this was the most fun they had ever had. And I believe it. Because some of these kids have never seen the great outdoors.

But let me tell you... that assistant principal daddy was one of our chaperones and he was worthless. Our own PE coach was a chaperone and he was also worthless. (He hit on every GS leader in the area.)

But in other news, PrepGirl tried out and made the Varsity cheerleading squad and got accepted into Honors American Studies for next year. BrownBear is trying to get into Algebra next year - not pre but regular. So, I guess my summer has come and gone, because both of them are flipping right past June, July and August, so they can write down things that happen in September, October and November.

And last night was the art auction. Remember, tequila, your boss and parents. Never pretty.

But, and can I get a hallelujah, the magic number is 15.

And I can do FIFTEEN.

Art Auction

After having recovered from that field trip, I sauntered into Ann Taylor Loft for something to wear to tonight.

First, Ann Taylor Loft is my new crack. And I spent literally over an hour in there, trying on and trying on and trying on. I needed to find something cute to wear to tonight's soiree, the Art Auction. Let me just say, that if you see me tonight, be impressed. I bought a pair of 2 1/2 inch wedgie heeled shoes that say you don't look like my kid's 5th grade teacher. I also got something to wear with them. OMG - I don't look like myself, which was the plan.

Second, tonight's Art Auction is the huge PTA fund raiser. I have been going to this thing since before I was a teacher at this school - since PrepGirl was a kindergartener. This is where parents and teachers and margaritas and principals mingle freely. Classes do large art projects and many, many people and companies donate services and lots of nice things that we silently bid on. Teachers also donate something to do with a child and the parents get to bid on that - things like going to lunch and or shopping or getting ice cream and stuff like that.

Mixing tequila with teachers and parents is bold. It sealed the deal for me when I was interviewing for my job four years ago, but it can also be your undoing, too. I've seen drunk teachers say too much to parents or other teachers' dates, and I've heard the great story about the drunk fourth grade teacher who took a tablecloth and wore it like a toga. He came out that year, at that party. I don't think he meant to.

Finally, this year, my class has made an amazing art project. The art teacher saw LawyerBoy at a yard sale last year (LAST YEAR IN MAY) and made him buy a hall tree after she strong armed the owners into selling it for $5. "Tell Teachergirl it is for her class' art auction project." So, he bought it, carted it home and stuck it in the garage. Every few weeks, he would ask if he could take it up to school for me and ArtTeacher.

Finally, after big state testing, we used some Sculpey clay and they made bugs and flowers and all kinds of gardeny critters. I baked them and attached them to this white hall tree thing and ArtTeacher potted some lovely plants and they are all over this thing.

Y'all - it looks so good. Finally, my dry spell is broken. Usually, one of the second grade teachers has to buy my project because they are a little dismal. I usually buy hers, too, but this year, we both have something great!!!!!

So, I'm off. In my sassy shoes. To behave in front of parents and my boss. With tequila. Good times.