lice or rabies?

My grade 2-C class is full to the max.  With only 21 working computers and 26 students - the class turns into chaos as they fight for computers and argue over who gets to wear the headsets.  Most of the class is spent listening to kids yell, "miss misS miSS mISS MISS" until I rush over next to them.  Usually the problem is something simple... a pop-up on their screen or the volume on their headphones is turned down.  I prefer these problems to the constant tattle-telling that goes on.  I even had one kid proudly tell me that yes, he did hit her, but he said he was sorry right afterward (in a tone implying that he could do whatever he wished, so long as he said he was sorry).

Lice or rabies? Which would you prefer?  20 minutes into class, the students brought me their mousepad.  I couldn't figure out the problem, I mean - who cares that there is a black speck on the mousepad?  I reckoned one kid had drawn on it with a pen and really didn't care... and then it moved.  The black speck was MOVING across the mousepad and the kids told me it "fell from her head". . . What the heck???

Two hours later I was doing my mandatory break supervision.  The sandstorm was gone and I had no excuse to play sick.  As I was patrolling the litter ridden playground, looking for misbehaving kids to punish with cleaning duty, I heard "miss misS miSS mISS MISS" and five kids ran over, grabbed ahold of me, and dragged me over to Ali.  This little 6 year old had another child in a death grip and was going all turrets on him.  I pried them apart and Ali turned on me.  Kicking and flailing, I tried to calm him.  All attempts to reason with him were suspended when he turned and BIT me. SERIOUSLY? 

so now I'm left with an itchy scalp and vampire venom coursing through my veins...

will a doppio espresso kill the poison??

Customer Service WOWZERS... and a mouse.

A lot of the time I can't be arsed to pick up the phone and make a call.  Sheer laziness leaves me in the dark, though I have an important question.

Instead of writing a poem about a mouse, I decided to pick up the phone and call Emirates Airline and see about my flight home, January 1, 2011.  I was originally scheduled to be on the 10:40am flight, but who really wants to get up and drive to the airport that early on New Years Day??? I don't want to.  The evening flight was full when I booked.  BUT tonight, rather than writing a poem about a mouse, I picked up the phone and spent 15 minutes listening to the Emirates elevator music.  Much to my wondering ears did I hear, but a seat was to be found on the biggest airplane here!!! How many people can say they flew on this giant airbus?  OK, ok, quite a few can as it's a HUGE plane, but have you?!??!  I'm now confirmed on the evening flight AND I have a window seat.  Not emergency exit row - I made that mistake on the flight home for Christmas and my seat was a good 15 degrees cooler than any other seat on the plane. NOT ideal for a cold girl like me... After securing a spot, I hung up and called Starbucks.

Now I've had my card registered with starbucks for a loooooooong time. And please believe, things were NOT adding up when I looked online and only had 6 stars on my account.  SIX??? it takes 30 to get a gold card and tons of benefits, how come I only had 6???? I called the hotline and was immediately connected to my current hero who took one look at my account and bumped me to GOLD.  Just like that.  In 3-6 weeks my gold card will be arriving and I'll receive all the benefits that a Starbucks Gold Card can offer!!! SWEET!  Sometimes it does pay to pick up the phone and dial that free 800 number...

But what's this about a mouse???

Twas the night before this morning, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, 'til that stupid freakin' mouse.... whuuaaat?

I'm scared of mice.  Ever since the Rat's of Nimh, I've been scared of mice, rats, rodents.  They might look nice and friendly on the cover, but there are evil, malicious rats in the film.  Do NOT show to children or they will be scarred for life. I'm not getting younger and I'm still scared to death.  I love my parents house, but it's nearly 200 years old and a warm shelter for mice.  At 5am I sprang to my bed 'cause there arose such a clatter - no wait, I dug deeper under the covers because I heard it plotting my demise.  Squeak squeak squeak thrash clutter bang.  A mouse had found it's way into MY CLOSET!  I did NOT sign up for a roommate, I requested a single room, not dorm style.  For over 2 hours, I lay awake listening to this little villain plot an uprising.  I mean, I couldn't go back to sleep - not sure my fate should I doze off.  My mother saved me two hours later.  I heard her in the kitchen and ran in to ask for help and to get sympathy.  I ran to the bathroom (I'd been holding it for awhile) and when I came out, my mom was chuckling at my fear.  She had investigated and the murderous mouse was thrashing about and squealing in fear, stuck in a trap.

The mouse is now gone and I hope I will sleep, though nightmares of war might persist as I fear mice nibbling at my feet.

Moral of the Story:  Invest in airmiles, latte's, and night lights.

espresso

after 50 days without coffee, I am finally able to enjoy my espresso machine once again.  this shot was compliments of caribou coffee.

thank you coffee.