Almost time for Arisia

I just have to get through the school day, come home and get my stuff, and I will be there.

Please, please, please stop and say hello. Think "round man wearing a Jayne hat."

I think my badge says "LiamStLiam."

Safe travels.

Letting off a little steam . . .

I am telling myself that writing this will help further lighten my mood as I head for Arisia. (The ice water that hawkegirl just brought up will help because "hydration is your friend," and I am out of school clothes, so I feel a little better.

I am really looking forward to the con for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that it has been a rugged two weeks at school since the holiday break. (Yes, I know teachers are lucky with days off. We get Monday off for Dr. Martin Luther King Day. I was even interviewed for a broadcast on the morning news at school about Dr. King's importance."

Anyway, it just seems like the kids are dragging their butts lately, and I am not seeing the good stuff that is going on. I was neagtive enough that one teacher (John Baran, Niki) looked at me and said, "Hey, Bill. Who was the greatest student you ever had?" in an attempt to get me on apositive track. (The answer (not counting my kids of course) is "Katie Duffy," and I will explain in another note.

Even the guy I stopped to buy fresh berries from today looked at me and said, "You look like you had a lousy day." He then proceeded to tell me that teaching is a great job because of "all the muff you get to look at all day." He went on to berate Deval Patrick for being too soft on illegal immigrants, but he liked me when he asked where we went wrong in Iraq, and I said, "We went wrong when we didn't drive straight to Baghdad in the First Gulf War."

Scattered.

One more week until exams.

So, I am thinking. I've talked about being empathic before. Some of you are a lot better on it than I am. Do you think the fact that one of our seniors was killed in a car accident a week ago (the funeral was today) is disrupting things on a psychic level. Am I getting dragged down by that, maybe. A lot fo kids close to me are really hurting.

I don't know. I love teaching, but sometimes all the assorted additional stuff gets to me.

Today's highlight was talking witha girl and her mother (as I was trying to get out the door). I don't know any Albanian, but I distinctly heard the mother tell the daughter she was full of shit (or something similar) in Albanian.

OK, all vented.

If you are going to Kings & Queens, kick some butt.

If you are going to Arisia (or are there waiting for me), two words, "Jayne Hat!"

To everyone else, have a great weekend.

Thanks for listening.