Yes, they're real.

There. All you nay-sayers. We do exist. And it's not like we're wearing obnoxiously bright yellow shirts that have "PLAY KICKBALL" plastered on the back. It's not like we have a clever name (Moby Kick) or anything. It's not like we think we're cool.

We play kickball. We play with a red, bouncy ball which is a direct shout-out to all the elementary PE teachers. We play on The Mall in DC (notice the Washington Monument in the left corner).

PS: We haven't won a single kickball game. I'm sure you can't tell by this picture. It hides our athleticism and cat-like speed.

Bonus points are earned for all CCPS employees named.

DifferenceMaker

This is Teacher Appreciation Week. Shout it from the rooftops!

Yeah. RIGHT.

We had a fabulous luau-themed lunch from the PTSA yesterday. No really. It was FABULOUS. Today we got memo paper with our names on it and little keychain flashlights from the union. But the icing on the cake was the "emergency" staff meeting...with the grand finale of the student-produced video of pictures of various staff members with voice-over commentary. The commentary said things like, "Because of you, I know how to do Algebra" or "Because of you, I know the scientific method."

I couldn't help but laugh.

Of course, that was after our special teacher pin gifts. They are dime-sized apple pins with the word DifferenceMaker written in "gold" across the center.

Is it wrong if the first thing I think is that difference maker is a TWO WORD adjective phrase? And the second thing I think is how excited are the students about learning algebra and the scientific method? Are those differencemaker subjects??

Note to self: 20 more instruction days 'til I'm free.

Last day of HER.

Tis a day for celebration.

I have finished my last grad class with VK...and it is a HUGE relief. No more pointless assignments that she doesn't even read. No more tallies and bet pools of how often she says "everyone." No more handouts...ps...I wonder if she even realizes how many trees she could save by not copying everything under the sun from 1979. No more CUTTING ME OFF!! Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.

Note to self: Put a Tide pen in the car...cafe mochas are unforgiving.

Crabfeast and Hot Fuzz.

What a weekend! I guess I can't expect any less when I get to reunite with Marisa and my surrogate brotha.

It all started with the Quatro de Mayo celebracion with brotha's work peeps. Nothing like burning tequila and a spitting 23-year-old Archaelogy grad assistant to get the weekend off right. Oh wait, I think Critter's hubcap margarita was better ON FILM. =)

The crabfeast on Saturday was great...if you don't count the freezing cold, overcast weather. I don't know what could be more entertaining than fitting 30 some cases of beer in the back of the Jeep with 30 some bags of ice...twice! Nevermind the flip cup and pop bottle assaults to boot.

Then onto the Cinco de Mayo fiesta at la casa de Adam/JB/Dan etc. Massive props to JB for letting me use one of his sweatshirts...and all of the reminiscing about the hot tub from the Outer Banks. I love lamp.

Marisa, Erica, and I saw "Hot Fuzz" today and it was fun-neeeeeeee. A must see by all "Shawn of the Dead" fans.

Note to self: Never underestimate how much flip cup the future business leaders of America really want to play OR how much beer pong boys will play.