I've decided to become a posting fool. Look at me, posting away all willy-nilly.

Basically, I have four lesson plans to write and the RICA to study for and I'm stalling. If you don't like it, meet me at the bike cages at 3 for a good ol' fashioned butt whoopin'.

In other news, I won $30 in Vegas. I decided to take a walk on the wild side, so I played the $1 Wheel of Fortune slot machine. I placed two bets at a time (Kevin said I had to, and that he'd hit me if I didn't) so I was really playing $2 a go. As I got to my last spin, I prepared to kiss my $20 goodbye. Then, it happened. I won. I won big. I won $50, sucka. Other highlights of the trip included: Having dinner at Olives (we were seated right in front of the water show, on the balcony. It was beautiful), seeing Howie (and laughing to the point of crying on several occasions), and making fun of all the ugly people who flock to Vegas in their finest attire (as Howie's opening act commented: 'Does Southwest have some kind of ugly people deal this time of year?" And "One out of three people are ugly. Look at the person to the right of you. Look at the person to the left of you. If it's not them, it's you").

Although I am now considerably poorer after the trip, the shopping spree, the cabs and drinks and meals, I feel refreshed. I am ready to conquer the world. I... am ready for a nap.

nothin' special

Spring break has begun, and words can't express how much I need it. I am drained. If I didn't get a break soon, I was probably going to lose my mind. I love what I do, I love serving the unique population that I work with, but it can be so unbelievably soul-sucking. Right now I am questioning if I belong in a Title I school. As much as I want to help these students, as much as I believe that they need SOMEONE to love them, the anger and disgust that I feel for the people who are "raising" them grows more and more. Perhaps it is because I am still shocked by the neglect, by the selfishness (I can't even begin to count how many kindergarteners are on their second or third school of the year because Mom/Dad/whothehellever moves and transfers students, or goes to Mexico for three months, or gets a new boyfriend/girlfriend in another district, then moves back when things don't work out). Maybe when I am used to the lifestyles of the families I serve, I will have greater patience. But something tells me that may not be the case.

For one week, I am going to leave my anger, my frustration, and my fears for my students behind (as best I can). Kevin and I have planned a semi-last minute trip to Vegas (Kevin's second favorite place in the world, second only to Texas). Although I have a million projects to get done before life resumes elsewhere, I am determined to spend a couple of days having fun, dammit.

Peace be to you in your hood,

Jessica