I’ve backed myself into a corner, again, starting a post in the morning and trying to get done late at night, so here are 5 random thoughts at 10:00 CST.

  1. This basketball season has been the toughest for me in a long time. Different attitude, girls don’t know us, and just a general “we suck, so why bother” mindset. The mindset can be changed, we have people in the right spots, but it will take time. I hope I’ll be around when this program gets rolling!
  2. “Mister” is a sign of endearment. It took me a while to get used to that. Usually, it’s Mr. J or Coach, or sometimes simply my last name. Now, it’s “Meester, I don’t understand this problem.” I roll with it and think it’s cute (and both my sixth graders AND the basketball team are calling me this!).
  3. Winter sucks. There I said it. I’ve always loved the cold, but today, it was 0 degrees. 0 f’ing degrees. Nope, I’m done. However, in February, there will be a social media post of some 25-foot python trying to get into someone’s house with the caption “This is why I live where the air hurts my face.”
  4. I’m fat. Enough said.
  5. My former students keep emailing me and it’s cute as hell. I got a bunch of “Happy Thanksgiving” messages, some “The Cowboys are awesome”, and a couple of just “Hi”. While I miss them (and some teachers), I am liking my job. I just miss knowing people and being able to say “How’s your mom” or something like that. I will say, I’ve never gotten so many hugs ever as I have in the first four months in my current school. I was walking past a line of 1st graders and one little girl waved, then stopped me for a hug. The little boy waves and asks, “Who are you?”. I tell him and ask him his name.
    “I am called Manuel!”.

I love this job, just for that small encounter! 🙂