terrakotta

I am looking for the holes, the holes in your jeans, because I want to know
Are they worn out in the seat or are they worn out in the knees?
There are so many ways to wear what we've got before it's gone
To make use of what is there
You know, I don't wear anything I can't wipe my hands on!
-Ani Defranco, Holes in Your Jeans

Alrighty friends and neighbors. Be prepared for a serious rant here. I just got home from my first day of Professional Development, in a room for 8 hours with no windows, and more importantly, with no cigarette, and I am LIVID! First of all, I was mistaken. The new teachers coming into the district fresh out of college dont make the same salary as me. THEY MAKE MORE! They are starting at $4,000 more a year!!! Money has never been a priority goal for me, and God knows I am a masochist in the sack, but this is more than a spanking. This is a full-throttle closed-fist punch. <<Grrrrrrr!>>

Second, men, let me make this perfectly clear. If you are at a club or a bar or even a coffee shop, and you see a girl and a guy together, DO NOT ASSUME THEY ARE A COUPLE. Last night I went to see The Swill Merchants with Wayne. Originally a few other guys were supposed to go, but they had to work. Anyway, Wayne, for some reason, stuck next to me like glue all night. Its not like Id have to beat the men off with a stick if he HADNT been my shadow, but when I first walked into the club, a large burly man stopped me and said, Well, hello there! and I smiled and said hi. Then Wayne filed in, right next to me, and stood there. Burly Man immediately looked at Wayne and walked away. All night Wayne stuck next to me, even shouldering me while he talked to guys he knew. Its not that he secretly wants to date me; hes made it very clear that (a) he likes very tall, extremely thin girly women, and (b) he thinks Im a psycho because of my Dixie-cup fetish. But hes also told me he wont set me up with any of his friends. Standing with a man alone at a bar is the equivalent of wearing a big fat wedding ring, and its not fair.

<<wah, wah>> Enough bitchin! Speaking of men, today during my class a man came in and team-taught the session. He is a middle-school teacher and quite attractive: salt and pepper short hair, bright blue eyes, and a goofy smile. We were doing a getting to know you community exercise where we tell the rest of the class about ourselves, including how many people are in our family. I assumed this meant who lives with me, so I explained that I have a 5-person household: me and the four cats. ( I know how psychotic that sounds, but Ive learned to embrace it. ) Anyway, when it came time for Smiley to speak, he said, Its just me in the house, and my many, many, many cats. You think youre an out-of-control cat owner? Come to my house! Ha ha ha! Now most sane people would interpret this statement as, oh, hes an animal lover. But those of you who know me well can already predict what I was thinking: SINGLE! And apparently a little crazy, which is a good thing. He explained that he had been teaching for 12 years after getting a degree in Engineering. (Terrakotta translation: 22 years old plus 12 years = hes about 34... Hmmmm!) His favorite downtime activity? Playing games. Im the oldest 12 year old in my school. Okay, this ones a toughie. This either translates to I have a Peter Pan complex and would always prefer the sight of an X-Box over a naked woman, or well, I could write something unabashedly sexual here, but you can imagine where Im going. Not that I want a mate; but it would provide some entertainment for me, if only in my imagination, if he were to return and do more team teaching tomorrow. HEY! GIVE ME A BREAK! No cigarette, no liquor, psychologically bruised by the financial inequity I have to occupy my manic mind somehow!

Aye, I my refrigerator is so desolate that I must travel to the supermarket without delay if I expect to eat tonight. Im sure Ill be checking in later tonight between laundry loads. I am out of towels and underwear and its kind of creepy.