The One where...oh, who came UP with this stupid idea ANYWAYS!?

I'm BACK, baby!

That's right!! After what I shall call my 'summer vacation' (I am a teacher, after all) I am making my triumphal return. Sound the trumpets...drum roll please...!!!

And...I am starting with some changes. Somewhere along the way I decided that I would title every post beginning with the phrase "The one where..." It was kind of my tribute to the sitcom "Friends," which as you can read here, sort of prompted this blog. But NO MORE. I am spent. I'm done trying to come up with clever ways to title my posts. Sorry if this disappoints you.

But too bad. Just call me a jerk.

So, just what story is worthy of my grand re-entrance into the blogging world? Is it the cup-full of crayon mush that I had to dig out of my students mouth today? Or the hairdryer that exploded for no apparent reason? No...these are good, but not quite worthy.

How about my love life? Oh...that is CERTAINLY worthy of a post as a reality sitcom if ever I heard of one. There are dates that I didn't realize were dates, secret crushes on friends of guys who take me on dates (that I don't realize are dates), ridiculous scenarios in which I invite 2 guys that I am going on dates with to the same social gathering (awkward...to say the least), random tattooed man at a bar licking my ear (its a long, rather disgusting story), and quiet evenings wondering how it is that with all of the men-drama that has gone on over the last year, here I am on the computer with 2 irritating cats for company. Oh, my love life certainly has all the fixings for a long blog post...but not today my friends. Quite frankly, there is enough material there for an entire season of television. But those stories shall have to wait for another time.

No, the story for today is much shorter. Much sweeter. And quite frankly, folks...its dowright sentimental. Its time you find out - I may be a sarcastic smart-ass most of the time, but I sure can be a big 'ol softy too. So here it is, without further ado...a glimpse into what completely melts my heart:

School started yesterday. And at 1:15 pm, when my afternoon class (which is mostly made up of returning students from last year) arrived on their busses, I quickly found myself on my back in the grass in front of school. Because they mauled me. With hugs. And a kiss or two. And lots of screaming and talking over one another to tell me everything that happened over the summer. And lots of love.

Melts my heart.

Dangit. I'm such a big softy.

Oh, well. Welcome back anyways.