Of course.

Were you wondering why I hadn't posted in a while?  Well, it just so happens that grades are due on Monday.  Also, I haven't had a day off (other than taking a day for Andrew's graduation) since MLK day.  That's the middle of January.  And before you start thinking "I have a normal job and I haven't had a day off in a long time either and I have to do this all year long," I'd love for you to think back to how annoying you were at age twelve.  Now multiply that by thirty.  Now multiply that by eight hours.  Now multiply that by no break since mid-January.  See where I'm going with this?  I promise I'm not trying to do a my-job-is-bigger-than-your-job thing; I just want you to know that my job is extraordinarily taxing.  And maybe pity me just a little bit, I'm not gonna lie.

So anyway, my to-do list for today is something like this:

• finish at least three assignments for online professional development
• grade three classes' worth of a really terrible assignment I gave
• grade at least one warm-up (110 papers), preferably two
• enter any grades I do today into the gradebook system
• do two loads of dishes (I'm actually out of cups and glasses.  Whoa.)
• do a load of laundry so I'll finally get it off my floor
• put away about thirty pairs of shoes that are strewn around the apt.
• cook something that I can eat on for the next few days

Doesn't this all sound so fun?

As much as I'm despising my life right now, there are some positives.  I have a job.  Hello, that's a big one.  And I fully expect to have it again next year barring some outlandish incident.  I also have a place to live and keep clean, and things to furnish it.  I can pay my own bills, I'm not in debt (other than for my car), and I have a safe and reliable shelter.  I love my working environment.  I love all my coworkers, the supportive administration, and sometimes the kids.  They're good for the most part.  But we've already gone over that whole love-hate relationship.

Yesterday I was wearing a new jacket and I had on lipstick instead of lip gloss or chap stick, and the kids kept saying how different I looked, how they could tell I was wearing SO much more makeup than usual and it made me look like I was glowing, and then they asked if I had a hot date after school.  No, kids, I don't.  I'm just wearing lipstick because it matched.  But thanks for believing I could catch a man.  Now, may we please stop talking about me dating?  It's making me uncomfortable.