Pawfection

I do believe a congrats are in order.

Kaya Scrincles, whose amazing blog I follow, has just come in 2nd place in a very prestigious contest.

Now, I don't want to say I saw this coming....but I saw this coming.  The first time I saw photographs of Kaya strolling on a beach, I knew she was a born STAR!!

http://kayascrincles.blog.com/2011/04/15/i-won-second-place/ 

Congrats Kaya!! (And Luz!)

Woof!!

Oh the Drama....

I love coaching soccer.  It is incredibly fun to work with kids outside of school.  I love the competitiveness and I find myself laughing and almost always having a great time.  I never really saw myself becoming a coach but it is now a huge part of my identity.  It is who I am, something I'm good at, and something I love doing.

However, there are days when coaching can become a bit...stressful.  Days like today when the drama doesn't seem to stop.

Practice began today with a girl complaining that her heart was beating very fast and that she couldn't catch her breath.  I sent her in to see our Athletic Trainer but she returned a few minutes later with the instructions to sit out the rest of practice.  About 10 minutes later the same girl came to me crying and hyperventilating saying that she felt worse.  She then collapsed into my arms before doubling over and vomiting all over next to my feet.  Fun!  (No worries, she's feeling much better now).

Practice continued to get better when the girl with the strongest leg (kick) on the team nailed me in the face with a soccer ball (both knocking off my sunglasses and leaving me with a very tender cheekbone).

Then I got to play mediator between two "besties" on the team who were in a typical high school girl fight: "You are SUCH a backstabber!"  "I am NOT, don't say things like that!"  Fun for me!

Then to top things off I got the news that one of my girls has been suspended from school.  Not for talking back to a teacher, not for fighting, no... for having sex in school.  That's right: HAVING SEX. DURING SCHOOL. UNDER A STAIRWELL. Remember, I coach FRESHMAN girls.

Unbelievable.  So gross.  So awkward.  She may have to be kicked out of our program...that is yet to be decided.

But what an uncomfortable conversation that will be: "I'm sorry sweetie, you are being kicked off the team because you couldn't keep your legs closed during 4th period."

I'm no prude but really?!  REALLY!?

What a practice I tell ya.  What. a. practice.

Frustrated with a capital F

"Back to school. Back to school, to prove to Dad that I'm not a fool. I got my lunch packed up, my boots tied tight, I hope I don't get in a fight"

And I almost did get in a fight.  No, actually that is a complete lie.  However, my first day back at school did prove to be frustrating.

I came to school very excited today, having been assured my job status for next year at B.C. High School would be decided.  However that is now NOT the case.  New estimate: end of April.  Another month of stress...yay!

On top of this, I had a very fun frustrating day with my students.

In my World History class, SIX groups were scheduled to present a project they had completed before break.  Actual groups ready to present: ONE.

In that same period, this happened:

Student X: While Ms. C. is busy with another student, flips American Flag upside down.

Me: Noticing upside down flag, "X, turn the flag right side up."

X: "Ughhhhhhh, NO"

Me: "NOW.  You should treat our flag with respect"

X: "I can treat our flag however I want!  It doesn't represent ANYTHING!  We have NO FREEDOMS IN THIS COUNTRY!"

Me: "As a history teacher and someone who has family members in the military, that statement is both incorrect and offensive."

X: "I DON'T CARE!  I will say that to anyone!  I'll say it to everyone in the military!  I can say whatever I want here.  It's called FREEDOM OF SPEECH!"

If that doesn't show logic, I don't know what does.

Welcome back to me, Welcome back