Let’s see, what has been up since last I wrote?

Wednesday evening was Grade 9 Closing. Which is basically like graduation, only they’re not done, they still have three years to go. It was a pretty good ceremony… except. The grade 9 homeroom teachers walk their homerooms in for the processional, then sit with them at the front, and give them their “diplomas” on the stage. About 10 seconds before they were set to go on, the Grade 9 french immersion homeroom teacher (I’m the grade 8 FI hr) came to me with a kleenex held up to her face. “I have a nosebleed – can you walk my class in?” I was like “Uh, okay”. Thinking hey, I don’t have to actually do anything but walk in front of them. her nosebleed will be done with in a few minutes and she’ll take over.

Not so much.

Her nosebleed lasted an hour and a half. I had to go on the stage. The stage, people. I thought I would die. Not to mention the fact that everyone else had had months of rehearsal so they knew what they were doing – I did not. I made like, 50 mistakes. Oh well though. So that finished at 9 pm. Then it was off to their dance, which lasted until midnight. I made it to 10:45, and then I headed home. I’m an old woman. I no longer stay up til midnight.

Yesterday was the last day “with child” at work. They came in during the day to get their report cards, but then they went home (or, a couple hung around, but I just got them to help me move books and wash shelves).

Yesterday was also my birthday. It was pretty great. First of all, a bunch of people said happy birthday to me. I don’t care if I get gifts, I just want the recognition that hey, I was born! Good for me (this is totally attention-seeking behaviour stemming from my 7th birthday party when I invited 10 people and 1 showed up; meanwhile my brother had all 10 of his guests). BUT, I also got gifts. Of course the biggest gift this year is Sprocket, who will get to come home with us fairly soon, but Rob also gave me some girly bath pampering stuff, and these. Yeah, cookware. But I love cookware! And I have been lusting after these for a year. And we needed them. Our current pots and pans are… wrecked isn’t a strong enough word. The pasta pot had lost its handles, so we’d been just using oven mitts to lift it with (dangerous!). One of the smaller saucepans had a hole in it. The frying pan met its sad demise a year or so ago during a tragic grilled cheese incident. So, it was time.

We went out to dinner with friends, and someone bought me a drink. *A* drink. And it’s amazing what not having had any alcohol whatsoever in over 2 years will do to you, tipsy-wise. I was like, “Woooooooooo!” No, I wasn’t yelling, I was just kind of dizzy.

Today is my brother’s birthday. I stopped by there to drop off his gift, and my mom is there babysitting my youngest nephew, who is home sick. He told me that his dad already HAD a present, and that I shouldn’t leave one for him because he only needs one present. I asked if he thought that on his birthday, HE should only get one present. He said “No, I should get three because I am three years old!” (he’ll be turning four… I don’t think he’s grasped that yet) so I answered with “Well, your dad is 32, he should get 32 presents!” His eyes got really big at the thought of that, then he decided to change the subject by showing me how he knows how to play piano. His idea of playing piano, though? Is turning on his mother’s electric piano, putting on the autoplay, and pretending that he is actually JS Bach. He needs the little wig. And to wipe the grape juice stain from around his mouth.

I came home for lunch and now I am headed back to work. I’m dragging Rob with me so that he can help me with the heavy lifting and cleaning shelves. He doesn’t know that yet. He thought he was just coming to lend moral support.