before i forget, everyone in the world needs to read my hot sister's xanga. she is the damn funniest person i know. may i especially draw your attention to the post about my father the hater. because it is TRUE.

shoot. it's august 17th. it's like i blinked and then summer vacation was over. i get a case of the dry heaves when i think about how school starts in 6 days. absolutely makes me want to hurl. and my classroom has no desks. and no door. but i was glad that i went to maze day today (frosh/soph orientation). i think marrakech has got a good group of freshmen this year (THANK YOU LORD) and it wasn't so awful seeing my kids again and getting to know some of my new ones. being at orientation gave me a modicum of excitement about going back into the gauntlet for year 2 at hillsjail hs. a sample of 10th grade humor:

y: MISS CHIU. WE HEARD YOU GOT A BOYFRIEND.
r (in response): MISS CHIU. HOW COULD YOU FIND A MAN BETTER THAN ME. THA'S (that's right, no 't') WHACK MAN.

n: MISS CHIU. I'M GOING TO BE A SOPHOMORE RIGHT?
me: i don't think so kiddo.
n: WTF. WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
me: well, you didn't pass any classes last year. how can you be a sophomore when you didn't pass any of your freshmen classes?
n: DUDE, I ALWAYS WENT TO YOUR CLASS. I JUST DIDN'T GO TO ENGLISH, MATH, BIOLOGY OR PE OR BAND.
me: i don't think it's going to happen buddy.
n: NO F-ING WAY MAN. I'VE DONE WAY WORSE BEFORE AND I'VE NEVER BEEN HELD BACK. I THREW A FIRECRACKER INTO THE BATHROOM IN EIGHTH GRADE AND I DIDN'T GET HELD BACK.
me: you wouldn't get held back for that, n. you'd get expelled. but whatever. good luck with that, man.

sigh. i wasn't prepared for so much shouting. but welcome back. school's open.

before i forget though ... i'd like to offer a top 5 list for greatest summer activities ... things that i really appreciated about this summer.

Top 5 (or however many) summer fun things
1. surfing with the sharks
2. seri's birthday with the jumpyhouse
3. baylight women's spa night
4. korean dramas with my ltg
5. baseball games (sausages-yes, sorry pitchers-no)
6. sleeping
7. the sea ranch with meredith and tuckie
8. la in 17 hours
9. lunches with kristin
10. great weddings: josh'n naoms, jen'n zeb, karen'n dave, mo'n justin
11. family humor
12. catty's baby shower
13. connecting with old friends
14. my garden
15. reasonable cello lessons
16. b.e.t.'s bar lockdown
17. the new marrakech house
18. self medicating with janice and penny and pretty much anyone who needs it
19. roommate dates
20. my bz and all things related to him, especially our penchant for counter-eating

thanks for summer vacation Jesus.