Crashing

It has been a roller coaster kind of day. I had to wake up super-fucking early and go to the dentist. Who makes an appointment for the dentist at 7 a.m. in a town that's a half-hour away? Crazy me thought it would be nice not to miss any work. But, surprisingly, it wasn't all that bad. I got to wake up by myself and get myself ready, drink my kefir tropical smoothie, make my coffee and drive by myself as the sun was rising. I also got to listen to my new Cloud Cult EP that I purchased with money. It's only four songs, but they are amazing AMAZING songs that are going to hold me over until their new album comes out in August. It was a beautiful morning, warm already at 7 a.m. My dentist appointment was a lot easier and faster than I thought. I got my permanent crown put on and I'm all done. With a smile on my face, I left there to get to work just as the first class was starting, English 11. We are reading a whole bunch of Edgar Allan Poe stuff, and I am in heaven.

The seniors came home from their Washington, D.C. trip yesterday so they were back in school today. I was so giddy I could hardly stand it. I gave my brother a hug right in front of everyone and he hugged me back. I was so excited to see him again, as well as my students that I had been missing. I was on a natural high all day. Either that or it was the extra coffee I drank. But whatever. I was so freaking happy that nothing was going to bother me.

That happiness has worn off, and I am exhausted and emotional. The reality of the world has taken over. My school is slowly, piece by piece, going to hell. Things are getting a little worse every day. Because of poor treatment and terrible administrative decisions, they have now lost the best art teacher they will ever have. He was young, excited, energetic, and enthusiastic, and he was able to bring out the artist in students who never knew they could create anything at all. I don't know this for sure, but the rumor is that the elementary art teacher is moving up to the high school. There is also talk of not hiring an art teacher for the elementary. WTF? Can they even do that? I mean, Jesus. I can't send my kids to a school that has NO ART CLASSES. If these kids have no exposure to art in elementary school, how many are going to be interested when they get to high school? It's going to slowly fade away because of budget cuts. And here's the big thing that kills me - why can't they ever cut any fucking sports?

Anyway, I am tired. I need some tea and maybe a hot bath. Then I am going to bed. But first I am going to listen to Cloud Cult again to try to feel less discouraged. Good night.