Thursday Things

I've mentioned the game 'Things' a million times in my little posts. It's a really fun game, and I don't get to play it near enough these days. So I've decided to add a little za-za-zoo to the ol' blog and have a theme day: Thursday Things. And it's a good way to indulge my love of lists.

This week the Things topic is...

Things That Remind Me of High School

1. Dr. Pepper- for a season of my life, I drank a Dr. Pepper every morning on my way to school. I don't drink Dr. Pepper anymore, so when I popped one open for the first time in ages this week, I was immediately back in my silver Accord, speeding through town, desperately trying to make a 10-minute drive only take 6 minutes (it's possible that I had a punctuality problem my senior year).

2. John Mayer and Weezer- songs from John's album "Room for Squares" and Weezer's "Blue Album" bring back vivid memories of my first car, my high school crew grass boarding down Hole #2 at Gunter's Landing, and slumber parties at Kayla's house.

3. Ab Ripper X with E- as the two of us laid in my basement floor Wednesday afternoon, heaving and groaning over our ab video, I was happy and nostalgic thinking back on our days laying on mats at the top of the GHS gym, doing crunches and stretches in 7th period Cheerleading.

4. Listening to my students freak out over prom- wow. It's incredible to think about how that was my world. My UNIVERSE. High schoolers are blissfully, and fretfully, oblivious of the great big world beyond those cinder block walls.

5. Lunch money... or lack thereof- I was very fortunate (in some circumstances) that my dad worked in my school system. I'm not known for being responsible, and I wasn't even in the running for Most Dependable in my school's Who's Who. So it was no surprise when, once a week, I had to ask Doc to let me go get lunch money from my dad. I've been proud of myself in my subbing adventures that, so far, I have remembered to bring my $2 for lunch each day (although the lunchroom lady always barks at me that my "number didn't go in," and I gently remind her that I am a teacher, not a student). Well, Monday, as 4th period rolled around, it hit me: no lunch money. Most mornings before I head to work, I ferret through Mom's wallet for cash, but not this week. And guess what: no dad at work either. Blasted retirement.

6. Watching Survivor- I haven't watched this show since I was in 9th or 10th grade, probably. But when this season premiered-- a reunion of the series' "Heroes" and "Villains"-- I happened to be sitting on the couch with Mom. And I'm hooked. It has become our weekly "thing" to sit on the couch and cheer on Colby and JT and boo and hiss at Russell and Parvati.

All the while I've been writing this, I've been in class... which is kind of reminiscent of my note-writing habit in high school, anyway... so I guess I'll get back to that.