you have to start somewhere.

You have to start somewhere... and today, I started at the bottom. The bottom of the stairs, that is.

As I polished off my getting-ready routine this morning, I loaded down both arms with jacket, purse, and tote, and rushed up the stairs for a quick breakfast before heading to school. Only when I got to the top of the stairs, the door knob didn't budge. I turned and shook and pulled and shoved to no avail.

My dad locked me in the basement.

Kind of like the scene in Cinderella when the stepmother locks her in the attic, except below ground.

Now his intentions were not evil like the stepmother, obviously. In fact, I don't know what his intentions were. I can only assume he had no intentions, just mindless morning bumbling.

My heart started pounding and I broke out into a sweat as I realized my keys were upstairs in the kitchen, meaning that even if I escaped my prison via the basement doors, I wouldn't be able to get back into the upstairs to get my keys, breakfast, lunchbox, etc.

If you've ever tried to wrestle me or playfully pin me down, you know how I panic when I feel trapped. At this point I was fit to be tied. I called Mom, was infuriated by the humor she found in the situation. Called Dad, was infuriated by his, "Ohhh yeah, I might have done that..." response to my irate, "DID YOU LOCK ME IN THE BASEMENT?!"

When at last I got to school, I was convinced that my day was on a downward spiral. But I was pleasantly surprised.

First thing, I got to go to the First Grade Program. This year there theme was Love Songs, a la the "all-your-favorite-love-song-collections" infomercials.

The collection includes...

The Beatles' hit "Can't Buy Me Love"

Teen sensation Justin Bieber's "Baby"

And a special guest appearance by none other than Ludacris

The program also included "L-O-V-E," "Stop in the Name of Love," and several other classics... and lots and lots of cuteness.

With this and a very special delivery... GIRL SCOUT COOKIES... my day got increasingly better. I guess that's bound to happen when you start your day off locked in the basement... you can only go up from there.