We're still alive. Really.

So it’s been a while since we posted anything new. I know. We figured we’d better put something up before people get their undies in too much of a bundle. (It occasionally disturbs me how much power my blogging or not blogging has when it comes to getting peoples’ undies in bundles.)

Here’s the deal: our computer’s hard drive died. It let out a horrific shriek, something akin to a dying rabbit, and then…nothing. It was gone. Our school’s computer guy confirmed it for us the next day. Luckily we’d backed everything up on our external hard drive.

We went into a brief hazy stupor where we nearly dropped $2,000 for a shiny new Mac (so pretty, and it would match my new iPod!) before we came to our senses and asked if we could replace the hard drive. Turns out for about $150, we could not only replace the hard drive but upgrade it from 20GB to 120. Nice! So the computer has been resurrected and is now functioning very quickly, albeit without internet because our dial-up at home is, as always, not really working. We did sign up for DSL, however, so hopefully that will be up and running in the next few days.

Classes officially began today, so things are insane. Our official schedule kind of wasn’t finalized until…well, this morning. It was a joy to find out THIS MORNING what classes I was to teach TODAY, especially because I’m such a ray of friggin’ sunshine in the morning to begin with. Oh well. The classes I have for today are classes I’ve taught before so no worries. I suppose I could’ve planned ahead just in case, but that would involve not being lazy.

I’ve wanted to blog here and there over the last few days but haven’t had a chance, so the rest of this is pretty much semi-coherent babbling, with no real overall theme. Enjoy.

-I’m completely addicted to the American version of The Office. I loved the British version, but hello! The British version didn’t have Jim! *sigh* John Krasinski is my new celebrity crush. He may be-dare I say it? He may be cuter than Jon Stewart. He’s so pretty. So pretty… Not only that, but the show is hysterically funny. Watch it!

-People who only see me in morning devotions or staff chapel probably think that a) I’m a heathen and b) I hate music. This couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m a deeply committed Christian. I sing and dance and listen to music all the time. It’s just that I’m too…I don’t know, too Lutheran to be skipping and clapping about Super-dee-duper Awesome Buddy Jesus at 7 a.m. Or 3:30 p.m. Or ever. I try to be understanding and respectful of other worship styles because I realize that everyone worships in his or her own way. That’s fine. Just don’t expect me to skip.

-I should not sing along out loud to some songs on my iPod while I’m at school. Here, specifically, I’m thinking of how I caught myself yesterday, rocking out with Ben Folds as I put a new cover on a bulletin board. “Give me my money back, give me my money back, you bitch!” Could’ve been worse. Could’ve been Tenacious D. For the record, there weren’t any kids around. Give me some credit! (Some, I said, not a lot.)

-My new 7th grade homeroom is so cute. There are seven of them and they’re all wee and still kind of scared. They sat and blinked furiously at me for a good 20 minutes today until they decided I wasn’t too terrifying. Then they got a little giggly and funny until Kale came in to get something from me, at which point they were all petrified again. One of the girls is pocket-sized and just about the cutest thing ever. I’ll enjoy them being so little and sweet as much as I can until adolescence hits them like a truck somewhere in the middle of second or third quarter. Then they turn into awkward teenagers-which are more amusing than, if not as tiny and sweet as, little kids.

-I’m so excited for my classes this year. My 8th, 9th and 10th grade English classes will be great. I love the subject matter and I really dig the kids I’ll be teaching. Seventh grade Humanities and Drama will be fun, too.

-I bought these Dove chocolate caramel thingies at the Hong Kong duty free shop (which is called Free Duty and, yes, always makes me giggle like the immature idiot I am) and now they’re gone. This sucks. I’m seriously considering flying back to Hong Kong just to hang out in the airport and buy more of these.

-Last year's 10th graders are now 11th graders (duh) which means this year they're all wearing red ties with their uniforms. I very nearly got tears in my eyes when I saw them. They look so grown up! Yeah, I need to get more sleep at night. I'm going a little crazy.

-Why did my jet lag have to wear off YESTERDAY, so I actually felt awake until bedtime and slept soundly until my alarm went off this morning? That sucked! Falling asleep by 9 p.m. and waking up naturally by 5:30 a.m. was kind of nice!