On martini brunches and imperative pooping

*Some of our male students have taken to having the legs of their uniform pants tapered at the ankle. I realize this is done in an attempt to make them look like the angry, angsty, eyeliner-enhanced emo rockers they're all such big fans of, but in reality it kind of makes them look like big posers in 1987 Mom Pants. The only thing they're missing is the waistband that hits mid-torso and the ever-flattering front pleats. It's entertaining. I will say this, though--if I see even one kid walk into school with tight-rolled pants, that's it. Surely that will be a sign that the apocalypse is upon us.

*Our HR department, which is always a picture of efficiency and professionalism (please take note of my sarcasm here), has kind of forgotten to prepare our income statements for us this year so that we might file taxes with our government. We mentioned it to them today and the response was a baffled, "What? You need those this year, too?" Um. YES. Just like every other bloody year EVER that you have employed expatriates. I wonder if I can take this mentality into my own work. "What? I had to fill in report cards THIS semester, too? Students just got grades last semester!"

*Our favorite champagne brunch location, the fancy French restaurant in the Shangri-La Hotel, has closed and reopened as a swank nightclub. Alas. Now where will we gather together to drink obscene amounts of bubbly before noon? We have found a suitable replacement. This weekend in the Jakarta Post, the Ritz-Carlton's renowned steakhouse had a big ad for its new Sunday feature--the martini brunch. Free-flowing martinis and wines, plus an a la carte menu and appetizer, cheese and dessert buffet--all inclusive. There you have it. Martinis before noon? Why not! It's BRUNCH. Katie pointed out that it's a fancy excuse for just going and getting good and tipsy well before it was normally socially acceptable, but that it's a good excuse. Plus, we figured, it's in the Ritz-Carlton! It's classy, therefore it's OK. Any buffet at the Ritz is surely a far cry from, say, waddling up to the U.S.A. Steak Buffet for a fourth helping of cheesy grits 'n' ham, so martinis are practically proper.

*We bought Beans a kennel for his long trip to the U.S. It's an airline-approved carrier and it's a good thing for two reasons--one, it saves us from having to pay the pet relocation company upwards of $200 in overhead if they supply the kennel and two, Beans can have almost four months to get used to it. He likes it so far. Every now and then we'll find him curled up on the little blanket we put inside, sleeping. Mostly, though, he just likes to hide in it and wait until an unsuspecting victim walks by so he can shoot out and scare them, like some sort of kitty cannon ball.

*Sorry we haven't updated in a while. We've been busy and, sorry to say, not very exciting. Eat, sleep, work, watch TV, read a book, repeat. Fascinating!

*Today one of my students, the same kid who decided to clip his toenails in Travis's 10th drama class last semester and seems to have learned most of his social skills on an entirely different planet from our own, came twitching up to my desk with his hands placed over his posterior. "Madam!!! I must poop!" he informed me in what was most certainly not a stage whisper. Great. Thanks. I responded with a vague "OK." Seriously, kid. Next time a simple, "May I use the restroom?" will suffice.