It's August...you know what that means...

School's starting soon; I just spent too many hours shoving furniture around my classroom and planning, plotting, dusting, disinfecting (those desks were used by 11-year-old carrier monkeys), and talking my inner-five-year-old out of crying her heart out. I LOVE teaching; I also LOVEEEE summer. I'll get to what I'm looking forward to for this school year in a bit; today it's all about what I'm going to miss...

Waking up to this, begging for her breakfast:

instead of my alarm clock (which goes off at o-dark-thirty, by the way).

Climbing back into bed with my coffee and this curling up with me as I "woke" up:

Lazy summer mornings snuggling a kitty are GLORIOUS.

Unexpected drives north to get me a cuppa this:

(best cup of joe EVER)

Reading things like this:

instead of essays written by sixth graders. It's nice to read an author who understands the correct usage of "it's" and "its," not to mention "your" and "you're," oh...and "there," "they're," and "their." (The book is really good, though, in case you're wondering. A bit graphic, but a great story.)

Most of all though, I'm going to miss this:

Please note:

1. Bare feet. Shoes are required as a teacher, but I firmly have an aversion to them. I'm much happier bare foot...but, rules are rules...so, bye-bye bare toes...

2. Blue jeans. Those are not-permitted; something about them being too "casual" for a classroom. Whatever. I'm gonna wear these until the very...last...second...

3. Also, please note that this picture was taken in my classroom (note the industrial-strength, stinkin' ugly carpet). There might, just might be a tiny piece of me that feels like thumbing her nose at the "man" until school starts...

(If you happen to be one of my superiors and reading this, I promise to wear the requisite footwear and adhere to the dress code...really...please let me keep my job!)

I think I'm going to go find my inner-five-year-old some ice cream to make her feel better now.