Freaky Friday (and it's not even the 13th)

Today is the end of my first semester as a first-year teacher. The good news is that this is an autobiographical blog post due to the fact that I am still alive. I survived, and it's no small feat.

If you had asked me this morning if I would be alive at 1:30 p.m. today, I probably would have said, "No." I would have said this, not because I am an overly negative person, but because I have experienced "fail" after "epic fail" since waking up at 6:30 a.m.

The following is a nice little list of the TOP 5 worst things that have happened to me today:

FAIL #1. I hit a curb in the neighborhood this morning and completely flattened my tired (on my new car). This little mishap rendered me late to school. I called JT crying, and he came to the rescue.

FAIL #2. The cupcakes I was supposed to bring to my classroom Christmas party got stuck to the pan because I had no paper muffin cups. Hence, they were ruined, and I had to go to school empty-handed. This failure may have killed any future notion of baking. This is my second baking catastrophe in less than a month; I should just give up (*see blog post on the cake disaster).

FAIL #3. I was so excited about leaving school at noon today. However, when I got to school, I discovered that only the kids get out 1/2 day today, NOT the teachers. I really cannot put my disappointment into words.

FAIL #4. After my classroom's Christmas party, I made an attempt to dump out the ice tray. I was trying to hold the door to the school open with my foot while I held the container of melting ice (there were some male students around and none offered to help me), but it slammed on my foot and ripped the cute Ugg emblem off of my new $150 boots. Devastation ensued. If you know me, then you KNOW how much I love shoes. While staring at that little metal brand on the ground, something inside of me died. My Uggs will never be the same.

FAIL #5. My classroom was completely trashed today; and I am my own janitor, meaning I mop and sweep my own floors, take out my own trash, move furniture, etc. So, while the little miscreants (bless their hearts) get out of school early to go play with their new Xbox games, eat their little McDonald's Happy Meals, or take their precious little afternoon naps, I am here, in my room, sweating like a pig while I grade tests, clean up the room, and make an effort to regain some of my lost sanity.

Now comes the silver lining...

It was JT and I's anniversary of our first date yesterday (12/16); but the flowers he sent me were not delivered until today. So, I got to enjoy beautiful, fragrant orchids all day long. They were definitely a blessing on a day like today.

In addition, my students' parents are awesome and sent the most delicious food to our Christmas party today. Cheddar, ranch fries (which I discovered for the first time today) were at the top of my must-eat list.

Finally, today (whether 1/2 or full) does mark the beginning of Christmas vacation and all of its glorious festivities. I am so grateful for the break; it has been eagerly anticipated by me and my fellow co-workers.

Here's to a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!