Today is my half birthday! I am 24.5 today. Because my full birthday falls during summer break, the kids threw me a half birthday party. They kicked me out of the room for half an hour so that they could decorate, complete with a poster listing things they liked about me, and a "happy half birthday" chair for me to sit in while I opened my presents. Ms. Lead Teacher got me dark chocolate and a copy of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. The kids got me a little box full of Hershey kisses and slips of paper with their good wishes for me on them-- kisses and wishes! Too cute. I've only read a couple of them so far, because I'd like to savor them, but one of my students wished that "they would make spelling an Olympic sport" so that I could compete. I guess he's impressed by my spelling skills!

I pitched the new book clubs to the kids yesterday. Several of them were quite excited, and no one objected loudly. Whew. There will be three new groups. The books they chose are Dune, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, and Tiger Rising. Ms. Lead Teacher is working with the Dune group; I'm a little jealous. Whatever, man. The Pride and Prejudice group wants to do Animal Farm next. Bring it, canon of highly-regarded literature.

In other news, today is Thursday, which is the day I record sleepy covers. Here's this week's: Oh My Mama, by Alela Diane.