Oh, billytea, that's incredibly sweet.

Isn't it? I'm pretty sure that a pen is a symbolic gift here, indicating intelligence. So that's nice too. I'm intrigued by the children's exercise book too, it's rather more complex than the other ones I've seen.

I'm pretty sure that a pen is a symbolic gift here, indicating intelligence.

Or maybe it's because "pen" are the first three letters of "penguin."

OK, probably not.

Or maybe it's because "pen" are the first three letters of "penguin."

Ah, not in Chinese. In Chinese it's 企鹅 (I'm curious to see if that comes out), or qĭ’é in Pinyin. It means, roughly speaking, 'goose standing on tiptoe'. And the Chinese for Echidna is 'spiny mole'! It's very charming.

Oh, jeez. I don't even want to think what type I am.

You're so totally Carrie Fisher. Like Carrie Fisher if she were blond. (Remind me next time you're in SF to tell you my CF story. She is awesome.)

And I'm dying at "take a bow" becoming "tinkerbelle"!!

And now I wanna see the Quiznos commercial.

And I also love Matilda in the A's cap. But she needs a Giants cap, too, methinks.

Finally, she sort of salutes and says proudly, "Tinkerbell!"

Hee. Did y'all clap? I'm just wondering if that's where the Tinkerbell came from.

I love trying to figure out kids' brains. When I was little, I thought you could get money from McDonalds because I saw mom getting change.

And I'm dying at "take a bow" becoming "tinkerbelle"!!

Ah. You're much better at this than I am.

And now I wanna see the Quiznos commercial.

Me too!!

But she needs a Giants cap.

No comment.

The hotel left a carnation in my room with a "Happy Valentines" note attached.

Hee. Did y'all clap? I'm just wondering if that's where the Tinkerbell came from.

You didn't clap hard enough! Tinkerbell's DEAD!

Matilda's features are becoming so dainty and refined! I think she really resembles Emmett.

billytea, Wallybee is certainly thoughtful--and sweet, and romantic. you guys are the cutest.

Girl Scout Cookie.

Thin Mint? Or Samoa?

Mmmmm...girl scouts.

Finally, she sort of salutes and says proudly, "Tinkerbell!"

Ha!

We're watching American Splendor. Damn, I'd forgotten how good this movie is. It was when I first felt the Paul Giamatti love.

caught up after a day and a half and I want to say get well, stay warm etc~~~~

and Don't quit Emily. I was talking to a friend of mine who is a resouce teacher. Hat e to say it, but your situation has nothing to do with you. Sadly most of your kids are only at the survivor level of exsistance - if you have made an impression on one of them - then you have done an amazeing job. and She told me that there are a number of teacher s retireing in our town. ( PS if I remember correctly you did a really good job with the classroom in MA that you took over. Kristin is right, you need to find a better match)