I have a wee boy in my class whose English isn't too hot, frankly - and on top of that he's got this astonishing wide-eyed unworldly kick-me-now vulnerability more often associated with toddlers than six year olds (although he isn't picked on, because we mostly don't have that kind of crap going on). But Oh My God, how he adores all things with more than four legs. He may not be able to spell many things, but damn sure he can spell Spider and Ant and Beetle. And when asked to pretend to be an animal (other kids going for cat, dog, tiger, maybe dinosaur - one notable electric eel), he did a very impressive beetle impression. And when told to think of an animal we might find in a zoo? Stick Insect. He's going to find our trip to the Crocodile Farm very disappointing, I think.

(my feelings about all things with more than four legs are considerably less warm and fuzzy, and considerably more high-pitched.)

Awww, little bug boy. He is the geeky cute.

IdidnotreadaboutspidersIdidnotreadaboutspiders

He really is. And yesterday in our library session I noticed a book called Beetle in the Bathroom and said to the kids "Hey, do you think Guy would like this?" and they were all "YES!!!" and then he came in and they showed him, and his face lit up, so I brought it downstairs and it was our story time book. He was a happy wee Beetle-loving Cutiehead freak.

Meanwhile, I have taught my kids to say "AAAARRRR!" and "Shiver Me Timbers!" and "Ahoy there, me hearties!" and "Ship ahoy!" and "Land Ahoy!" and we have read the first half of a short story that involves a lot of jumping around pretending to be mountains/coconut trees/monkeys/lions etc and singing a short pirate song to the tune of "row row row your boat".

We have also moved all the furniture around in the classroom and designed our own zoo to house monkeys, kangaroos, crocodiles, elephants and birds. The head mistress came in with an expression of acute puzzlement in the midst of all this chaos, wondering why several children were wearing word pyramids on their heads (they were the guides to the zoo, who could explain what to feed the animals and indicate where their shelter, water, food etc was to be found) while others were doing monkey impressions and flapping their wings or lying on the carpet snapping with outstretched arms.

Ah, role play.

Hopefully by the time we go to visit Crocodile World, the kids will be well primed to observe and comment upon the fact that the beasties are NOT all being housed appropriately or provided with adequate water etc.

Oh! Also? Today's lunch was surprisingly yummy and included a spicy Thai soup (rather than the usual bland fare) and then I ate sugar-boiled bananas that the kids had made in their Thai class.

I like my job.

Next I'm teaching literacy (we're re-writing The Three Little Pigs from memory) and then my after school activity is Journalism - my first this year, since last Wednesday school was cancelled in honour of Tree Day.

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AHOY THERE, ME HEARTIES!!!

Oh, shit juliana, are you around. That bike? I sent you pictures of? We might own it in a week.

** proceeds to freak the fuck out **

Fay's class sounds like awesome incarnate.

He really is. And yesterday in our library session I noticed a book called Beetle in the Bathroom and said to the kids "Hey, do you think Guy would like this?" and they were all "YES!!!" and then he came in and they showed him, and his face lit up, so I brought it downstairs and it was our story time book. He was a happy wee Beetle-loving Cutiehead freak.

You should get him The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs by William Joyce.

Oh, shit juliana, are you around. That bike? I sent you pictures of? We might own it in a week.

Motorcycle mamas, galore.

Wear your leathers!

he'd probably read Kafka the way the rest of us read Rowling.

Dude. It's a Hot. Motherfucking. Bike.

I didn't say yes, but the reasons why outweigh the not to's.

In less than a year there will be a train line from my house to work and the bar, so there's really only need for one car. Mr. Jane's truck is worth more now than it will ever be, so he should sell it while he can. We like the guy who owns the bike, so we'd rather it go to us than a random.

It's a Hot. Motherfucking. Bike.

(we're re-writing The Three Little Pigs from memory)

Annabel's latest favorite kid's show is Between the Lions, and her current favorite episode features The Three Little Pigs. It starts with the basic story, and then Lionel and Leona, the two lion cub main characters, each write a sequel because they think the story isn't quite finished. I was all, "Oh, look! It's My First Fanfic!."

Fay's class sounds awesome.

I have a headache. I don't know if it's sinuses or tension or the beginning of a migraine, but whatever it is, it's not letting me get to sleep.