Yes, I coach cheerleading

Another week is coming to a close. My giant mountain of grading is being chiselled down gradually to a mere bump; my gradebook has been recreated in orderly and pretty fashion; and I have managed to get through our first football game with my cheerleaders. Ahhh.

My secret? Late nights at school. Hours put in at home (while sort of kind of listening to "Sex in the City" episodes while I grade. Either that or Broken Social Scene) at the table, grading, grading, grading, and sipping cold coffee. And overall, trying, trying to be more efficient. It's a strain for me, but I'm getting there.

And for you sceptics, I am glad to be cheerleading. There are certain girls in both my class and on my squad that I wouldn't know or appreciate (and perhaps wouldn't even like) if I didn't get to see them laugh, joke, tease, think, brainstorm, dance, play, complain, cartwheel, and love like I get to see them do at practice and today at the game.

Ms. L's tired. No rest for the wicked, though. This weekend I get to go to Flagstaff to take AZ state teaching certification tests. I'm hoping to soak in the city life while there; maybe find a bookstore (oh!) or a coffeeshop (my!) or maybe even some place with live music that is NOT country or a Greenday cover band (ooh!).