1,284 words so far today; 82,066 total for the manuscript.
UPDATE: I finished the day at 1,958; 82,740 for the manuscript total.
Hoping to get in another session or two of writing before I return to LT’s classroom this afternoon for bookshelf assembly, but I have a lot of adulting to do today, so we’ll see how the day shapes up. I want to get all the little chores I’ve been putting off finished before my new schedule kicks in on Thursday.
Mint green and dusty rose go together…. um, better than teal and dusty rose.
You have to envision LT and me in Home Depot arguing over paint colors in our affluent, super white, suburban corner of San Diego — me, the obvious dyke in the cargo shorts that used to be pants until I cut them off at the knee, wearing my baseball cap backwards and my “Corona Pride” tank top that LT picked up for me at Stonewall in NYC; and LT, who, with her black-and-purple hair in pigtails and most of her back tattoo showing, sort of looked like a punk, Vietnamese version of Pippi Longstocking.
I keep saying, “You need something paler!”
She keeps saying, “Sage green! I want sage green!”
Me: “They don’t work together! They’re going to cancel each other out!”
LT: “They’re not going to cancel each other out! That one’s too grey — it’s practically white!”
Me: “It’s not white! It’s pale green!”
LT: “It’s white!”
The other customers in line in the paint department at Home Depot gradually turn one by one, tuning into our bickering, which is gradually escalating in volume.
When I realize that we’ve attracted the attention of approximately half of Home Depot, I surrender.
“Fine,” I say grumpily. “Of these two, I like this one better. Miami Grass.” (Where do they come up with the names of these things?)
She waits in line for a gallon of Miami Grass; I get sent on a mission to find extension cords and a squeegee.
Two hours later
LT: “It looks pretty good, right?”
Me: “Yeah! I like how it’s shaping up.”
LT (after a pause): “I have a confession to make.”
Me:
LT: “When you left to get the extension cord, I decided to go with the one I liked better.”
Me: “You mean this is Fresh Guacamole? Not Miami Grass?”
LT smiles like a cat caught with the canary in its mouth.
Me: “Honestly, why do you ask for my opinion when you never listen to it?”
LT: “I listen! I always want to know what you think!”
Me:
One Hour Later
LT: “I think the green is too much. It’s too… minty. I think we should’ve chosen something lighter.”
Me (sarcastically): “Gee, you mean something like Miami Grass? Is now when I say ‘I told you so’?”
LT (thoughtfully, studying the walls with a frown on her face): “Do you think we should go back to Home De — “
Me (from on top of the ladder): “No.”
LT (jokingly): “What, you mean you don’t want to re-paint the entire thing?”
Me:
LT: “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t make you do that. I won’t repaint it… for at least a few months.”
Me: “Oh my God, LT.”
And all she does is laugh.
But no, seriously, it looks sooooooo much better
We started our day at 9am and ended it at 9pm. And no, I wouldn’t have chosen Fresh Guacamole NOR Dusty Brick, but I have to admit I’m pleased with how the room looks. The colors, the Tiffany lamps, the shabby chic decor — none of it is my style. But it really does look good. And don’t tell LT, but I kind of like the color scheme.
But still, when I have a classroom of my own?
Zen.
Clean lines, not a lot of clutter, calming, neutral color palette. Maybe one bright color to make everything POP.
Anyway, I’d better get to my adulting.
From LT’s FB page:
2 Comments
Sarah Wiseman · August 12, 2019 at 5:26 pm
This made me laugh! Such a familiar scene… Except painting my own classroom… I mean, do you pay for that yourself? And I thought UK schools were woefully underfunded. I once had to buy a load of pencils for my pupils, which pissed me off hugely, so I probably would draw the line at buying paint to decorate the building… In fact, I don’t think we would have been allowed to actually paint the walls anyway; insurance or something?! Lol.
I always thought that the love and dedication evidenced by the sort of ‘above and beyond’ work you are doing, that teaching requires and is fuelled by, was often unnoticed by parents and management, but the pupils really appreciated the space being special…
I’m sure LT’s pupils will love all your hard work… and that’s what it’s all about.
Good job! 😊👏
The Real Person!
Thanks, Sarah.
Yes, she paid for all of it out-of-pocket, though some of it, like the Tiffany lamps and one of the nice chairs, she already owned. As for painting your classroom, it really depends on your building administrator. In this case, the school system is in a budget crisis due to a big scandal that became national news, and this particular school falls into that “in between” space where it isn’t as affluent as the other nearby high schools but it isn’t as poor (and therefore eligible for extra funding) as the school LT was at last year. The result is that the building is in really bad condition, so teachers are on their own if they want to try to make things nicer.