Noses, Moms, and the Miracle of Fall Break

It's been a few weeks, I know. But to be fair, I was in a codeine induced coma for some of that time. I have never been able to breathe through my nose, like ever. I've pretty much had a cold for 27 years. It's been awesome but it was time for this to end. I have been to a few ENTs over the years, which are now called Otolaryngologists (yeah, I know) and they have told me two things. 1. I have a deviated septum and 2. I have tiny little nasal passages. I would have had the surgery at a much younger age but because I had a bad reaction to some anesthesia when I was younger I had to be awake for the surgery. This caused me to feel queasy and involuntarily cry. But, as I have gotten older, I have decided there are some advantages to being able to breathe properly. I put on my big girl pants and had it done. Amazingly I even got to go under for it, so really I was freaking out for nothing. So I had my surgery and several totally awesome things have happened because of it.

1. My mom came to visit me. I love this woman. We don't spend enough time together. Having her here makes me want to quit my job and move home. We laughed, cleaned, listened to conference and watched entire seasons of Project Runway. It was good. I cried when she left.

2. I can breathe! You know how they say that kids don't know there are leaves on the trees until they get glasses? They thought everything was fine before, but they had no idea what they were missing. I walked to the Dr. to get the stints removed and on my way back I only breathed through my nose. It was FREAKY. I got home, sat on my couch and breathed through my nose. Then I cried, I had no idea.

3. I can taste things. You know how when you have a cold you can't really taste things? Yeah, that was my my whole life. Did you know that milk has a smell? I didn't, until last Thursday. My toothpaste is extra minty, chicken is extra chickeny. Now I am scared I am going to eat something I love and discover that I hate it. It's very scary. But I didn't cry.

So now I am back at work, with my awesome students, teaching them awesome things. We are working on summaries in my "regular" English class and Poe in my honors. Kids make me laugh, every stinking day. I have the best job. Next week I am going to have my honors class memorize part of "The Raven" they will get extra credit if they recite it in costume, they will get bonus extra credit if they dress that way all day long. It's going to be awesome.

I need a new hall pass, mine disappeared (what kid would steal a bathroom pass?!?). Any suggestions? My friend Amy is doing a give-a-way on her blog, http://www.agoodlifeblog.com/ for a giant stuffed animal thing. If I win, maybe I will use this. But tons of people read her blog, so I probably wont. I could also use a border patrol hat, but that just seems mean.