My funny…

It has been noted by some of my family members, friends, and colleagues that since Norah came into my life, my funny seems to have disappeared. Seriously. I used to be funny. Now, not so much. However, after Norah went to sleep on her own for a second night in a row before 8:30, the following exchange took place, causing me to believe that perhaps my funny is coming back with the extra sleep I’ve been getting:

Teaching and B work together, making lunches for tomorrow. Teaching cuts into a firm green pepper.

Teaching: These are nice green peppers.

B: I’m glad you didn’t buy the mean ones.

Teaching: I would never do that again. Do you know how long it took me to have all the cards in my wallet reissued?

Okay, maybe you had to be there…or maybe it was only funny because of our sleep deprived state.

“Save the Drama”

One of my colleagues on the project bought me a pink shirt that proudly proclaims, in pink letters with a silver outline, “Save the Drama.” As Thursday was the day of the show, I decided it would be time to wear it – I had been threatening to all project, but never did. It should be noted that the shirt, designed for an adolescent girl, was a little bit small. Undaunted, I put a long-sleeved white shirt underneath, and stretched on the pink beauty. I got some pretty good chuckles from students when they read the shirt (though it took them a second, as the letters were a bit misshapen due to the tautness of the shirt.)

Later that morning, I was helping a student, Darren, track down the cables for the video camera, and we went into the principal’s office where AV equipment is stored. As I got to the door (which was open) I saw that the principal was talking to someone, so I slowed down. Darren did not. The next thing I knew, I was invited in by the principal and shaking hands with one of our board members. In my shirt. What a great first impression. I couldn’t help but think that so far the shirt hadn’t saved me any drama. A few minutes later, I was heading towards the auditorium and noticed a group of people standing just outside the doors. As I got closer, I recognized that it was the group of architects and consultants from the States who are working on the design on the new school; The same people I will be spending the week after next with, touring schools in Minnesota. I wanted to stop and turn around, but couldn’t – I needed to get into the auditorium to try to find the source of the horrid dress-rehearsal feedback from the day before. I hurried by them, averting my eyes, willing myself to look like a student. I did “Save the Drama” a few seconds after entering the auditorium, though. I took off the shirt.

Hot Date

A student arrived very early this morning, came into the class, and used the phone. His conversation was short – after niceties, he informed the person he was talking to that “Just wanted to let you know I’m at school, and you can come see me whenever.”

After the conversation, he turned to me and said, “Hot date with my youth worker! Can I get some candles and incense?”

A sense of humor can be so sustaining…

A Play

I took 10 of my drama students to the local University on Tuesday to watch a production of The Importance of Being Ernest. It was brilliant, and my students really liked it. On the way in, we took the roundabout way, and I gave a brief verbal tour of the University, pointing at the buildings we passed. It went something like this:

Teachingchris: There’s the lab building. It’s where you’d do Science labs.

Awed silence from students.

Teachingchris: There’s the classroom building.

Shawn: (sarcastically) What’s in there? Classrooms?

Teachingchris: Yeah, kind of obvious, heh? There’s the library.

Shawn: Do they have books in there? Our school doesn’t get books – just magazines.

Jordan: No Shawn, we have books. You just don’t know how to read them.

Teachingchris: There’s the Language Institute.

Shawn: Too easy, Teachingchris, too easy.

I know that the banter doesn’t translate very well, but I was rolling by the end of it. Trust me. It was funny. Some days, I have the funniest job in the world.