Who's getting drunk tonight and has no plans to be sober until Monday morning? This guy right here. I set such a stellar role model for my students.

Well fuck.

Teaching hungover sucks. Think my students enjoyed it, movie day for all the classes.

The last of the the family leaves today, thankfully. We put 'Chele and Dean and Sam on a plane last night and my parents and aunt and uncle yesterday afternoon. Der', Fi' and the kids fly out today and then blessed quietness, except for this new family member who's living here. Yes, Kit, I mean you.

Speaking of, Princess Asha would like to request your presence at breakfast in an hour at the diner. (Okay, it was more of: "AUNTIE KIT THERE Y/Y?" at the top of her lungs.)

Private

I love my family and it's going to be weird without them here now. But what I don't love is how much time they were here and Augusta wasn't. I mean, she came to everything I asked her to, but they were here for almost a month and it never felt like she bonded with them. They adored her, thank God, though I know 'Chele wishes that she would have had more time to chitchat and compare war stories about being in the writing field. I just... did she not like them? Because I can't - and won't - separate my life from my family and extended family. Even hundreds of miles apart and going in different directions, we're all way too close. But at least Mom and Auntie Mel have stopped making noises about setting me up with people when I go back to Texas.

I think I'm going to wait awhile longer to give Augusta the tags. Just... to be sure. Hell, I'm not sure if she'd understand, or well. Kit would. She's a Winters. She'd be able to explain it.

I love my family, I really do but fuck I'm ready for them to leave. So ready. Except the little ones, they can stick around a while longer, they're fun. Their parents though, and their grandparents and great aunt and uncle? They can go.

One more week with them here, and then they're gone and back to my regularly scheduled programming. All the plane tickets are booked. I just have to figure out what I'm going to do about summer.

FML

The family invades in less than 48 hours. Portage, brace yourselves. I apologize in advance for the tornado that is my sister.

Parent-Teacher conferences. Who needs 'em? Preparing for them is just about to kick my ass, I think. All over after tomorrow though, thank God.

I'm not sure who's looking forward to spring break more, the kids or me. Just a few short weeks away, though the family coming in is a scary prospect.

Locked to Augusta

Sunshine, sorry about this last week. Whoever says being a teacher is always dull should take a walk in a teacher's shoes during the lead up to parent-teacher conferences. Want to do lunch or dinner on Tuesday or Wednesday? Or you're more than welcome to keep me company tonight as I finish putting grades into the computer for my classes.

Fuck, I'm still confused as to what happened. Women are confusing.

In other news, I'm apparently being invaded at the end of March for my mother's birthday. Dear God, save me now.

Augusta

Up for an adventure tomorrow night? I have a plan, if you're interested. It would require your dancing shoes.

I'm NOT an uncle! Just got off the phone with my sister and she had a bit of a pregnancy scare. Never been more relieved to hear the words 'I'm not pregnant.' She'll make a great mom someday, but that day is not today.

However, in the same conversation I checked my e-mail and my baby cousin and his husband are working on adopting a pair of siblings in India. So, there will be little ones, but they will be Winters-Andersens, not Kazins. Our family has enough love for a whole gaggle? herd? bunch of kids though.

And all that got me thinking about kids. I want some, one day. I think I'd be a half-decent dad. I like kids - hence being a teacher. But yeah. Not now, but someday.

[Locked from Augusta]

Oh fuck what was I thinking saying I would cook for Augusta? That means she's coming to my house. Which. Yeah. I like my place but ... I have a feeling she's not going to be enchanted by my Star Wars collection. Just a hunch.

At least I'm fairly confident in my cooking skills. Or at least this dish. Can rarely go wrong with shrimp scampi, in my opinion. I hope. Fuck, I shouldn't be this nervous, should I? Somewhere in LA and India, Derrick and 'Chele are laughing their heads off. [/Private]

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday - I'm still trying to transition from the break to teaching again. I think I'm going to be mean and have pop quizzes in all of my classes tomorrow. Easier to grade then paperwork. I don't mind being the mean old history teacher.

Heard from my cousin and his husband yesterday. They enjoyed their honeymoon and are now working their tails off in India. And are considering adopting two local orphans, apparently. Man, talk about a relationship that was built to last.

I managed to get out and be social. Met a lovely lady on New Year's Eve. Witty, intriguing and quite the looker. Got the feeling she needs a gentler touch, though. Not that I mind, even if noting comes of it besides a good friend. Can never have enough of those. I think I'll collect them.

...

That sounded creepier than I intended.

First Christmas I haven't spent in Texas in close to a decade. But with Der and Fi in Europe, Auntie Mel and Uncle Jesse decided to go on a cruise for the holiday and Ma and Pop are going out to visit 'Chele in Los Angeles. Something about the weather there being nicer. Sent all the gifts out to the baby sister last week for her tree, so I'm in the clear there.

Gonna make my resolution a week early - 2012 I need new friends. Been a bit of a recluse lately. Think I'll start by going to this Christmas party I heard about... Some chica from Perfection's throwing it, if I heard right.

The only reason I don't have a hangover is because I'm still drunk, it's been decided. The baby of the family got married last night, my youngest cousin Derrick. The ceremony was just right for them; I've never seen Der' happier. That's him on the left. And Fi on the right. Michele (my sister, for those not keeping up) keeps saying it's the Kazin curse, we'll never get married. And I'm starting to believe her.

Maine's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live here. Too goddamn cold. Makes me miss Texas, I'm just starting to get use to the cold in Portage. I've at least found ways to keep warm at home. There's not even any bridesmaids to cuddle up to here!

Be back in Portage late tonight, just in time to catch a few z's and then teach in the morning. The students'll just have to deal with historical movies as I ain't gonna be able to handle much more than that. Early Christmas present for them.

ABOUT YOU
Your Name: Merci
Your Age: 26
Your AIM screenname: gronzogirl
Your Email: mercilynn@gmail.com
Location (Time Zone): PT

( Everything's Bigger in Texas )