So remember that whole anxiety about starting the new school year?

Yeah, I'm totally over it. I somehow managed to grow a spine in the first few days of school.

Things have started off A LOT smoother than I hoped. There were a couple of rough spots, but we're chugging along. Remember "Guard Girl" who I mentioned in quite a few of my posts last year? Yeah, she's gone. Quit. Got fed up with seniors trying to boss her around. She's a sophomore and the most clumsy, awkward, uncoordinated kid I've ever met. I was a little sad to lose her, but if she's going to cop an attitude every time I ask her to do something, forget it. I now have five girls who are twirling their little hearts out. The guard now has two-a-week morning practices, and they almost have both routines memorized for the first show. Junior high band has the Star Spangled Banner learned and almost the majority of the school song. I'm going to have them play at the homecoming pep rally. There will be 60 (!) kids in the pep band loft. It's going to be loud and crazy!!!

Jazz band will be starting in about two weeks. Yikes! Time to start picking out some good tunes. I have a crap-ton of kids interested...but I'm sure part of the enticement was telling them I'd buy dinner. :-)

It's amazing how much better I feel about Year 2 vs. Year 1. It feels good to know the lay of the land and the kids a little better. I still don't like coming to work on some days, but hey...who doesn't?