Ladies' night

Sometimes, it's good to be around your lady friends.  This evening, Susan, Laura and Crissy were with me at trivia, and we came in a quite respectable third place.  Carl was with us, as well, but I was pretty focused on the camaraderie with my ladies.  I was mostly just curious to see if we could hold our own without Cas.  We were okay, but we didn't hang on to our first place crown.  As it turns out, we are pretty clever, but my fella sure does help. 

I got an email from Cas today, in fact.  He is having a great time in Ireland.  I am glad that is the case.  He should be having a great time.  I plan to have a great time when I go on my trip next week.  Still, trivia was strange without Cas.  He has been my only consistent teammate thus far, and I really love playing with him. 

Our team tonight was named today in honor of the German World Cup defeat of Brazil.  Evidently, some spiritual person in Brazil put a voodoo curse or magic hex on the German team.  It clearly didn't work.  Germany spanked the Brazilians.  Our team was called Voodoo doesn't work on Germans.  We played a good game, and we all contributed some solid material to the effort.  I won't be there next week for the match, but I believe Susan and Crissy may go, and Laura may head out too- all without me and my guy.  I hope they do well.  It always pleases me when teachers demonstrate our superiority.  It kind of validates us.  We should know lots of stuff, right?

I have to be up in a few hours to administer more testing.  I gave the exit level TAKS math test this morning, and tomorrow is the exit level science test.  This is more of the same- students who have finished all other high school requirements, but are denied a diploma until they pass all of the assessments.  It's a little depressing, if you want to know the truth.  I genuinely hope the best for them.  I want them to pass the test and get the diploma, but I can't do a thing about it.  I can only be positive and pleasant during the test.  I can't go in and answer questions or give them clues- not that I would have been any help during a math test anyhow.  I looked at the calculators they were using today and it took me a pretty long time to switch one of them off.  Yeah- I don't remember using a calculator in math class back in the nineties.  They're ubiquitous now.  Sign of the times. 

Anyhow, here is a rather fuzzy photo of my team this evening.  Lee came in later on in the match, but she is our honorary teammate (and perhaps mascot).  Additionally we were awarded some beer glasses for our near victory.  Go, nerds!