Overthunk

On a field trip with the youth of America today, a couple of weird things happened that are common themes in my life: circles and providence. For many years, I've experienced an odd phenomenon: I see people from past jobs, loves, classes, schools when I'm out and about and anywhere, despite not having any recent contact or connection with them for months or even years. This happened today, as I saw two people I used to teach with at my old school. Last year we were on another field trip, totally different setting. I saw yet another teacher, that I'd taught with at the same school, though she'd gone on to teach in a totally different district. A man from Peru that I'd taught in an English as a Second Language writing class also ended up being hired there as a teacher assistant. A couple of years later, he and I won teacher assistant and teacher of the year simultaneously in a single year. I go on a date or to a restaurant, and the waiter is someone I worked at my fi...

Some of you may remember this gift from the gods of Foods That Should Not Be. Well, here's another. Sweet 'N' Sour Cupcakes 1. Prepare white cake mix, pour into cupcake cups (preferably of the rockin' stars variety, but I've only seen those at Christmas and have been saving them ever since), and bake. 2. Mix one packet of tropical punch flavored Kool Aid and about 1/4 cup sugar. 3. Sprinkle mixture over warm cupcakes and watch in amazement as it turns from a greyish powder to bright red, even though you know that's what's going to happen. 4. Serve to kids you know and await their accolades, which, I assure you, will be forthcoming. 5. Eat one yourself, with visible doubt. Like it and eat another. Amazing what a lack of icing can do to stimulate the imagination. I made these once before for the class just due to lack of materials, but this time they were clamoring for the oddness again. Try it! WARNING: Yes, of course it stains everything in sight. p.s. Yes,...