Good Morning, Magic Mateys,
Yesterday's end-of-class party went so well. I'm happy to report that I didn't have one drop of ice cream, so the diet was safe. It helps that I'm lactose intolerant!

I just filled up on diet soda, and was fine. I received so many lovely gifts, and I especially loved the $50 gift card to...MACYS! Those parents know me well! I went to Clares and bought each girl a small sparkly cross on a chain, and each boy got a masculine-looking metal cross on a leather neckrope. They were so appreciative. I'll miss them.
From the Principal I got a heart locket with praying hands engraved on it, and I had each child kiss their finger and put the kiss inside the locket. I know, I'm so corny, but sentimental.
Today I have a meeting with Jesse's guidance counselor. He's doing outstanding in all his humanities classes (Italian, English, Global History, Drama), but is having trouble with chem and math. The chem isn't too bad, but he's getting 70s on exams. With the math, he goes up and down. We made a mistake I think of having him in accelerated math when he was doing A Plus work last year, but I think is has become too much for him. It's too late to anything about it now, as he's preparing for the state exams, a year ahead of schedule, but I want to make sure his program for next school year is more humanities-based, as that's what he's interested in studying in college. He will take physics, though, as he was in a voluntary summer program for physics and he took to it very naturally. He's in an excellent school, and the counselors work very well with parents to properly prepare kids for their college interests. So I'm looking forward to this meeting this afternoon.
I lost a $2 bet last night to Chad, when we bet on who'd win American Idol. But he took advantage of me, as I hadn't even watched one show, and had no idea who the finalists were! That kid's a hustler!
Raining again today, but good for my little patch of lawn. The landscaper came yesterday, and it looks so good. We're pathetic in my family, as my "lawn" is 6X12 but it's still too much trouble for anyone to roll out the lawnmower, or even just the wacker. It would take probably 5 minutes to do, but Mel would rather pay a landscaper to do it.
Brenda, are you all set for your trip to Iowa?