Hello everyone, and to my tens of followers! Another monthly edition of Spit Ballin’ as we progress through yet another turbulent year of teaching. With everything going on in the world, we’re going to keep this particular blog on the lighter side: spring break!
Yes, it’s finally here. I’m currently typing this on day two of my break in my office of my humble abode where it is currently 37 degrees and sleeting. The most desirable weather anyone can ask for when you are on vacation from the workplace.
But in all seriousness, it’s that time of the year where teachers are starting to get to their wits end and desperately need this break away from their students, and vice versa. It’s the reprieve from teaching continuously from the New Year until mid to late March (for some, early March). Most of us are so desperate for our break we start asking each other what we are going to do a full month prior before it actually arrives. Now, I understand my non-teaching friends will tut-tut about how we need all of these breaks, and will now be interrupted in their daily work lives with their own children now being at home for the week; but honestly, I could care less. Sorry, friends.
Teachers utilize their spring breaks in many different ways. Most teachers have children of their own, and many going to school in the same district, so they do have that opportunity to get away from the spring sloppiness of Minnesota or off to see relatives around the midwest. Other teachers with children in other districts with this free time, or ones who are not tied down by little tykes see this as a giant opportunity to get caught up on their to-do list at home or with their school work (but from personal experience, I usually get about one-one hundredth of that done over the course of the week). Other teachers, including myself working for the Minnesota Twins, capitalize on side gigs during this time.
On my first ever spring break as a teacher over twenty years ago (sheesh!), though, I made it a point to get out of the state. For this trip, I went with a good friend of mine and my brother, Brandon, to visit some friends who were living in San Diego. Now, at this time I was not the thousandaire I am now; I was just a hundredaire, so I and my travel company really had to budget the hell out of this trip. We found that it was cheaper to fly into Las Vegas and rent a car to drive to San Diego. We were excited at not only the prospect of staying in Sin City but also renting a convertible to drive the rest of the way! High stylin’!
However, we were disappointed. When we got into Vegas, we were anxious to hit the poolside and turn our beyond pale bodies into lobsters. Not to be. The temps were at a historic low. We’re talking fifties. Too cold for even these Minnesotans to brave the pool like so many do whenever temps climb over sixty. So we just headed to our room. IWe were staying at the Hard Rock Casino and when we opened the door, there literally was a cocaine tray as the first item we saw on the table with residual “powder” on it. We didn’t know if this was a schtick for the hotel or if it was a massive mistake. We just threw the rest of the substance down the toilet.
After that, we decided to get fancy and do dinner and some gambling. Now, the funny part about this is you have three young guys who are not quite stylistically adept; especially Brandon. He bought a brand new button down shirt from Kohl’s and took it straight out of the packaging. There were packaging square wrinkles all over it, and there was no iron in the room. Brandon didn’t care. He was going to wear that damn shirt, even with us pleading for him not to.
Our fancy dinner that night was at The Pink Taco (what else) where we had some measly, you guessed it, tacos. Very adventurous. After that was gambling time. Again, we did not have a whole lot of nickels we could even rub between us, and if you have ever seen a poor teacher gamble, it’s first of all rare, and second of all extremely painful. How long could I stretch a twenty on penny slots?? Needless to say, none of us made out on any extra dough.
The next day we packed up and headed to the car rental. We were pumped! A convertible! However, this was not your exotic Corvette convertible. It was the cheapest one we could get; a Chrystler Sebring. Now, there was a problem with this too. The weather was still cold, like fifty degrees, but the sun was out and didn’t feel too bad. We were bound and determined to drive this bad boy all the way to the coast with the top down! That’s what we paid for! Not only that, the back seat was extremely small. Since Brandon was the youngest of the group, he was relegated to it. This was not ideal for him since he was the size of an offensive lineman.
Once we started on the highway, we quickly realized that this was going to be one biting cold drive. I’m sure everyone who was driving by us murmured, “Damn idiot northerners,” as they passed us by. But we were steadfast. Driving through the cold with the worthless sun beating down on us was miserable. After five hours of driving we finally reached our friends’ house and had a chance to look at each other after prying Brandon out of the back seat. All three of our faces were half baked from the sun. Red on one side, completely white on the other. We looked ridiculous and started to feel the stinging pain.
And that is what we would carry for the rest of our break; half sunburned faces. Our time in San Diego went better, though. Tons of Yahtzee, cards and beer, trips to the beach (although still chilly), and catching some baseball.
What a trip! Although I sit in cold, miserable Minnesota right now, I’m finally going away on a spring break in a long time by heading out with my fellow Gopher nerds to cheer on our hockey team in the Frozen Four in Tampa. Only this time it will be in the 90’s and I’ll be bringing my SPF 5000 sunscreen. I hope all of you had a relaxing vacation or staycation as well. Till next time! Ski-U-Mah!