I made the mistake of setting goals. In my classroom. With my students as witness. In all fairness, my students set a goal or two as well. With me as witness. And, yes, I hound them on a daily basis about a number of things. Their writing. Their reading. Their homework. Their use of sunscreen over Spring Break. So I suppose turn-about is fair play. This blog was one of my goals and they have asked me about it regularly. All of our hounding comes from a good place. A place of caring and community and, just like family, they sometimes care so much you just want to tell them to back off you'll get it done don't pressure me I've got a lot going on right now in the big picture it's not that important and I'll get it done soon sheesh you've got it all together so you need to pester me about MY list don't pressure me I said I'll do it and I'll do it. But I digress. So I paid for one of those fancy, schmancy domain names and a blog host and it was adding so much stress in my life I decided to just cut my losses and close it out. I'm just not ready for that level of blogging so I'm starting here -- where I feel like I'm having a conversation with people who choose to listen. And who'll hopefully add to the dialogue in the comments section. Today is the Friday before our Spring Break and I am officially beginning my blog. There is one post that happened about two years ago and I'm leaving it. You can read it. You can even comment on it. It will stand as an accusation of my fickle nature and intense love of bacon, Krispy Kreme donuts and all the culinary delights that Italy, Mexico, and China have to offer. Just don't expect me to apologize. So, to any of my students who may be reading this, "BOOM, baby!" It's here! Mrs. Martin's blog. I don't know yet how often I'll post or what all it will include, but, as Celie screams to Mister in The Color Purple, "I'm here! Dear God, I'm here!" And so are you. And I love you and I dedicate whatever this is to you, my students, who make me want to be everything good in the world. Use sunscreen.