The Countdown Begins.

'Twas an unseasonably warm day on the 27th of November in the year of '06. The Sheep roused herself from sleep at a ridiculously early hour, bathed and clad herself in some garment or another. There is no real record of the actual clothing, but you can be assured that it was of the "loose and non-binding" variety. On her way out the door to resume her workday toil after the Thanksgiving Holiday, she took a moment to dump the very last crumbs of the holiday pie in the trash. And then it began: The Sheep's salute to healthy eating.

And I have persevered. I have eaten sensible breakfasts. I have had naught but fruit during the day. And I mean fruit that has a peel and seeds, not the kind that comes in Pop Tarts. Dinner has consisted of Lean Cuisine and snacks have come from the good people at Weight Watchers. I have lived the life, stayed the course, plumbed the depths. Despite the hunger pangs, chocolate envy and disturbing "windiness" from certain locales south, I have maintained the whole ridiculous thing.

And it hasn't been easy. I expressed concern to one of my staff about the potential for a goodie deluge on the school as the holidays drew nigh. This tends to happen to the teachers who work at the primary level. I assumed that something similar occurred to the folks at my new school. I wasn't sure I could resist. He assured me that he'd been working in the building for a couple of years and that this was not the case. We would be treat-free.

Clearly, he has not been paying attention. He claims that this year is just a fluke and that this has never once happened before. But, no sooner had I breathed a sigh of relief, than did the community bring forth the bounty. There have been sugar cookies. There have been things dipped in dark chocolate. Cakes...pies...you name it. I'll admit that it has not been the buffet one sees when one teaches the little guys, but it has been impressive.

Are you kidding me with this? These people don't even know me! Why do they hate me so? What have I ever done to them that they don't want to see me able to button my pants?

But it is almost over. Tomorrow is the final day for Fruit Fest '06. Effective Friday, 7:15 am, The Sheep will arrive at school and there will be a lifting of the ban on that which is yummy. While the actual vacation doesn't start until the close of school, there will be pre-festivities. As God is my witness, there will be no fruit on that most hallowed of days. I will arise in the morning and button my pants as I have not done since before the Thanksgiving Pie Damage. I will then proceed to indulge with wild abandon. Do not get in my way. I may bite you. I am not kidding.

Of course, the whole thing begins anew in January. But we are not thinking that far ahead right now. We are thinking only of the gooey goodness in which we will be partaking in the nearest of futures. I'm just silly in the head with the anticipation at this point!

And, as long as I'm all about meeting my own sad little needs right now, I guess I should mention that I did do some of the knitting last night. I hadn't planned on it...I was plumb tuckered. But, a couple of glances at my little sockie that has been sitting alone and unloved for so very long made me yearn to complete the heel flap. And once you have flappage then heel-turning seems fairly logical. And what does a turned heel need but stitch-picking-uppage? Had not my bedtime arrived, I fully believe that there would have been some mad gussetting. But, a Sheep who is living on fruit and the hope of chocolates yet to come has only so much of the stamina. And what little I have must go towards surviving this school week. The children need me for the educating and conflict resolution.

And I do believe that there is a sugar cookie or two waiting to make my acquaintance...

SA