Crossed

I was standing in the cafeteria this afternoon and observing some of my darling students at lunch. I like to think that my presence is enough to inspire better behavior and perhaps decrease the amount of food flinging. The presence will have to be enough. That place is full of kids and I can barely pick out mine own from the throng. For all I know, they are staging a full-on coup from the back tables.

I was joined by my teaching assistants who wished to discuss an issue with me and see where I was with the whole mess. As we chatted, the principal came over and said:

Well, well, well! I wonder just what is afoot and could cause the three of you to stand in the cafeteria with arms crossed and looking so determined!

There was certainly enough going on today to justify crossed arms. I could don a straight jacket and remain in the crossed pose for the remainder of the school year and still not have done enough arm-crossing to cover the situation. I could grow extra arms and cross those for good measure. I could cross everything crossable and no one could accuse me of over-crossing.

But that was not the case today. I was crossed. But not because of any untoward behavior on the part of my students. As I explained rather pointedly to He Who Is The Boss Of Me, I was cold. Freezing to death, in fact.

This, of course, caused the principal to launch into a lengthy diatribe regarding the temperature in the building and how it seems rather ridiculous that he is considered responsible enough to oversee a plethora of students and full complement of staff, but not able to adjust the temperature. Apparently it was chilly in his office today as well...

It is May. And it is freezing. Yes. I complain a lot. I know this. Soon it will be very, very hot and I will fuss about that, too. It's not that I'm never content. It's just that I don't care for extremes. I want to be comfortable. I'm never going to be one of those people who claim to prefer "hot" or "cold." I want "medium."

The good thing about chilly temperatures on a day that should be more about the transition to all things t-shirt is that you want to do something about those crossed arms. Usually, I'm finding the idea of knitting things with sleeves rather unappealing at this time of the year. Now, I'm suddenly inspired! After attending the late meeting at school I'd forgotten all about, making my way home with the heat blasting away, popping that chicken into the oven that I also managed to forget to cook yesterday and settling myself on the little exercise bike, I cast on for a sleeve.

I'm still not admitting to anything other than straight-up dishcloth knitting. I stand firm in my resolve. I do not knit anything that might be worn on the upper body and require sleeves. No one should get all excited and start chattering about how Sheepie is knitting a sweater. We don't want any of the Knitting Curses to begin raining down upon my head as they are wont to do. I'm just saying that my arms were cold and that I started knitting a sleeve.

I can't keep my arms crossed forever. I'm going to need them at some point. Perhaps for pointing fingers of shame at my students while they frolic their way merrily towards the summer vacation season. I'll need sleeves...

SA