I suppose it's slightly ironic that I'd get to watch a Pepsi-sponsored presentation on abstinence on the anniversary of my fall from grace. It was pretty funny - interspersed with clips of Vin Diesel driving over a bridge, a woman who was once a crack-addicted prostitute would speak on the dangers of peer pressure. There's, um, a bit of a mixed message there. And honestly? What does Adam Sandler flying off a banister and destroying a table have to do with not letting your boyfriend pressure you into sex?
When my kids got back to class, they were disgruntled and enthused in equal measure. Some liked the music; others found it laughable. "Pepsi took 45 minutes of my life," said one, "and I want my 45 minutes back." Realizing quickly that it was hopeless to begin anything new, I decided to play to the cheese.
"We can either start our work on pathetic fallacy," I announced, "or we can have a (snicker) frank and honest discussion about (giggle) sex and drugs (ha ha ha!)" They opted for the discussion, of course, and while I didn't expect them to be all wide-eyed and full of questions like, "how do you know when you're in love?" I also didn't expect them to focus so much on the hidden agenda of PepsiCo and youth marketing in general. It was kind of cool. And I didn't have to teach very much, which was also very cool.
8 more working days until I'm in Europe! I plan to spend an hour or so a night writing, so I don't lose track of everything in the mad rush of excitement. Between seeing Scherezade, being in Europe and travelling with my mother, I don't expect to have a moment to spare...so I'll have to make a few or I'll live to regret it.
