Another school year...

It's September. Yes, you're well aware. I'm just saying it out loud because I still can't believe it. School. Ugh. And miraculously, the weather has instantly gone from 80% humidity and 92 degree heat to perfect overnight. I mean, p.e.r.f.e.c.t. I may have to break out the red wine this weekend. It's cool like that.

School is about to start, which means several things, and not all good:

• Supply lists. I love love LOVE new school supplies. Everything is so fresh and crisp and unspoiled. I don't know what it is, but I just love a brand new sharpened pencil with clean erasers. And perfectly molded crayons. A brand new marbled notebook. Writing on that first page is torture. Ugh! Getting a brand new, never-been-opened workbook. It's a sickness, I'm sure. This is Good.
• No more pre-school tuition. Of course, there's after school care, but it's like HALF of the "tuition" we we're paying. This is also Good.
• New morning routines. Without our summer sitter, these include waking up an hour earlier (me!). Like at 5 am. So I can exercise in the predawn, darkness (unsafe!). Get myself ready for work. Getting sleepy children up and fed and dressed and out the door to catch the bus. Hopefully, with lunches made by me in their backpacks. This is all very Bad. It's like a day's worth of work before I even GET to work.
• Finding new after-school sitters. Okay, so we have one from last year. She's just not able to help us on Friday. Which means, the interviews will ensue. Two this weekend, in fact. I've been lucky so far. *knocking on wood* I love Craigslist. This is a Pain in the Ass.
• Days off. I don't know about your school, but if ours can't find a reason to have a full day off, they have a half day. This is Bad.
• Events. Well, our kids are in the school, we have to go, don't we? Forced socialization is Wrong.

Oh, and one last thing. Where are the other cool parents?