EXTRA-CIRRICULAR

I did say I'd start posting on May 15, right? What? I said May 1? Darn typos...

You know I've been keeping myself occupied with music (if you've been reading my sporadic Year of 35 posts, that is) and I'm still putting in a few hours a day in the YMCA pool. And I've been reading (though not as much as I'd like to) and watching TV (Lost, Sopranos, Big Love, 24, Amazing Race, Scrubs, Gilmore Girls) and some baseball (again, not as much as I'd like). Plus, hitting shuffle on iTunes like a junkie. But I've also managed to do some different things over the past week or two...

I went to prom. Sadly, it's not a new experience for me. I went to two of them when I was in high school and this was my ninth as a chaperone. How do I get so lucky ever year? My wife is one of the junior class sponsors. Do I get to hang out and watch her dance in her cute dresses while she hangs out with the students? No. I get to eat quickly and then go to the lobby to make sure no one tries to leave before they are allowed to. Occasionally I escort someone to their car and make sure they don't grab any alcohol or pills or what have you. It can be interesting when something happens and there is usually an upset girl whose boyfriend is being a jerk. This year? Boring. No criers, even. That's a good thing, of course, but it made the hours go by that much slower. Oh well.

Last week I got to be a crossing guard. The regular guy went on vacation (fishing in Kentucky) and asked if I would fill in. We're friendly and I will walk with my son a couple days a week just to talk to the guy. Things went well the first three days but then the weather took a turn for the worse and I got to stand in the rain on Thursday and Friday. Not something I'd want to do on a regular basis. The good news? He paid me for it. The bad news? My wife is going to take it to help pay off some purchases. Oh well.

By the way, tomorrow brings the debut of The Raconteurs. Oh yeah!