Spring Breezy in Myrtle Beazy

Myrtle Beach sunrise

Spring Break couldn't have come at a better time. That long stretch of no days off from New Year's to April is always a bruiser, and this year was no exception.

While last year's Spring Break took us to the exotic Dominican Republic, this year's budget and time availability were a little tighter. So instead we went to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Here's some things you should know about Myrtle Beach:

1. It's the "Mini-golf capital of the world" - over fifty 36-hole courses

2. It's technically a man-made island

3. Jackson served there briefly on his mission

4. It's home to two of the biggest motorcycle rallies in the country

5. It's the hometown of Vanna White.

Hard Rock Pyramid

For you Simpsons fans out there.

"I'm sorry, I believe I ordered the large cappuccino."

Sky Wheel at the Boardwalk.

Skeeball at the Boardwalk. All those tickets bought us some delicious bubble gum.

Myrtle Beach was a good time. We went with our friends Casey and Brent Meyer (who, you may remember, got married on the beach last year and we were there in attendance). We rented mopeds, cruised Ocean Blvd., soaked up the nightlife at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville, and partook of the most incredible mini-golfing known to man (fire-breathing dragons and such).

Brent and Casey

Just missing the leather chaps and a tattoo that says "Exonerated".

Clearly I wanted a bigger, manlier bike.

At Dragon's Lair Mini-Golf Castle

In honor of Brooks Britt, Dinosaur Ph.D.

It was a little crazy because lots of public schools in the area were on Spring Break as well, which made for a deluge of moronic, hormone-driven and scantily-clad teenagers who would prowl the streets and beach by night looking for a fellow idiot to breed with. Where are the parents these days??? I know that when we went on vacation, we were normally on leashes with strong, plastic buckles - no messin' around with those things. And even if we were let off our leash (which did happen from time to time), we mostly went around trying to fill our fanny packs with as many stupid souvenirs as we possibly could. I feel like an old man saying it, but what the heck is wrong with kids these days!!!

Other than that, it was a great trip. The beach was beautiful, the company was great, and Myrtle Beach is just one big party. Now back to work, everyone. School starts tomorrow.

Student-Faculty Basketball Showdown

Last year I had the idea of replicating one of my favorite memories from middle school: the Student-Faculty basketball game. At Mount Logan Middle School, it was the crown jewel of student incentive activities, and I thought it'd be cool to bring some of that magic to Henderson Middle School. But last year, my principal said no, even when I volunteered to coordinate and organize the entire thing. This year, my principal is so desperate for anything to "work" that he said, "Sure. What the hell."

I didn't realize beforehand how much work would actually be required to pull this thing off successfully. It was like taking a part-time job on top of teaching, grad school homework, and coaching baseball. There were teams to form, permissions to acquire, concessions to coordinate, and a school-wide eligibility tracker to be implemented. But I went forward with it anyway, sure that it would provide a little shimmer of hope and happiness into what has otherwise been a very dark and gloomy school year.

The day finally came. The student team was assembled. The teacher squad was two-deep. We had the pep band playing in the corner of the gym, and the cheerleaders "doin' they thang" as they say. The referee jumped the ball at center court, and the game was underway.

Mr. Boone looking official!

Ms. Padgett in traffic!

One of my former football players, Larontae, trying to get past the defenders...

Then he ran into this. Boom.

Luckily for me, the kids were pretty terrible.

I say "luckily" because, in the days and weeks leading up to the big game, I had done a lion's share of trash-talking to my kids. I couldn't help myself. I told them I'd be breaking their ankles left and right. I even guaranteed them a Faculty win several times, but they just wouldn't believe me. I don't think they could wrap their brains around young, hip black kids getting schooled by a dorky white teacher with glasses, but that's exactly what happened. Some students even wrote me notes on the day of the game, urging me to have my ankles wrapped tightly and an ambulance close by so I could be easily retrieved.

The 8th grade boys made a good run at the end of the game to bring it within 16 points, but by then it was over. Final score: Students 45, Faculty 61.

It was the most fun I've had as a teacher in 3 years at HMS. And now, thanks to some strategic gambling, my students owe me brownies.

The Cooper River Bridge Run 2012

Over the last school year, Jackson and I have been stuck in a routine. Work during the week. Work on the weekends. Crash when we can. We decided that we needed to spice things up. A few months ago, Jackson got a wild hair and decided we needed a goal and signed us up for The Cooper River Bridge Run - a historic 10K race in downtown Charleston. We began training and started to look forward to our trip. Our training was quickly replaced by our routine (see above), and before we knew it the race was upon us.

While we were not quite as well trained as we originally planned we had a fabulous weekend. We drove down on Friday afternoon and picked up our registration garb at a huge convention center. Over 43,000 people registered for the race and it was invigorating to be surrounded by the buzz and activity of a major event.

We stayed with some friends from Jackson's mission and woke up at 4:00 am the next day. We were on a transportation bus by 5:30 that took us over the bridge that we were soon to run across. The race was supposed to start by 8:00 am, but it was delayed and we waited around for until 9:00, observing as the area became overwhelmed with mobs of eager racers.

Waiting for the race before dawn

At the starting line, long before the gun was fired

Did I mention there were over 43,000 racers???

Waiting in line for the port-a-potty before the race

The crowd grew restless as the start time came and went...

Yep. Still in line.

Jackson, in the pre-race zone

A view from the bridge

Did I mention the run up the bridge was over a mile long?

Jack and I at the end of the race

Needless to say, we were pretty wiped out after the race. We crashed for a few hours and then spend some time visiting some of Jackson's old hotspots from the mission. The trip was relaxing and fulfilling and a welcome break to the monotony of our daily routine. We've already started to talk about doing the race next year. Let me know if you are interested in joining us!