Something really big happened Thursday:  I paid off our house.  It took us twelve years to do it.  I was so nervous after school.  I went to my bank, got a check made, went to the mortgage bank....  And shook and twitched.  I was as nervous and excited as I was the first time I met Duran Duran.  The ladies in both banks were so happy for me.  I do not normally let super personal information like this out, but I want to show that it can be done.  And yes, I do want to shove it in the faces of those relatives who made my sister and I feel like crap growing up because we didn't have enough money for a huge house and all the cool clothes.  Well, I am the only one who had a fully paid off house.  And it feels damn good.  We worked our asses off and live without many things most people see as necessities.  So many people are so happy for us.  It's kind of nice.

So even though it was spirit day at work, I dressed up a little extra spiffy.  I was feeling pretty happy (not a common thing for me) and celebratory.  My euphoria lasted until fifth period.  I moved the zine project up a bit because a couple students who have been struggling with inspiration were interested in this assignment and I wanted to jump start their inspiration.  They were ecstatic when I introduced the assignment.  They are not in period five.  Period five is revolting.  There are a couple of people who are being so cruel their behaviour stopped my co-worker in her tracks this week.  It's a classic case of mean enough to be a distraction, but not mean enough to warrant a misconduct.  And they know it.  And so my happy scale rating went from 10 to 0 in ten minutes.  And the rebellion spread like a virus.  But I am working on switching gears for Monday.

So after a celebratory dinner at Thai Ping with hubby, I hibernated Friday night.  Then I went to Dover this morning to pick up three photographs I had in a show.  The woman who runs the exhibits is so nice and warm and kind.  And she remembers my name.  I feel like I matter and my art matters when I see her.  The spring was back in my step.  Tonight I am going out.  I will dance off all the anger and frustration from the week at work and dance to celebrate being 100% debt free.

Tomorrow might be another story.  My parents want to see the photo I have in a show in Brooklyn.  But my mother is having knee problems and cannot handle the walking that taking the subway entails.  And she does not want my father to drive.  And hubby doesn't feel like going.  So who does that leave behind the wheel?  Me.  I am taking Sparky into New York City.  More to the point, I am driving in New York City for the first time.  Ever.  Through the Holland Tunnel. across south Manhattan, and across the Brooklyn Bridge.  Now, I hate driving.  But I can handle driving and even enjoy it in some cities or towns.  I love driving in DC.  I drive in Jersey City and Newark on a regular basis.  NYC has always been a no-go for me.  It's the cabs.  Well, tomorrow, I break that.  Hopefully that will be the only thing that will break.  Ugh.