Funchilde

In the ultimate nod to narcissism (and per my father’s request for more pictures of myself), I present to you: My Dirty Fourth Birthday in Pictures.

I was awakened at 0800 by a knock on my cabin door and went out to find a delivery of 50 cookies from my shipmate Shayla! 

I had all kinds of cards and balloons and stuff on my door which I quickly took down because I do all that I can to ensure that the students don’t know exactly where I dwell. Because they barely let me walk from one end of the ship to the other as it is.
It was a “No Class Day” which meant everyone got to sleep in a bit, so the ship was really quiet. I spent the next two hours roaming around the ship trying to off-load cookies on students, staff and crew.

I received a nice surprise in my Senior Staff Meeting…the best ice-cream cake.ever.period. But my birthday didn’t keep us from working. Or rather, I did all of the work as usual. But there were lattes, smoothies and hot chocolate to supplement the sugar high of the cookies and cake.
At 1200 hours I had lunch with “The Boys.” The one to my immediate left in this pic is one of a pair of twins. Joshua (and his brother Gregory) played tricks on me for the first week on the ship before I knew they were twins and thought it was just one overzealous, cutie-pie kid who might need an “after school special” talk about “inappropriate feelings for your elders.” However they are now two of my favorite students.

Later, I went to my office and did some important work.

I capped the night off with a meeting with the “Students of Color @ Sea” group and much later a get together and a margarita (or 3) in the faculty/staff lounge. It was a great day indeed. Thank all yall for your well wishes, e-mails, e-cards and shout outs.

A special “Happy Birthday” goes out to my birthday buddy Sarah Grace!