I’ll just go in chronological order to catch up with what’s been going on with Miss Smoot.

After Christmas Break, we missed a week of school due to snow days.  I took advantage of a mild weekend to visit my Grandma in West Virginia.  “Once a man, twice a child,” is what my Grandma kept telling me as I helped her with daily routines.

By the end of February, the melting snow caused flooding in the Ohio Valley.  My school formed a Polar Plunge team to raise money for Special Olympics, with a portion going towards our Unified Basketball Team.

The Polar Plunge turned into a No Splash Bash due to high river levels and debris.

March went by with getting to know my two new foster daughters, ages 13 and 17.  I was also at the midpoint of two classes at U of L.  Spring Break couldn’t come soon enough.

I won 1^st place in the Masters Division for the One Million Centimeters 10K in Sebring, FL.  It was a nice park location with a canopy of palm trees that helped me acclimate to the humidity.

Clearwater Beach was lit with all the Spring Breakers.

Aside from my regular stops in Florida, I wanted to try Bern’s Steakhouse in Tampa.  I’m a Ruth’s Chris fan, but Bern’s was a better overall experience.

Following our dinner, Mom and I took a tour of the kitchen and the wine cellar.

To top off our evening, we went upstairs to the Harry Waugh Dessert Room.  The seating is arranged in private booths made with wood shipped from California redwood wine holding tanks.  We had our choice of music and could pick up the phone to request a selection from the pianist.

During Spring Break all hell was breaking loose in West Virginia, Oklahoma and Kentucky with changes to teacher pensions and salaries.  Regardless of the sociopolitical climate, I’m going to represent that #TeacherThugLife and teach my Smootents to the best of my ability!