Back to School!

No, not for all you teachers* reading this, but for me.  Started a class on teaching gifted students, GATE Certification Tier 1, through SDUSD and SDSU, and next month have one class to get my Physical Education credential. And you know what going back to school means...

1. Playlists! Can't study or read or write without the perfect set of songs to encourage me and keep me focused. This task should not be taken lightly or done in haste, for a faulty or distracting music selection can slow homework progress by several minutes hours half a day or two if you let it.
2. Coffee! Can't spend an hour on iTunes or Paste without having the proper caffeine levels. Very important to get the temperature exactly right, the coffee:creamer ratio perfect, and of course have the right LSM, lucky study mug, washed and primed for action.  I've spent a lot of time this week  practicing the all important Reach for the Mug without Dropping the Laptop move. Coffee cup and snack placement in the correct spot on the desk is critical. I suggest that blue painter's tape or chalk for laying out possible locations without getting scolded for using Sharpies on the furniture. Not like it's real oak or something.
3. Quiet! oops, I mean quiet... Hard to do when the kids are out of school for the summer, but that's why God invented yardwork, garage cleaning supplies, and Go to Work with the Other Parent Day. Make sure the requisite amount of time is spent inspecting your study area, surrounding rooms, the immediate neighborhood, local Tilted Kilts, etc. for any possible noise level distractions.
4. Procrastination, Be Gone with Thee! Beware the evils of putting off until 7pm tonight what you should have and could have been doing the past week. Because the 7 o'clock SportsCenter is vital, you probably just finished dessert, and some of us do have to get up and go to work the next morning! I'm just so glad Game of Thrones ended, or I'd really be cutting it close...

*"all" in this case meaning both of you...