Early in the week, I wore a long-sleeved, knee-length shift dress with black tights and ankle-boots.  I accessorized with a gray-scale infinity scarf and silver earrings.  About five people told me I looked "so professional," in admiring tones.  5 stars.

Yesterday, I arrived at work in bright blue pants and a quirky intarsia-knit sweater featuring three large pairs of eye-glasses.  It was a cool outfit, I have to say.  Something worn by someone in a creative field.  A creative, fast-paced field like teaching spring-fevered sixth graders.  Anyway, I discovered my pants were dirty only when the fluorescent lights hit them, at which point I immediately identified three stains and a patch of dirt.  Further, I developed a bright red zit an inch and a half above the bridge of my glasses.  2 stars, tops.

Some days, you nail it.  Other days, you teach in dirty pants with pimple in the middle of your forehead.