I am having that horrible feeling that I may be getting sick and knowing that I have taken so many bogus days off that if I am sick I will have to work anyway. Why does my general irresponsibility always have to catch up to me?
  ¶ 2:19 PM

  My kids and I have been having this weird period of them loving me. It is nice-- preferable to them hating me, I suppose-- but can get a little uncomfortable at times.

The other day one of my students came to hang out in my room before school. Some of the kids get dropped off for school way too early and since it is getting cold outside, I drag them in so they don't freeze. So this girl tends to come in a lot. This particular morning, she just sort of gazed at me for awhile. I finally asked her what was up and she said, "I just really like you. I don't mean to be cheesy, but I just do." I said, "Thanks. I like you too." But then she just kept staring at me. Then she went into this whole thing about how much she likes me and how she can't ask questions in class because she gets too nervous to talk to me and stuff. It was sweet, but also kind of uncomfortable for me. I know that some of the students are bound to crush out on their teachers-- especially when you are a young teacher-- but I would sort of rather them not talk to me about it.

Not to mention that this particular girl may have some serious issues. One day not long ago she came in with this sort of gleeful look on her face like she couldn't wait to tell me something. Then she said, "Did you read the paper this morning?" I hadn't. She then announced, "My uncle got chopped in half by a train!" She didn't seem upset by this. She just seemed pleased to be able to report it to me. I said, "Gee whiz! Were you close to him?" I was thinking that she couldn't be by the reaction she was having. She replied, "Yep. He used to live with us." Then she smiled. I didn't know quite how to react. I still don't. I just hope she is simply crazy and not dangerous.

In other news, come to karaoke tonight if you live here. If you don't live here, catch a plane and come anyway. I miss you, probably.  ¶ 8:53 AM

  Owen and I went to our nation's capital this weekend to stare at the White House and shake our heads in disappointment and bewilderment. We were not quite finished when a group of vaguely menacing children shoved their way between us and the home of our president. We just left and shook our heads elsewhere.

I also got to hang out with an old friend who just may be the nation's first woman president if she would just cut it out with all the medical school stuff. She is awesome.

Today I took the day off in order to go to the dentist. Then the dentist called this morning to tell me she was sick and rescheduled. So I got to clean my apartment and grocery shop. Life is good.

If I was more interesting, I might have more to say. Peace out.


  ¶ 1:57 PM