Work soonish. Don’t really want to go, but six teachers have already called in sick. My allergies are acting up really, really bad – almost to the point of too bad to function, but I’ll live, I always do. I actually feel better when I get outside to the nice, clean, cool air. I can breathe outside. Too bad it’s too wet to take the kids out. So I’m thinking, with all these teachers out, maybe I’ll get stuck in the one-year-old class again like I did yesterday. I was able to spend most the day with Dakota! She’s growing up so fast, my loverly niece. I feel like I never get to see her. But sadly, if I get stuck in that class more often, I’ll be seeing her more than her own father does … well, almost, probably about equal. But I just like hanging out with her. Shannon wants me to bring her back to the house tonight. Apparently, she’s having me over for dinner. Sounds nice, but I’m hungry NOW. Next week is Spring Break. I’m taking off from work, as most of you know. I just need a break from the daycare. I’m actually going to read a lot and write a paper during my week off. But you know what else? I’m going back to the Dagom Gaden Tensung-Ling Monastery for a few days. Two or three, haven’t really decided yet – but I could really use it. I miss it there. Still contemplating moving there … Okay, so, I know Melissa has to work, but Darren’s free, so he may want to go with me. It’s just I don’t really want to go alone, and I know he doesn’t really have any plans, and is Buddhist so it’s a plus. I really … really don’t want to go to work today. I’d rather be in Bloomington already. I know it’s the beginning of March and probably won’t be as beautiful as last year, when I went in May, but I’m sure the experience will be quite relaxing and … bah, I just don’t want to go to work. Is it Friday yet? No? I had a big test today – mid term in Intro to New Testament. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, but hey, it was still long. I think I wrote my hand off. You all know how much I love essay tests. Yesterday was the big Geography midterm, with me having to label a map of Europe. “That’s so easy,” you might say. But ah, my young padewon, there’s more to it than Western Europe. Careful, those Balkans (what used to be Yugoslavia) will totally kill you. I’m just glad that I was able to color my map the night before so I could remember it better. But yeah, bunches of short essays on that one, too, and I was late getting back to work because of the length of the test. Ah, well, que cera, cera … or sera … or … something, I dunno. I speak German and English, and that is neither. Anyway, I should probably go so I could prepare myself for the insane day about to come on with six teachers at home sick, and being short handed, and the kids probably coming back from being sick themselves and … gah. It’s just going to be another one of those days. Ah, well, that’s life. I’ll write more this weekend, I’m sure. I love you all.