A Wonderful Surprise in the Mail, Counting My Blessings in a Parking Lot, and Now Off to Work with Over 100 Middle School Kids. Happy Friday

We have an early election for a primary in the State so I stopped to vote quickly on my way to work. I was coming out when I feel this brush against my leg and then an old man screamed at me, gave me the finger, and drove off. I kept walking paying no mind to his bumper stickers, when a man in a truck said, "Sir, you have no idea how close he came to running you over. He swerved at the last minute." 

Eeks. Not a fun way to start the day. 

I made it to work, readied the ground for 100 middle school kids in the Oak Room (thankful to the Women's Basketball team), went to a welcome meeting for education majors, came home to record another episode of The Write Time, and then opened my mail. Kanyea, Courtney, and Malia sent me a note (with updated family photos) and a bracelet Kanyea had made for me while visiting Liberia after Christmas. It's nice and I look forward to wearing it with pride. 

I'll be sliding into this afternoon with bags under my eyes, only to realize that I'll need all weekend to catch up on courses for Monday and Tuesday night. At least the temperatures are heading to the above freezing mark for the next week. That will be mighty helpful in the functionality department. 

I'm excited to know Lys made it back from Iowa safely and Rhiannon & Eric are back in Lake Placid. Travel this week was wonky, for sure. 

Oh, and I donated a whole bunch of books to schools, libraries, and bookstores today, trying to clear off some of my tables and what do I learn? Another shipment is arriving tomorrow. Jeepers. There's no way I can get to them all

But I try.