A Melancholy Day

Today was brilliantly sunny and 32 degrees, this made me depressed (if you know me you understand). My body was just beginning to enjoy the cooler weather when, boom, it's back up in the 'sweaty' zone. And now I've gotten addicted to spinning classes (4 times a week) which leaves me throughly drenched. Anyway, I'll be happy when it gets cold enough to wear my new coat.
I was bemoaning my schedule today - Wednesday through to Sunday is full up. I was worring about staying on track with my novel, too; when I got the call from my tutee, S, that he has a headache and can't meet tonight. The quality of his excuse aside, I was thrilled. A whole evening to drink tea and write. I can't wait. Also, the chance to put up Chapter 6 and 7 written earlier this week: my novel's site Plucking Blackberries. I had one of my students say she read it, but otherwise I think it's only my family. If anyone else is reading it, let me know.
I have to tell you about my Grade 7 boys class. I think they are my favorite, because they are so funny and energetic, I go into class with a smile on my face and I leave with one. Well, today I gave them time to work on their letters to their PenPals in Bloomington, IN. I graded their last letters, but because they did such a good job - I told them I trusted them to write on their own this time, but I'm still collecting them to mail. Anyway, one of the student's penpal asked if they could teach them a little chinese, and I'm afraid I started their devious thoughts by suggesting they could give their penpal a Chinese name. Another kid suggested giving a boy's name to the poor Indiana girl, and I said something about how they could call her "poo-poo" and she would never know. They think "poo-poo" is the funniest thing ever, and I feel like it's a harmless thing to laugh at, but it got the ball rolling. Later another kid wrote in his letter that he would teach his penpal how to say "hello" and "how are you?" in Chinese. Then he wrote out how to say something either inappropriate or stupid, because all the kids were cracking up. I think a couple of the students did this, so I'm going to have to send a warning note with them: Do not use the chinese taught in these letters! But it was pretty funny.