What's your favorite day?

Sunday afternoon. 

I was finished teaching for the day and looking forward to diving into my next baking challenge, Almond Bear Claws.  As I hobbled up the stairs to get my wallet for a trip to the nearby grocery store, I heard my name.  Well, I thought I heard my name.  I walked out onto the deck on the second floor and saw Anna, one of my after school students and neighbors, and her brothers walking past my house.  I called down to them, noticing something in Anna's hands.  I asked if they had called my name, and Anna admitted that she was too shy, but her younger brother had said it.  I told her I would be right down.

As I went to the front door I warned Cait that we may have had some treats coming our way.  Sure enough, when I met them at the gate, Anna handed me two small blueberry cheesecakes.  Her mother had told her to bring them to us, and Anna was simply too shy to say anything.  Had it not been for her brother, she would have walked right past!  Well, thank goodness I heard him!  I wouldn't go as far as to call the small desserts blueberry cheesecake by any American standard, but they were pretty darn good.

I invited my friendly neighbors in to play a game of Rummikub, knowing that the bear claws could wait.  Anna agreed instantly, and her face lit up.  Her brothers on the other hand, were a bit too shy.

Anna came in and we proceeded to play Rummikub with Cait for nearly three hours.  I sat with a grin on my face for the majority of the time, as this Thai fifth grader started conversations.  She asked me my favorite game, favorite food, and favorite thing to do on the weekends.  Then she asked me what my favorite day is.  I thought about this one for a minute before telling her Saturday.  When she asked me why, I told her that although I work, it is fun and I know I can stay up late and sleep in on Sunday.  I turned the question around, and asked her what her favorite day is.  She very quickly told me Tuesday.  I was a bit puzzled and asked her why she would like Tuesday.  She answered, "because I come to learn at T. Meaghan's house."

I smiled for hours.

Karma is a B*tch.

For the first time in my life, I have started running.  I was forced to run when I rowed, but I always despised it.  Now, I love it.  Every morning Manao and I run around the lake.  What could be more perfect?  As the sun slowly rises, illuminating the temple, we circle the lake, smiling at the same people each lap and each day.

In the past few months I have allowed Manao to run off of her leash.  She loves it, and doesn't drift far from where I am.  But, within the past week or so, many new puppies have appeared, causing a few very aggressive stray mother dogs.  Therefore, Manao is back on her leash.  Because as much as she wants to be every dog's best friend, these mothers don't want any friends!  

I think I dislike the leash more than she does.  She likes to stop to pee, to sniff, to eat grass, to lay in a puddle, or find a rotting fish carcass.  Well, I don't like to do any of those things, so I am a little fed up with the leash.  I constantly have to give her a little love pull, coaxing her to "be a good girl," and "keep running, not much further."  Well, yes, the last line was a lie, as we have recently started doing 3 laps around the lake.  This brings our run to over 7 miles.  Manao is not nearly as pleased as I am with our progress.

My alarm went off Monday morning, and our run went on as usual.  Manao was on the leash.  We finished lap one and two without a problem.  Lap three was a challenge.  And as I pulled my golden retriever along in the increasingly warm Thai temperatures, I became frustrated with her slowing pace.  So I gave her a good yank.  And I pulled my hip flexor.  

Now I limp.  Now I struggle to stand up.  Now I am made fun of by my students, wait, no, they always make fun of me.  Now they just have new material.

So, sorry, Manao.  I won't pull you when we run.  

Karma is a b*tch.