It's been a strange day. Very rainy and gloomy here - some major tunderstorms this afternoon. It's strange to see the sun try to come out about 7 pm and then fail. It's not the normal weather pattern one's used to seeing.

I fell down a few steps at work yesterday, which hurt like hell. So, I spent this strange day trying to relax, but not sit directly on my butt as it hurts! Good day to stay home and sit on my soft couch, instead of trying to sit in a computer chair all day. Falling does strange things to one's psyche. I feel hurt, bruised, stupid, vulnerable, ridiculous, upset, and angry all at the same time.

I guess I could go into CIM's hazardous working conditions, but it takes so much energy to complain. I will mention that the floors being wet due to rain is nothing new. A student fell on the steps last year and that led to her having to have ankle surgery. I sent an e-mail to the Building and Grounds supervisor explaining the hazardous conditions, but he sent no response back and I seriously doubt he will, as he's known for not getting back to people. Let's not forget that I'm in Cleveland where we must get precipitation of one form or another at least twice a week during the school year, if not more.

Michael had an equally strange day, but for other reasons. His was frustrating. He's preparing to go to San Marino, a republic of Italy, next week for a competition. He was driving an hour to work today, actually to give a recital, and he got a flat tire. Flat tire, fine, whatever. We got the tires rotated on the car last Saturday. Today, Michael was barely able to get one of the lug nuts off because when the shop put the nut back on they didn't line up the grooves and ended up stripping the screw and forcing the nut on. So, back to the shop he goes tomorow. In the process of trying to change the tire, he bruised his hand!! Ahhhh....not good timing, but it's not serious. Still, stiffness is not good either.

I helped teach two of Michael's piano students theory today. We have a computer program they do while they're here and waiting for their lesson. It's amazing what 8 and 9 year olds don't know after taking lessons for more than 2 years. It's ridiculous. How many times does one have to explain half verses whole rests for a kid to really comprehend it and be able to apply the knowledge? They see the rests in pieces all the time, yet they have trouble when they're asked to do simple things like, how many half rests are in a whole rest? Hopefully they both will remember this simple information for more than a week.....it's questionable....

On the next sunny day that comes along I'll give you an update on our garden. It's very exciting in a mundane, farmer sort of way.