I don’t think I could have asked for a better night of teaching than the one I had last night. I know there have been other terrific teaching sessions, but there was a great energy stretching from the students. I have only one senior this year, and he is still a new student having only been with me for one month. I have five high school 11^th graders and the remainder are all younger. I love this inner leadership springing from this batch.

Six hours of sleep was the goal but owing to a crew of pooches that felt noisy bathing should begin at 5 AM, I lost an hour where I could not return to the sleep zone. I considered starting the day at 5:30 AM but fought that moment of weakness off as I wrestled to find another ounce of sleep.

Our temperatures are to hover in the 60s this week with one day bouncing up to the 70s.

On this day in history in 1871, Chicago was battling the great fire that had begun the previous evening. In 1888, the public was first admitted to enter the Washington Monument.

It’s Monday, and I hope to adopt a positive approach by not dreading the start of the “work week.” I always wish to chuckle when I think of the “work week” as all seven days are a “work week” for me. Even when I am relaxing or doing something fun, in my mind, I am working on storylines and other items that are work-related. I’ve been this way since I was a child. Till she died, Mother was always stressing, “don’t forget to take breaks and relax.”

On with the morning. Make it a great day!