February has been a rough month.  I haven't been this sick in... I can't remember how long.  It's totally knocked the wind out of me and I've been tired like never before.  This has led to me sleeping a lot -- naps on the weekend, bed by 8PM (okay -- some nights by 5:30PM), etc.   I've also been super busy at work.  I spent a few weeks working as a grade one teacher.  For someone used to working with older kids it was a very interesting experience.  It was also a major test of my patience.  For example, I did not realize that grade 1's could not draw their own hearts for Valentine's Day -- they needed "tracers".  This was mind boggling to me as we were in the middle of a math unit on 2D geometry and had just discussed symmetry.  Also, somehow, they can all count by 10's orally but when asked to group 40 counters into groups of ten and then add them up, they'd get answers like 27, 35, 86???  Go figure.  They were cute though.... I had a good time but I'm glad to be back working with juniors and intermediates. 

Last weekend, N and I ventured out for what felt like the first time in a long time.   For Christmas, I had bought a package of hockey tickets.  We got a few pairs of tickets to the Toronto Marlies (the Toronto Maple Leaf's farm team in the AHL) and a pair of tickets to see the Maple Leaf's play the Oilers (N's favourite team) on March 7.  I was too sick to go to the first couple of Marlies games so the first and last Marlies game we saw was last Saturday.  Being sick was a big kick in the teeth as the Marlies tickets for were "premium" seats.  They were second row, behind the glass, right on the blue line and beside the penalty box.   They were the kind of seats that people pay big bucks for in the NHL and I've never really understood why people would cough up the big bucks for seats like this... that is until I witnessed by first body check into the boards right in front of me.   AWESOME!  To say the glass shakes is an understatement.  Granted you cannot see any play that is happening in the corners on your side of the ice but that matters not when you see a fight right in front of you.  Very very cool.

In other news, I am counting down the days until my winter break which is the third week of March.  KC is heading out to T-dot to spend her life savings on suits (well -- I believe it is my job to ensure that doesn't happen and trust me, I know I have my work cut out for me).  We have lots planned for while she's here in town: Leafs, Raptors, Sound of Music, We Will Rock You, we're going to wine taste in the Niagara region, and we're going to shop the outlets in Buffalo/Niagara Falls. I am watching to see if I can get tickets to a taping of CBC's The Hour while she is here. Oh and of course, a trip to the spa for a day of complete and total relaxation. I cannot wait!