Lebanon, Indiana has been one of those weeks that requires a constant smile and graciousness. It seemed like there wasn't time to just BE. This is good though, after being off for so long, I needed a trying week to snap me back into the groove of things.

We stayed with an absolutely lovely 83-year-old woman who made sure we had everything we needed, fed us, and treated us like her own. She has hosted many exchange students, Up With People members, and even random travellers. She LOVES to have guests, which became immediately apparent when upon our arrival she gave us each hugs and a "Welcome, honey." She has lived alone for over twenty years, and being around her helped me to develop a whole new respect for being alone, something I've been struggling with for the duration of my time with MCT. I'm normally a solitude monger, and I'm slowly relearning how to be good at being alone.

The time I spend actually working helps. I love my job:)

Monday auditions were interesting; we had our first dealings with kid bodily fluids. Everything was going relatively well, we weren't having trouble casting, and were ahead of schedule. Then I am called, "Jen? I mean...Jes? I had an accident...I didn't know it was coming!" She had a small puddle around her, and was soaked. I asked her quietly who her parent was, who, once addressed, had come prepared with an extra pair of pantalones. God bless discussion topics.

Sometimes, when I'm teaching, and I have a group of adolescent eye-rollers, I have to remind myself that this isn't everyone's passion, as it is mine. This week tested my ability to do just that. It was a difficult week, but was made better by the fact that by the end of the week, the eye-rollers were the cast members most determined to work together and put on a great show. I don't know when they started to care...maybe they did all along, it just took an outside source to make it okay for them to care. I think I remember that about being thirteen...

Another week off. I'm at home to get my braces adjusted. The kids think my braces are cool. I think they're cool, too. My bling.