This is a letter I sent to a very good f riend of mine. So far the "holidays" have sucked for me.

It's good to know you'll be back in Europe again. Great stuff that you're studying for. I have been teaching at the same school for over 13 years and I am very tired of it!!! There are alot of political things going on with the teacher whose SPED room is next to mine--without a proper wall (it's one of those sliding walls.. Anyway, this new teacher is trying to get everything she can from anybody, including me. It's quite distressing, but I stand my ground.

I've been supra-stressed. This birthday for me was so pathetic compared to last year's. I had no one to spend my birthday with in the evening, but my friend who owns the Thai/Indian store invited me over for dinner with her husband.

Last night I made t he mistake (for the billionth and beyond) time of going out to dinner with a woman I know from Burma who when she is put in a situation where a friend has an interest in flirting with the waiter that she makes sure he only looks at her. She is about 4 or 5 years older than me, but her skin in perfect. She wouldn't admit that she was trying to get all the attention she could. And I knew that this guy is new here and was trying to show me that he wasn't into getting to know me anymore. What is distressing is that this woman couldn't have said, "sorry, I took advantage of the situation..." don't be upset with me... Instead, she leaves a message for me saying she can't go out tonight (as if I would want to) because she has to do something else but that I should "try to relax," "be happy." How mindlessly cruel.

It's great that you're studying psychology...it's kind of maddening for me in dealing with people I know have the "me, me, me and then me again" pathology!!!

Thanks for helping me laugh at this. I'm on vacation!!! This week will be better!!!

Shed any psychological insight you can or want to!!