Allergies!

Well, it seems that it's that time of year again! My allergies are acting up on me, so I've got the sore throat that will soon turn into the stuffy nose. I've also got the cough that starts with the sore throat and will last well past the time the stuffy nose is gone. Southern Illinois is one of the greatest places to live...until allergy season comes! Really, it's a bittersweet time because everything is soooo green and colorful outside. How can one not love it? However, the scratchy throat and stuffy nose come along and always remind me that I should have started taking my Claritin a couple weeks ago, and I always seem to get off my vitamins until Spring begins too.

All in all though, everything's been great lately. Teaching has been lots of fun, my classes have been pretty good, and the college semester is coming to a fairly stress-free close. How can someone complain about that? When 14 and 15 year olds are behaving when the weather's warming up, it's nothing short of a miracle. What do I have to complain about?

I've also had a lot of fun teaching 8th Grade Boys' Sunday School at church lately. When they pay attention, they do a great job of answering questions and showing that they have insight into what the Scriptures are talking about. Plus, my evening class on Tuesday nights has finished up with having regular meetings, which means I can start going to FCA again! Yea! Things just can't get much better!

Other Countries' Warning Levels

My dad just e-mailed this to me. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." Londoners have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies all but ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to a "BloodyNuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was during the great fire of 1666.

Also, the French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide." The only two higher levels in France are "Surrender" and "Collaborate." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.

It's not only the English and French that are on a heightened level of alert. Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."

The Germans also increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbor" and "Lose."

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual, and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.