Today is my birthday (and the fourth anniversary of Ronald Reagan meeting his maker!) and I have been at school all day. The kids of the preschool have been singing to me nonstop, since I got here. When I picked up my first class, they were waiting like a lion for its prey, ready to sing and group hug me. I am sure I am riddled with germs and infection after it.
I got nothing accomplished in class today, because every time I had students they wanted to sing to me. While I was in my preschool lab my fried Tito, the music teacher, brought all the students to my window to serenade me with a Happy Birthday.
During recess the department had a wonderful cake, juice, and chips waiting for me. It was a lot of fun, and I know it was organized by Maria Dolores. She is so very sweet. The cake had fresh strawberries on it and it reminded me of the some of the desserts I used to eat back in Ohio. 
When I got home I talked to Holly and tried to talk to my mom and dad, but they were not home. It is the first time in 27th years I did not speak to my parents on my birthday. Carl, Lydia, and Judy took me to Chez Jerome for dinner. It is clearly the best meal I have had in Quito. I had the fillet medallions that were topped with a caramelized balsamic cabbage thing. Fantastic! They gave me an awesome gift of three appointments to these Mishgun massage beds.
I finished the evening by meeting Tito at Pobre Diablo where I had some beers and heard one of his friends sing. It was a great performance and a great way to end a really fun birthday!