Happy Winter Break!

We’re off on the family cruise. Looking forward to unchapped lips and knuckles, as well as a little sun. We’ll do some hiking, kayaking, and snorkeling. And, there will be a lot of family bonding. Of course.

See you in 2008!

Perking up

I’ve been sick with a sinus infection, which isn’t that pleasant. However, what I have been enjoying is the sensation of feeling better (thank you Z Pack!). I was such a zombie for over a week that actually beginning to live in the world has been nice. Enjoying tastes other than citrus, noticing that the sun is out (or not), making jokes and being goofy with my sister, and wanting to do more than just stare.

Being sick stinks, but recovery forces you to appreciate your healthy quality of life more. So, I’m going to go sit in a coffee shop, pare down my to-do list and watch the icicles lengthen and drip.

(we have an ice dam on the back of the apartment building roof, right over the back door. So, we have water dripping in too. Ah! The perils of living in the northern midwest.)

Friday 5

A quick one today

1. 4 applications in the mail, 4 to go. Keep’em rolling.

2. It’s cold outside! Sticking my head out of a drive-thru window is not what I consider pleasant. And, now I’m sick with upper-respiratory yuckiness again.

3. As an AAC (Alumnae Admissions Coordinator) for Smith, I interview prospective Smithies. I have had my first encounter with an overly anxious father. I’m meeting his daughter tomorrow. I’m a little concerned, though because last Sunday, when I left my phone at home and he needed to reschedule the appointment, he called me 11 times! Yes, 11! (2 messages, 2 hang-ups)

4. I won a $5 gift card to a local video store at work. I wasn’t super excited because I don’t have a membership there, but wow! what a bargain. We went over to check it out tonight. I got 4 movies for a little over $3! And, I still have $2 left on the card. Who knew?

5. My Sundays are free for a little while. I’m going to soak up the luxury of time this weekend. Do a little cleaning, some work, some relaxing. I’m looking forward to it.

Snow again

I wasn’t in the Midwest last year at this time. I came back from Maine on December 17, but we certainly have gotten a lot of snow already this year. The roads haven’t been clear in over a week, especially the side streets. Madison doesn’t like to plow more than necessary, which translates into diligent driving.

It’s coming down heavily right now. All the schools in the area outside of Madison Public Schools are closed. I’m not leaving anytime soon, although the tenant in my building in charge of shoveling is diligently scraping away every few hours.

Today, I’m thinking about things, pretending it’s a free day, and doing the work that needs to get done. This weekend, the long-time boyfriend of a co-worker died unexpectedly. He had been having irregular heart rhythms, and they were slowly trying different procedures, but after the last one, he came home and stopped breathing. He died a few days later in the ICU. He was in his late 40s, and left behind a 7 year old son. My co-worker, who’s in her 50s with a grown child, had already lost her first husband to heart related illness. She’s the sweetest woman and I can’t even conceive of how she feels now.

On a lighter note, I had my 7th grade Hebrew School students read the Genesis 42, where Joseph pretends not to recognize his brothers and then punishes them. We read Five Books of Miriam again. This time we read a midrash about who Asnat is (Joseph’s wife). It mentions that she’s Joseph’s niece. The conversation took an unexpected turn and we ended up discussing incest and birth defects (not using that word) for the rest of class. Interesting discussion, to say the least.

Friday 5

Another week has gone by in a flash!

1. I drove home from Chicago (had an appointment with a professor there) on Tuesday in a horrible snowstorm. It was so bad that my legs were sore the next day from tensing them. I ended up taking 5 hours to drive a normally 2.5 hour route.

2. The first of the grad school deadlines are looming, so I’m spending my time getting them ready to send and sending them. There’s this moment I’m experiencing as I click submit (for the online parts) of fluttery anxiety. I hope I get in, oh yes, I hope I get in.

3. I finally perfected the fake mashed potato (steamed cauliflower) recipe to my sister’s satisfaction. Now, I have another palatable vegetable dish (this is a challenge for her).

4. Watching Grey’s Anatomy makes me think about my friends. I love Sandra Oh, she’s my favorite. When I watch her (as Christina) with Meredith, I think about my surliest friend (sorry M!). The whole plot just reminds me of the power of friendship. I’m grateful for my friends.

5. After Thanksgiving, we visited The Company Store Outlet, which, if you are not in know, is an amazing place to get sheets (they have a very popular catalogue). We got one new bath towel each (our other’s are VERY old, from my grandma). I got a giant bath sheet, brown. I love my new brown towel, I kind of feel like I’m wrapped in a teddy bear when I wear it. I’m also a huge fan of the color brown. Blue and brown.

Wisconsin got hit yesterday (Saturday) with our first winter snowstorm. It was a strange one, as my sister said, it was like the world did not know what to do: snow, sleet, freezing rain, rain, sleet, snow, rain, snow. You get the picture.

People do the strangest thing when it snows a lot. Firstly, people stayed out. It was awful out, slippery roads, and windy, white-outish. The people that came through the drive-thru (because, yes, of course I was working) were in bad moods. They were so rude. I had a man and woman glare at me icily because I wouldn’t take their pop cans through the window (health code violation!). And someone handed me a ten dollar bill and change and was not happy when I handed them back the change and asked about the extra…apparently he though I should be able to read his mind and give him a five?!? He also asked for shaken soy milk.

People also walk in the middle of the street in the snow. I can’t figure it out. Why, when it’s so icy and cars are fishtailing all over the place do they think it’s acceptable and safe? It’s unfathomable.

Oh yeah. The snow was pretty, too!

But, now comes the days where I have to walk around the corner to the parking lot instead of through the yard. When, I have to make sure that my shovel is in the trunk. It’s always slushy at the end of the driveway and the corner of our street. And, the deep hole near our front walk fills with slush as well. So, lots of winter pitfalls, and lots of potential for fun.

Happy December!