Double Helix

We're hanging at the cabin today.  Mexican Train Dominoes last night was a hit and snowshoeing today was fantastic.  I think Dave and I won the double helix snowshoe configuration contest on the lake but when we tried to judge the results from the second floor window we couldn't see anything in the late afternoon light.  Now everybody is doing their own thing.  Reading.  Knitting.  Studying.  Trying to remove a computer virus.  I should be finalizing my syllabus for the first day of class Tuesday, but I did learn recently that it's Thursday today and not Friday as I had thought.  Great news.  It made my day.

Gleek

This blogging competition hasn't gone very well for me.  But I would like to share that I've really gotten into Glee over the last week.  I was able to watch the last five episodes on Hulu today and I'll be able to watch the first 8 episodes when it's my turn to check it out of the public library.  I'm number 22 on the request list.  So that will be in about a year or so.  Looking forward to it.

Merry Christmas

It's been a great holiday so far.  Cassie unexpectedly arrived yesterday and this was a treat.  We expected her in the sense that we used some frequent flyer miles at the last minute to get her here so she wouldn't have to spend Christmas alone, but she was unexpected in the sense that I didn't know she'd be coming when I woke up.  Really, the best gift.

It was the best gift, that is, until I opened up my package from Santa.  He decided to give me a new Mac laptop which I surely did not deserve but will enjoy very much nonetheless.  He was probably tired of listening to me talk about how much I wanted a Mac computer.

Looking forward to more holiday cheer today.  We're heading over to Dave's parents house as soon as he finishes shoveling.  Again.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

And I Did The Laundry

I'm definitely in the holiday mode.  Which means I've done very little in the name of productivity today.  I did finish updating my iTunes library and read the December issue of Real Simple.  Otherwise, I'm just gearing up for this winter storm that's a comin'. We'll all have to shovel more than once, I'm sure.  In that regard, getting some rest today was probably a good idea.  I'm hoping that I'll be able to talk Dave into playing a game with me later, but he'll probably insist on working out or something active like that.  Marriage can be hard on days like this. 

Associate of the Month

Is it ironic that we parked in the open Kohls' "Associate of the Month" parking spot and then later told the woman in front of us in the check-out line that she had to move back seven people to the end of the line because she had cut in and we live in a society and there are rules? 

Maybe irony isn't the right word. 

Hypocritical?  Yeah.  That's probably better. 

The Rug Makes All the Difference

We cleaned the basement this weekend and the whole process was unbelievably satisfying.  So satisfying, in fact, that I'm sad that we're done.  We organized a lot of crap and vacuumed up a lot of dust, but most importantly, we created a little area for my sewing projects.  I have a machine now, so some day I'll have projects.  Here's what the area looks like:

You can't see the space heater in this photo, but it's nearby.  And I'll probably wear gloves and a hat when the projects begin. 

I'm so in love with this space, I can't even begin to tell you. 
 

A Drop O' the Creature

The other night Dave decided to start a blog.  I can't really understand or explain this phenomenon since Dave has shown only the slightest interest in my blog or any blog over the years.  But somehow he was inspired and has already written more in the last 24 hours than I have in . . .well . . .weeks.  So check it out.  He's anticipating world-wide readership and a few comments will really make his day.  He'll be checking for comments every hour if the last three hours offer any indication of frequency.

That's some pig. He's terrific. He's radiant. Well, he's clean anyway.

We celebrated our six-month anniversary on Sunday by using a wedding present gift-card to a lovely restaurant.  I had Top Chef's Kevin in mind when I ordered the pork belly as my entrée.  He always made it look so good.  I'm sure there are those out there who love a good pork belly (including my husband who finished mine), but it was a little fatty for me.  "What did you expect?"  Dave asked.  "It's a pig's belly."  And then he demonstrated by rocking his arms, swaying like a pig, and saying something about Wilbur.  All in all, a memorable night.

In the Spirit

Dave has had a rather harrowing week at work.  I thought this picture of a ski hill made out of frosting might cheer him up.  I mean, come on.  Look at it.

"She was all of these things and of something more..."

We read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn for book club last night, and I really loved it.  It's considered a classic in certain circles, and I was pleased to finally read it.  Even though the conversation shifted away from the book several times, I kept trying to bring it back with comments like, "I really hated Francie's writing teacher, Ms. Garnder," or "It made me really sad when Francie couldn't finish high school."  Deep stuff.  I didn't want to let go of the reading experience and thought it might help to keep talking.  I loved the book so much, in fact, that I hardly minded when a fellow book clubber joked that my vote didn't really count for the next book because I probably wouldn't read it anyway because reading two books in a row would be quite unusual for me.  Ouch.  Let's all remember, shall we, that I read last month's book too.

Located the Digital Camera

This may be the best tree we've gotten so far.  I still don't have a stocking to hang on the mantel, but a Smartwool sock will do.  Maybe I'll wrap a few presents today.  All of this snow has me in the mood.  Or I could tackle that work-related to-do list.  Tough call.

To the Extreme

I've always had this really bad habit of picking on the pimples on my face.  I know.  Gross.  But it is what it is.  Last night, though, Dave went into great detail about having to drain fluid from people's faces when they've overdone the picking and acquired MRSA.  MRSA on the face, that is.  This may just be enough information to kick the habit.  No.  Let me rephrase.  It IS enough information to kick the habit.

From the Cyber Cafe

Greetings from Albustinky, everyone!  That's what the flight attendant called Albuquerque on my flight here from Denver on Tuesday.  I don't quite get it yet, but I'm sure there's a little joke in there somewhere.  Very little. 

I'm gone again on another trip.  The conference I'm attending is fantastic, though, and I've been able to catch up with good pals, Whitney and Angela.  Whitney's lived in ABQ for a while now, and Ang flew down so we could have a reunion.  How great is that?  We've laughed and cried a lot already, so everything is going as expected. 

Looking forward to heading home tomorrow, though.  Missing my husband and my pillow.