Better (snow) angels...

6 January 2025: I mean, at the risk of saying something very obvious that is also an ridiculous understatement, it is surreal watching certification of an election where the winner stoked a violent insurrection against the government. It's just infuriating, bewildering, and so very sad. 

Not good vibes for a snow day, which already aren't good vibes day for me.

But, as is so often the case, the Lord sends hope and light. 

As I did a first pass on my driveway this morning, my neighbors Pam and Ann came over to help me finish up. I told them I could handle it, but they insisted. As we finished up, I told them that I was grateful on this otherwise grim day for a reminder of good people doing good things for others. (We think alike, thank goodness.)

When I was done, I took a shorter version of my usual walk (thanks, YakTrax, as always). Of course, the first house that I passed was Pam and Ann's. Imagine my delight as I saw them--two women in their 50s--laying in the front yard, hands clasped, making snow angels. I yelled over, "I don't think you could be any cuter if you tried!" 

Then, maybe a half a block up, another neighbor--definitely in her late 50s/early 60s--passed me, walking back from shoveling someone else's driveway. At first, from far away, I thought she was another teenager, out making a few bucks. I told her as much and she said, "Thanks for the compliment!"

Anyway, goodness endures. People still take care of each other. We laugh. We play in the snow. We live and we love. It's the only option.

In for the night and beyond...

5 January 2024: After helping at the trivia championship game this afternoon, I am home now, likely not leaving (in a car, anyway) until Tuesday at the earliest. I hate it, but it is what it is and I have nowhere I have to be, a warm home, food to eat, work to do, TV to watch, and Veronica and Jo to keep me company. It's good to count blessings and realize you are being silly (even if that's not enough to make you stop being silly). 

Nosferatu

4 January 2025: Really enjoyed seeing this movie today, especially because Carrie and James joined Amy and me. 

My mood is still not the best, as I wrote about yesterday, especially with a winter storm on the way, but today was a pretty good day all things considered.

More of these "in between" days...

3 January 2025: I put away/took down all of the Christmas decorations, inside and out. This is never a fun task, but it goes more quickly than decorating and there's a kind of "that's that" satisfaction to having it done. 

Still, I find myself fighting off some melancholy. I can sense where it's coming from: the end of the holiday season, some cold and snowy weather coming, the lack of my regular teaching routine, and some other stuff just weighing on me.

Got home from the basketball game tonight feeling all of this and Jo greeted me. And then BabyCat popped out for a hello. These darn girls just make me happy. They make me smile. That's often enough to push through harder times. So very grateful.

Thought I'd post this very funny (to me) picture of BabyCat from a couple of days ago, tell-tale evidence on her whiskers that she joined Jo in the garage for some hijinks when the door somehow blew open.

102 syllabizing (again)...

2 January 2025: Just like last winter break, I have spent much of this break worrying over my ENGL 102 syllabus, which I (foolishly) decided to re-do. I do feel like I made some progress today, though, which is encouraging. 

A long stretch of cold and, at times, snowy weather is settling in. Not good for my mood, but I am also hoping that staying close to home and keeping quiet and cozy will also help motivate me. And for better or worse, I've only got about a week until "go time."

"didn’t it give you the asking"

1 January 2025: So many smart and kind souls posting words of wisdom and commiseration at the beginning of this new year, one already marred by violence and pain. Jane Hirschfield's poem, "Counting, This New Year’s Morning, What Powers Yet Remain To Me," really speaks to me today.