Mid-July vibes...

16 July 2026: Pretty quiet day here today, but I managed to get a lot done. Got a lien-free title for the car (took less than 15 minutes at the DMV, I think?), did some cleaning out of my kitchen cabinets and took a bunch of stuff to Goodwill (inspired by cleaning out the Martinsburg house), and did some "work work," too. 

All of that is good...but the vibes all around sure seem oppresive. Can't be outside too long because of the heat and the wildfire smoke. Can't even eat salad or berries without worrying. So many signs of broken systems in a broken country. And so much uncertainty with my mom.

I meant to get even more done tonight, but might just take is easy. Checking out the new Little House on the Prairie. Hope it's good.

Sunshine just in time...

23 June 2026: Taking it as a good sign that the rain stopped and the sun came out in just enough time that I could mow the lawn this afternoon. Had to get it done today or it would have had to wait until Sunday or Monday...and even those days might not have worked. In the grand scheme of things, that's not a crisis, but I do get fixated on stuff. Having one less thing to fixate on? I'll take it. 

So yeah: that sunshine was quite welcome.  

Quiet, rainy, May day...

21 May 2026: After a very early heat wave, a few days of cool rain are setting in. We need the rain, so I am grateful (mostly). 

I ran errands most of the morning and got some work done on campus. I was home by a bit after noon. 

It's been a quiet since then--getting a bit of work done, talking with Tara (stuff with my mom is...hard), and keeping an eye on Jo (who is having another bad stomach day), and reading for fun. Reading two books at once (soon to be three), which I realize is an unintentional tribute to my dad.  

(Jo's okay now...just crashing big time on the couch. I said to her, "I am sorry you aren't feeling great, but it's been nice to be here with you today.")

First open window in months...

28 February 2026: I have to close them soon as the evening draws near, but temperatures in the mid-60s today have made for a couple of open windows and a couple of very happy cats. 

Come on, spring!

Little spring preview...

17 February 2026: Warmest day here since mid-November, I think. I didn't take my walk until nearly 5:00, but did so in just a sweater. It felt so good. Come on, spring!

No thawing in sight, but...

28 January 2026: We are still locked in a cold spell and this snow and ice isn't really going anywhere, but I did venture out in the car twice today (for the first time since Saturday afternoon). Still kind of dicey once you get off main roads, but a bit of freedom felt pretty good. 

Even better? Looks like classes will be normal on Friday. (I don't teach on Thursday, but campus opens at 9:00 then.)

Snowy Sunday

18 January 2026:

[Catch-up post...]

Snowed quite a bit up here yesterday, which was pretty until it got scary. The weather these past few months is really going out of its way to mirror folks' inner emotions.

Heat wave...

24 June 2025: A heat wave settled in today (actually yesterday, but today was fiercer!). Should last until Thursday. Yuck. Got out early and mowed the lawn and did a bit of yard work. I've been more or less inside all day since then except for a brief trip to Walgreen's. 

Reading for the Year's Work essay, taking notes, watching TV, getting the rest of my steps in doing laps around the first floor...there are a lot worse ways to get through a heat wave. 

Grateful for AC that works, a job that lets me stay inside when it's hot, and two cats who aren't that upset about the shut-up windows and are glad to have me here with them.

Long, good day

17 June 2025: 

Things I did today: slept in a tiny bit because I slept awful the night before, mowed the lawn, had lunch with Tim and two recent graduates, helped do a bit of advising for the last group of entering first-year students, did some planning for next semester with Tim (we are taking our students to the Poe House), did some research work, hosted trivia, played with BabyCat and the laser pointer (a promise I made to her yesterday), and listened to a heck of a thunderstorm roll through (with Jo hiding under my chair). 

Not the most exciting post, but I kind of like days like this. 

How I've Spent My Snow Day...

12 February 2025: Proofing, proofing, proofing. Course prep for Friday. Emails. A million other things. And proofing, proofing, proofing. 

(Shoveling took maybe 5 minutes, plus the 10 my neighbor came over to chat in the driveway.)

Jo cannot believe we are still doing this. Lots of trying to disrupt and lots of protest napping.

Snow day!

11 February 2025: For the first time in all of my years at Shepherd, I am unqualifiedly happy about the snow day tomorrow. Due to some pre-planning and serendipity, I've been able to more or less let every class avoid any annoying online "learning" to keep us on schedule. Just telling 80 students to enjoy their snow day? Feels good!

And the bigger bonus? I get to keep working on Round Three of proofing the book. All. Day. Long. 

Proofing and indexing...

19 January 2025: The snow set in by 10:00 or so and made my walk really pretty--and slip-free, since it hadn't started sticking yet. That changed by 1:00 when it really poured and piled up. I think we've got five inches or so? I cleared the first three or four from the driveway around 5:00. The rest can wait until tomorrow, though Lord knows it will be pretty icy by that point. (Now a few days of bitter cold sets in and I am trying really hard not to let that get in my head too much.)

Otherwise, a productive and pleasant day mostly inside. Some chores, some TV, and some work on the book's proofs and index. 

Boy, I have been worried about the index and the proofing since the start. Fortunately, though, I think I have figured out the big intellectual puzzles of the index. (Not surprisingly, not that much of a puzzle. Just had to start it and figure out what I wanted to do.) 

Unfortunately, I am so anxious about missing mistakes as I proof. I've been reading the pages aloud to myself, a strange activity. With some cringing, I am proud to say that I do think the writing is pretty good. That's satisfying. But I keep telling myself, "slow down, be careful, don't miss anything." That part's not fun.

Anyway, about thirty-seven pages done. Two-hundred and sixty or so to go.

Bit by bit...

One of Them Days

18 January 2025: A low-key lovely Saturday, I think? Got up early-ish (for a Saturday), ran some errands, did my weekly housework, and even started working on the book proofs and edits. By mid-afternoon, my to-do list was pretty much done. 

Since the weather is looking bad for tomorrow, Amy and I decided to see a movie today instead of tomorrow (alas, no free popcorn from Regal on "National Popcorn Day" tomorrow). We saw One of Them Days, which was silly and funny and really hit the spot. It was also kind of cool to see a movie celebrating Los Angeles, particularly Black communities in Los Angeles, at this moment in time, with so much of the city suffering. 

After the movie, we had dinner (where I would have made my dad proud, using a pretty good coupon). Back home now, watching Brooklyn 99 reruns and just relaxing. Again, usually, with a snowstorm approaching, my mood might be more somber, but so far, it's okay. 

These kinds of posts are, I know, kind of boring and "laundry lists" that don't take too much creativity or thinking, but every once in a while, I don't mind them as kind of snapshots. 

Sweet relief...

17 July 2024: The heat finally broke late this afternoon as a rain storm moved through. Windows open. Back door open. Lovely little breezes moving through the house. Fresh air. Happy cats. Happy me. 

104...

16 July 2024: The highest I saw the temperature go today here was 104. Couldn't bear to look at the heat index temperature. This heat has been just relentless. Even now--after a bit of rain moved through--it's still in the mid 80s at 10:00 p.m. Not a fan of this. Tomorrow is supposed to be a bit better, but still rough. Grateful for AC and the ability to basically stay inside (and get my walk in early). 

Snow ducks...

19 January 2023: I think Jane got me this duck snowball (?) maker two years ago and I had no chance to use it. Busted it out today for the fresh snow that fell, canceling classes for another day. 

After all these years, when it comes to groups of youngsters, I still think in fives.  

Snow day...

16 January 2024: We got about 3 or 4 inches of snow here last night into today, enough to delay and eventually close campus. So, that means it's been pretty quiet. I helped my neighbor shovel the driveway of the older couple of who lives across the street and then he helped me finish mine. The snow is the kind that just pushes very easily, so it wasn't hard. Still, extra hands make the work go faster. It felt very, well...neighborly.

Then I walked up to school to do a bit of work, including a Zoom call with my practicum students. Headed back home, watched some TV, did some reading. Making dinner right now. Will probably watch some more TV, take my bath, read for fun, and get to bed early-ish. 

That's about it. Didn't get everything on my "to do" list done, but I am going to give myself a break here in the name of a gosh-darn snow day. (Plus, finished my latest entry super quickly on Monday, so I feel a bit more entitled to breathe. Ten more to go!)

"Umm, okay. No possibility of taking a walk today."

23 December 2022: My post's title comes from my thought about a block into my walk early this afternoon. Though it was in the 30s at around 7:00, by the time I set out, the temperatures had plummeted 20 degrees. (And right now, it's 6 degrees out.) The wind has died down, but at 11:00 a.m.? I struggled to walk. And then I thought, "Okay, maybe just a quick walk the other way" and found myself being blown forward. And the cold was intense. 

So...see the post's title. (Yes, a shout-out to Jane Eyre, too.)

Still managed to hit 10K today, almost entirely from pacing around the house on writing and chore breaks, with an assist to the brief trip I took to Food Lion. 

First flurries...

15 November 2022: Though the morning was nice (if cold), it turned into a rainy day--and then (briefly) a snowy day. And then back to rain. And then, by time I left campus at 6:00, an icy and sleety day. Yuck. But grateful for a warm coat, seat warmers in my car, and a warm house to come home to. 

Surprise April snow...

18 April 2022: Same spot as this post, just three days later.

Got home around 8:15 and here's the view of the house. Come back, Spring!