Thanksbirthmas!
Yay for another marginally successful Thanksbirthmas. I really do love getting Christmas out of the way early so that I can relax and actually enjoy the real Christmas when it comes around. No traveling, no shopping, just cozy nights at home decorating the tree and baking and hanging out. Speaking of which, we got our tree yesterday! Went down to the cut-your-own farm and paid $35 for a 9 or 10 foot tree. Its a blue spruce and quite beautiful. I'll take some pictures when we actually get it in the house. You just can't get better than a 10 foot live tree inside for the holidays, the smell is intoxicating. And after Christmas the limbs and needles go into our compost and the trunk gets split up for bonfire wood, totally re-usable. Driveway is getting re-graded today and the wood stove will be installed soon. Just need to get the snowblower working and should be ready for the winter! Although it doesn't at all feel impending. 60's at the end of November? Unheard of.
The trip to NC was entirely too stressful and full. I didn't get to hang out with anyone enough, and some people I didn't even see altogether. I stayed with Jes and Nana, which was cozy and they did well to make me feel comfortable. But the situation is still full of stress and anxiety which rubbed off on me. The animals at the house aren't well taken care of, which made me quite depressed. There is a cat that is totally friendly and loving, but is not allowed in the house and will not be taken anywhere to be adopted. And the horses are just hating life right now. They don't like walking through mud or living in mud but they have no choice. And nobody likes them very much. I know part of that is the "Southern way" but it just doesn't make me feel good. The Holiday party was much fun, I had great conversations and got to catch up with many people. Jes and I looked quite fabulous if I may say so.
(haven't gotten around to
taking red eye out yet....)
I did feel like the entire week was one big getting ready session for the party, we baked and cleaned A LOT. But I *think* it was worth it. I spent Thanksgiving day and parts of a few other days with the family. My sister was in town, and I had fun hanging out with her. Again, it feels like too short of a trip, but what can you do... I got some really nice thoughtful Christmas presents, including tons of makeup and lotions and girly stuff (going to do a manicure soon!) and some good books. Plus my sister got me cute sweaters in awesome colors and my parents bought me a stainless steel rice cooker! No more burny rice on the bottom of soup pots. :)
In other news: 2 weeks left until my talk at the AGU conference in San Francisco. It is stressing me out because I don't actually have any results yet, but one can always hope it all comes through in time. Bonus: one week paid vacation in SF, can't beat that.
I have also been informed that I am indeed going to Antarctica after all. In January. Good thing somebody bought me the Lonely Planet guide to Antarctica!! I've already started reading it. I promise to blog lots from the ice. :)
The trip to NC was entirely too stressful and full. I didn't get to hang out with anyone enough, and some people I didn't even see altogether. I stayed with Jes and Nana, which was cozy and they did well to make me feel comfortable. But the situation is still full of stress and anxiety which rubbed off on me. The animals at the house aren't well taken care of, which made me quite depressed. There is a cat that is totally friendly and loving, but is not allowed in the house and will not be taken anywhere to be adopted. And the horses are just hating life right now. They don't like walking through mud or living in mud but they have no choice. And nobody likes them very much. I know part of that is the "Southern way" but it just doesn't make me feel good. The Holiday party was much fun, I had great conversations and got to catch up with many people. Jes and I looked quite fabulous if I may say so.
(haven't gotten around to
taking red eye out yet....)
I did feel like the entire week was one big getting ready session for the party, we baked and cleaned A LOT. But I *think* it was worth it. I spent Thanksgiving day and parts of a few other days with the family. My sister was in town, and I had fun hanging out with her. Again, it feels like too short of a trip, but what can you do... I got some really nice thoughtful Christmas presents, including tons of makeup and lotions and girly stuff (going to do a manicure soon!) and some good books. Plus my sister got me cute sweaters in awesome colors and my parents bought me a stainless steel rice cooker! No more burny rice on the bottom of soup pots. :)
In other news: 2 weeks left until my talk at the AGU conference in San Francisco. It is stressing me out because I don't actually have any results yet, but one can always hope it all comes through in time. Bonus: one week paid vacation in SF, can't beat that.
I have also been informed that I am indeed going to Antarctica after all. In January. Good thing somebody bought me the Lonely Planet guide to Antarctica!! I've already started reading it. I promise to blog lots from the ice. :)