Well Hello There
Long time no post. I am fine; it's been busy with travel and family and work and I've also been in introvert mode lately.
It sort of went like this: Wed: fly to Chicago, spend afternoon with Jennifer and Claire, go to bed at 9. Thurs: Thanksgiving at my brother's house, just our immediate family. A real change from the past 15 years of 20-odd guests at mom's. I got to play lots of Mario Kart with nieces, who of course beat me every time. Bob has *already* bought Katie a college guide, which means he's beaten my Dad's land speed record on this by 18 months.
Friday: Mom and I went shopping, which we never ever do on Black Friday. We didn't do the early morning thing or head into the city. One doorbuster a piece and then lunch was just about our speed. Jenn and Claire called to ask if they could spend the night; we ended up with Bob bringing them over and staying for dinner. Saturday: early morning Dunkin run for donuts for the kids. I drop them back off at their own house, swing by the Eileen Fisher outlet (hello, middle aged professional women of Chicago) and go back home. Take the dog for a walk, work, wrap birthday gift. Back to Bob and MK's for the annual Family Birthday.
Jennifer and Claire's birthdays are in mid December, two days apart. Every year my brother and SIL have a sort-of-big party for them the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Sort-of-big means it's aunts and uncles and first cousins but not MK's entire extended family. It's still a big crowd with four generations. This time the four year old beat me thoroughly in Mario Kart.
Sunday was hang-around-with-Mom day; we went to brunch with Hans, took the dog for a walk, and she had a computer lesson. And I spent a few hours on work stuff.
Monday back to Washington. Arrived around 11am, went to work. Came home and unpacked/packed for the next trip. That was Tue and Wed and involved four airports, getting up oh-god-early every day, three hours of driving through northern Lousiana, and a talk at Lousiana Tech. I did get to watch Glee while eating Blue Bell ice cream (which lives up to its reputation, btw).
Such is the glamorous life of a bureaucrat :=)
It sort of went like this: Wed: fly to Chicago, spend afternoon with Jennifer and Claire, go to bed at 9. Thurs: Thanksgiving at my brother's house, just our immediate family. A real change from the past 15 years of 20-odd guests at mom's. I got to play lots of Mario Kart with nieces, who of course beat me every time. Bob has *already* bought Katie a college guide, which means he's beaten my Dad's land speed record on this by 18 months.
Friday: Mom and I went shopping, which we never ever do on Black Friday. We didn't do the early morning thing or head into the city. One doorbuster a piece and then lunch was just about our speed. Jenn and Claire called to ask if they could spend the night; we ended up with Bob bringing them over and staying for dinner. Saturday: early morning Dunkin run for donuts for the kids. I drop them back off at their own house, swing by the Eileen Fisher outlet (hello, middle aged professional women of Chicago) and go back home. Take the dog for a walk, work, wrap birthday gift. Back to Bob and MK's for the annual Family Birthday.
Jennifer and Claire's birthdays are in mid December, two days apart. Every year my brother and SIL have a sort-of-big party for them the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Sort-of-big means it's aunts and uncles and first cousins but not MK's entire extended family. It's still a big crowd with four generations. This time the four year old beat me thoroughly in Mario Kart.
Sunday was hang-around-with-Mom day; we went to brunch with Hans, took the dog for a walk, and she had a computer lesson. And I spent a few hours on work stuff.
Monday back to Washington. Arrived around 11am, went to work. Came home and unpacked/packed for the next trip. That was Tue and Wed and involved four airports, getting up oh-god-early every day, three hours of driving through northern Lousiana, and a talk at Lousiana Tech. I did get to watch Glee while eating Blue Bell ice cream (which lives up to its reputation, btw).
Such is the glamorous life of a bureaucrat :=)