School daze

I'm coming to the end of my second week of grad school classes and things are going fine. OK. Not bad.

Actually, it's been a little overwhelming. I don't know exactly what my expectations were, considering that it's been over 20 years since I attended college, that was undergrad anyway, and now two of my classes are online only.

But I thought about what it was like when I was an on-campus undergrad and frankly, it was a lot easier than what I'm doing right now. Back then, I might go to class for an hour or so, then eat lunch, work my on-campus job for a couple of hours, then go to another class for an hour or so and that would be the school day.

I was usually pretty much up on my assignments, so if I didn't feel like doing any further work that evening, I didn't. I'd hang out at the campus center, visit friends, watch TV, see my boyfriend. Frankly, it was pretty peachy only being responsible for myself. I'm sure that's why people were always telling me that I'd someday look back and those would be the best days of my life.

Despite having a work-study job and feeling pressure to keep my grades up so I could keep my scholarship, the fact was that being a student was pretty easy.

Now, not so much. Lots of other things going on in my life--lots of good things that make my life a full and rich one. So I'm not complaining at all. I'm just--adjusting.

Short movie review

Unlike the movie itself, I'm going to hereby offer my short opinion on "Avatar," which my family saw today (I'm in a hurry since I have to do my homework yet tonight):

Very, very cool. Go see it.

Cat post

What's nice about your cat wanting to snuggle into your bed, under the covers:

It's warm; it feels nice against your legs; it demonstrates his trust; if it wakes you at all, it's just momentary


What's not nice about your cat wanting to snuggle into your bed, under the covers:

When he decides that there's something under there that needs to be attacked, so he repeatedly pounces with all the strength of his front paws, while you're trying to sleep

To the store

Going to the grocery store during a mid-level winter storm is an interesting experience. This week, we were projected to get about six inches of snow one day. We only had about two inches on the ground when school started, so the girls got on the bus as normal and off they went. And Greg went off to tackle his usually-40-minute commute on slippery, snow-covered roads.

And later I headed off to the grocery store. The storm had been predicted well in advance, so I suspect that the store had been very busy the day before--all those people stocking up on milk and bread in case the whole world shut down for a week or two. But on this day, the parking lot was almost deserted. I parked and headed in, slogging through about (by this time) four inches of snow in my winter boots.

The store only had two checkouts open. The produce section was deserted (and they had no celery available--weird). The bakery had one other patron. The meat section was empty. It was quite odd. I felt like I'd wandered to the grocery store late, late at night. There was no competition for pork shoulder or ham slices. The shelves in the dairy section were fully stocked. And I when I'd finished my list, I checked out really rapidly.

Then it was time to head outside. Pushing an almost fun grocery cart partially uphill through 4 1/2 inches of snow was not too easy. And in really cold weather, the hydraulics on my hatchback don't hold it up, so it wasn't too fun getting the groceries in the car.

On the plus side, I didn't have to keep a hand on the cart to keep it from rolling away on the slope--it wasn't going anywhere. I didn't worry about the popsicles melting (though that's rarely a concern in Wisconsin in the winter). And I didn't have to back up the car when I left because the lot was so empty I could pull forward.

Just a bit surreal.

Rite of passage

OK, after driving for 28 years, I've finally completed my rite of passage to be on the road in Wisconsin.

I hit a deer. Or to be more accurate, a deer ran into me.

I was on my way home from new student orientation the other night. The highway I was traveling is one we drive on all the time, and it's pretty normal to see a dead deer on the side of the road at least every month or so. So I know several places where it pays to be extra cautious. Unfortunately, the road is mostly two lanes and pretty heavily traveled, so you can only briefly use your brights to illuminate the patches of woods and fields that line the road.

So I'm driving along, concentrating on the fact that the road narrows from four lanes to two, and thinking about my book purchases, when I see a movement on the left side of where my headlights penetrate and realize it's a doe. Seriously, all I had time to do was gasp. I didn't have time for any other physical movement, not braking or swerving or anything.

She was running, but she must have paused because she didn't hit the front of my car. I heard a thunk on the rear driver-side of my car and that was it. I kept going, because it didn't sound like too much of a contact, but she definitely hit me. Then I braked, but I didn't see any other deer (there were almost certainly other deer around too), so I drove home to see what I could see on the car.

The light in our garage isn't the best in that corner, but I didn't see any damage. Yesterday, I took another look before the car got covered with the snow that was falling and I didn't see any damage at all, nor hair or anything else.

I've seen deer in fields and on the side of the road and crossing the road in front and behind me more times than I can count over the years, but I must say--boy, did I luck out.

Money, money

Well, I'm a grad school student. That sounds weird.

Things have changed more than a little since I was last in school, 22 years ago (I wonder why). The latest big thing is that the cost of textbooks has just gone through the roof. I had to buy three textbooks for my three classes. The cheapest one is $130. The second cheapest one is $134. And the most expensive one is $180. Of course, that's without shipping.

When I last bought textbooks, I walked over to the Campus Center and picked up my books in person and I think my total was about $200 for four classes. In four years on campus, the most expensive book I remember buying was a complete collection of Shakespeare, almost two inches thick with very delicate paper, and it was $80.

May I just say--sheesh.

Yesterday

We were very lazy this weekend, after we returned from our Christmas travels to our snug home. It snowed. We watched out the window and didn't go anywhere. It snowed some more. We watched out the window and didn't even go out to the mailbox to get the morning newspaper. So there was snow on the sidewalk and in the driveway, maybe 3 inches.

I must explain, in our city, and most cities in Wisconsin, there are ordinances regarding snow removal on sidewalks. In most cases, it has to be cleared within 24 hours of when the snow stops or you can be fined. And we get a LOT of dog walkers on our sidewalk, so I could just see some Scrooge reporting us if we didn't take care of things.

Yesterday evening, Greg decided it was finally time to tackle the snow removal. He suited up--jeans, sweatshirt, snow boots, heavy coat, radio ear muffs so he doesn't lose his hearing to the snowblower, heavy gloves. He went out the door into the garage. He opened the garage door. He stood puzzled, looking at the cleared driveway and cleared front walk.

He turned around when he heard me laughing at him. At 9:00 yesterday morning, when Greg was in the basement with the girls, I got out of bed, went outside, started the snowblower, cleared the driveway, cleared the sidewalk, and got my newspaper. He had no idea.

I got a kiss when he came in.

Completely addicted

I don't usually tell stories about my husband because it gets me in trouble, but I'm risking it this time.

Last night, getting kind of late, girls sleeping upstairs, me reading in an easy chair, Greg stretched out on the couch watching TV Food Network.

Greg falls asleep holding the Tivo remote, and IN HIS SLEEP, starts rewinding the program he's not watching.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, he's so used to manipulating that remote control that he does it in his sleep.

I woke him up laughing.

New adventures

Well, here we go.

I just sent off the application materials to go back to school, starting in January. Twenty-two years have passed since I graduated and now I'm starting again, to pursue my master's degree in business administration.

I'm a little nervous.

Thumps and bumps

The girls are in school and Greg is back at work yesterday, after an enormous snowstorm dropped 18 INCHES of snow on us Wednesday. The house is quiet.

Then I hear a noise.

Thud, scrape, scrape, scrape.

Thud, scrape, scrape, scrape.

You know when you know you should go check out a noise but you don't really want to?

Thud, scrape, scrape, scrape.

Wait a minute--I know that sound.

I head upstairs to the linen closet and open the door. Sure enough, blinking up at me in the morning light is Simon the Cat, who obviously slipped into the linen closet when the girls got washcloths before they left for school.

He was in there for an hour and a half, at least. Stupid cat.

Delays in bedtime

Last night, Greg was at badminton when it was time for the girls to go to bed. Julia was tired, so I closed her door and she settled right down. Allie gets to read a book until 8:30, so I kissed her goodnight and went downstairs to fold laundry.

When I finished the laundry, I carried the basket to the foot of the stairs and placed it there, ready to go up. Then I sat down in the living room.

At 8:45, Allie came downstairs. "Mom, I have a loose string on my sleeve that I need to cut."

I rolled my eyes at her, thinking that was one of the lamest excuses she's ever come up with for coming downstairs to see what we're doing after her bedtime.

"And I thought I heard a burglar. There was a weird thump or something."

OK, lamest excuse bar that one.

I mowed yesterday

Yes, on December 1st, I mowed the grass. Greg decided the lawn needed one more trim before we consigned the lawn to the snow fairies until April, so I cut the grass. We have already had snow by the way--about 1/2 inch that only stuck around a few hours. There's a storm on the way though----

Who am I kidding. In winter in Wisconsin, there's always a snowstorm on the way.

Not dead

Just been feeling that way lately. All four of us have been sick, in repeated waves. Fevers abound. Stomach issues reoccur. Coughing is rampant. Misery too.

I hope you had a good Thanksgiving yesterday. We spent the day alone so we didn't infect anyone else. I made a pumpkin pie and I can't even taste it.

What was that?

Our cable went out the other day and the repairman didn't come until late the next day (quite the trauma in our household, I'm ashamed to say). As he moved around the TV, fixing things, the girls talked his ear off. He was very patient.

Repair guy to Julia: And how old are you?

Julia: I'm six and a penny!

Us: You're what?

Julia, thinking hard: I'm six and a quarter!

Lucky 13

Happy 13th anniversary, Gregory! I love you and I'm glad we're getting a date night out, even though we still have no idea where we're going.

No--not autumn!

OK, I know it's autumn by the calendar but I am just not ready. Especially since we've had a cold snap lately and I had to break down and turn on the furnace. It wasn't too bad for the first 24 hours--the furnace just ran first thing in the morning. However, now it's running in the evening too. And it's been rainy, which I hate.

All the leaves are falling off the trees and everything is starting to die. I hate autumn. Give me spring any day.

What are you gonna buy me, Dad?

My parents enjoy traveling to nearby and not-so-nearby casinos and trying their luck. This week, my dad got bigtime lucky. I believe the total (from three different days) was over $2500.

Can you make a career out of playing slot machines?

Oh Julia, Julia

I got a call yesterday from Julia's teacher. She got in major trouble at school. Apparently, when a first grader needs to go to the bathroom (which is down the hall a little way), they grab a bathroom pass and head off. They do their business and then they come back and rejoin their classmates. This is quite different from last year because the kindergarten classrooms all have attached bathrooms.

Well, it appears that little Julia was taking advantage of the additional freedom of being a first grader to wander the halls instead of heading straight to the bathroom and back. It appears, more than once did she do her wandering. And yesterday, when she went hall-wandering, she took another little girl with her and they ended up at the exit to the school, between the double doors to the outside. They were probably just watching the rain, but if they'd gone out the second door, they would have been locked out of school. This is not cool.

So Julia got busted and started crying. After her teacher set up new rules for Julia's bathroom visits, she let Julia call me. She was crying so hard I couldn't really tell what was wrong, other than she'd been bad and it involved a hallway she shouldn't have been in. I got her calmed down and told her we'd talk when she got home. Then her teacher called a little later and explained.

Julia was punished last night. We need to think of something else though, because she didn't seem to mind No TV all that much.

Yoga

Julia has been doing yoga in her first grade classroom. This isn't part of gym class, just something her teacher enjoys having the kids do, and she likes it too. She says she knows three poses, Downward Dog, Tree Pose, and Snake Pose. She demonstrated Downward Dog for me and Allie the other day. She started by lying flat on the floor.

Julia: And then you have to exhale and out-hale. Exhale and out-hale. To relax, you know.

Ewww!

I was going to walk with the girls to the bus stop, and since the bus always arrives much earlier than scheduled, we needed to get going. I opened the front door and a big black spider fell onto the floor at my feet. I stomped on him, twice, and all that was left was a black spot. I ushered the girls out the door, thinking I would grab a tissue and clean up the spider spot when I came back in.

Four or five minutes later, I opened the door and the spider spot was gone. But Rabies the cat was still nosing around, licking his whiskers!