Post semester

The winter solstice and the longest night have passed. Although it was a rainy, foggy, day here in Kansas, we can still take comfort in the sun's 'return' and the lengthening of the days. It was a lovely time spent with family and friends. The celebrations will continue through the rest of the month, but I still have to deal with the responsibility aspects of things. I got my last paycheck until I start back in January at the graduate assistantship position so there has been a lot more baking and cooking going on at my house with making freezable meals and baked presents. Tightening one's belt in the midst of traditional feasting is oddly chaotic and somehow satisfying.

Tomorrow is the hubby's birthday. We are going for sushi, some free live music, and to watch the new Hobbit movie for a late night. It has been amusing seeing all the added creative backstory that did not happen in the book, but the movies are fun. I like them as something almost separate from the Tolkien story and I recognize that it is a trilogy about making more money for the studio that produced it. Sometimes, though, I think it is better if a film becomes its own story separate from the book that inspired it. In any case, I decided not to do a surprise party for John this year, which usually involved doing it later in the year, but instead celebrate on his actual birthday doing whatever he wanted to do.  That has not happened too often in his years on the planet so I figured it was time.

Raider is definitely on the way out, but he seems comfortable and to be enjoying himself in his last days. It's tough dealing with this, since he's been with me for the past seventeen years. Even with that, I think it is going to be the hardest on Mokona, the (now-grown) kitten that Raider simply brought home one day.

Eventually I will make it to the gym again but I need to replace the shoes that fell apart. I am not entirely looking forward to the New Year's resolution crowd that always rushes the gym especially since they tend to hog the 'easy' weight equipment and often do not know or care that they are working out improperly. I can not tell you how many times I have wanted to literally kick someone off the machines because they are just sitting there, talking on a cellphone instead of doing their sets and moving on.

The semester ended on a high academic note, with a 4.0 for the semester. I have not checked to see how much it brought my overall GPA yet, but I am sure it was helpful. One of the classes was a class I had to retake since I got a D in it on my first attempt. Sometimes, a change in professors and class format is a good thing.

Counting Down

The winter solstice is only a couple of days away. Kansas is expected to see snow this weekend, so it will be nice. Despite complaints, this has been a mild winter, so a little bit of snow is welcome. I hope for a summer that will not fry us all like turkeys in a roaster. Snow, I do not mind. To be honest, I don't mind ice except for its slippery effects on roads and walkways. It is beautiful to see.

I have been such a magnet for static shock lately. Every time I walk by the lit up garland on the stairway at work, I get a painful, and sometimes audible, zap to my arm. Even my smart phone has gotten in on the shenanigans. Dry air is my current enemy.

A local resident set up a Christmas lights show to music. Obviously this trend has been going on for a few years as popular seasonal YouTube fodder, but it sometimes takes awhile for these things to catch on in Kansas.

Post by KVOE 1400 AM, Country 101.7 FM, Mix 104.9 FM and KVOE.com.

The video is not complete, but, you get the gist of it. A really phenomenal showing by a doting grandfather for his granddaughter. I believe that the entire winter holiday season gives adults the opportunity to recapture the joy we felt as children by doing good for other people. We also strive to find beauty in the stark cold of winter or we make it through the use of decorations.

May the beauty of the season bring you peace and joy. Merry Whatever and Happy Somefitzes - enjoy the entire span of holidays as it pleases you!

(But, seriously, it needs to snow this weekend and not rain down sleet upon us. That would be great.)