Here's what it looks like out the back window today:







We had a snowstorm of sorts - really more of an ice storm - on Thursday night and Friday during the day. They were hollering for 6-9", but of course they always promise more than they can deliver; any more, I'll just believe it when I see it on the ground. We ended up getting lots of rain, a smattering of ice, and about an inch or so of snow. Not enough to do anything with.

But it sure is pretty. I absolutely love the light in winter, as I cannot have failed to mention before, I'm sure . . . it's been gorgeous streaming in through the study windows:




That's my desk, clean for the first time in a month. Of course, that's all I can show you, because as you pan right, the mess increases . . . but the semester is almost over, and I will soon have time to clean it all up (and maybe get some knitting done, too!).

It's been a busy weekend. On Friday night I went to the department Christmas party, which made me really happy. As I have mentioned before, I actually like my colleagues a lot, and one of the benefits of moving to Lansing was that I'd get to attend events like this. I got to meet some spouses and talk to people I usually only see in passing, so it was all very good.

Then yesterday, Emil and I went to Preuss' Animal House in Old Town (that destination pet store I mentioned before), grabbed a burger at the Old Town Diner (which charmed me to bits; it should be in Boothbay Harbor, with its mix of big windows, wood paneling, and altogether homey feel), then went over to a yarn store on the west side of town (I think I'm knitting socks for my friend Barb, whom I'm seeing in a few weeks - we'll see how the socks go . . . ), then went home along Michigan Avenue, stopping in at Lansing Art Glass and the next-door gallery - both wonderful little spots that we've passed a million times and never visited. We got home about three hours later, having traveled a total of maybe eight miles. (It never gets old, those paltry distances.)

Last evening Louise came over for dinner, and she and Emil and I watched part of 49 Up. Dunno if I've ever mentioned the Up series here. It's a fascinating BBC production; it began in 1964, when they (not sure who "they" are) filmed a diverse group of 7-year-olds from all over England, asking them about their lives and ambitions and what they thought about all sorts of things. They've returned to those people every seven years since then, more or less repeating the interviews. (There's also lots of footage that they must have shot around the time of the interviews, which is fascinating, too.) So now there are 7 "episodes" - 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, and 49 Up. It wasn't until I saw this year's installment that I realized that these people are exactly my age . . . which made it all the more interesting. It's hard to explain what's compelling about the series, but if you ever get a chance to check it out, don't miss it. (Start with the younger years if you can.)

Today I spent most of the day getting ready for, and then participating in, the cookie exchange hosted by my colleague and our neighbor Jill. I made six dozen red and green pinwheel cookies, trotted off down the street - and returned with six dozen assorted other cookies. Which is about five dozen more than we're likely to eat around here. I froze a bunch of them so that Emma can have some after she recovers from her tonsilectomy (scheduled for next Wednesday).

The party itself was really fun. I had a chance to get to know some people a bit better, which was really nice. I'm thinking maybe I'll have a holiday lunch over here one day over break, if I can figure out when it might work . . . Next week would be the logical time, but Emma won't be up to having visitors, that's for sure. We'll see. But I am definitely going to hang out more with some of these women as soon as I can wrangle the time . . .

So tomorrow it's portfolio exchange, then lots of grading. I'm going to knock off as much as I can before Wednesday because I have no idea how whacked out Em's going to be after her surgery (Outpatient! Can you believe it?). The doctor told her to plan on being out of commission for two weeks, so that's what I'm planning as well.

And then - I'M GOING TO THE OPERA!!! My friend Barb and I have tix on December 15 for Die Fledermaus, then Romeo and Juliet on the 16th. I cannot cannot CANNOT wait!

But there's lots to do before then . . . I better turn my attention to the work so I can play when the time comes . . .