Merry Christmas!

Circa 1990.

A Real Book

I read a real book this week.
That makes three books that I have read for pleasure since I started graduate school- one during orientation, one at Thanksgiving, and one over Christmas break. How sad is that? I have a whole stack of books that I'm looking forward to reading over the next five weeks. I have to make up for lost time you know.

I really like Rowland's books. They are quick reads about a detective in Samari Japan. Once again, she did not disappoint. My only complaint would be that she seems to be moving more towards the supernatural in her last few books. I prefer the more realistic plot lines.

I just started Mrs. Kimball by Jennifer Haigh. I'm having some trouble getting into it. I have to finish Christmas shopping and do some baking, so the rest of it will probably be postponed until the flight to San Francisco.

Good Article

Era of Our Ways

Remember

Remember when you were this excited about Christmas?

Me, Christmas 1985.

We were hit with a nasty snow and ice storm last night. I am almost relieved that I have this final paper as an excuse to keep me inside, under several quilts, with a space heater next to me.

We are going to put up the Christmas tree this afternoon. I have not even started Christmas shopping, never mind any sort of baking or crafting. I miss when Christmas was a joy, not a chore. I would love to have this week to do nothing more than get ready for Christmas and enjoy the season. I would love to go sledding, drink lots of hot cocoa and spiced cider, decorate cookies, knit, make the advent calender I have been dying to create, watch all the old Christmas movies, make hand made cards, find our collection of Christmas books and read them, listen to only Christmas music, and generally just take it all in. I cannot do that, so instead, my goal is to do one of those things each day. Today is decorating. Maybe by next week I will feel like that <- again.

Generally...

I prefer to drive forwards. That seems to be the least preferred direction, after backwards, sideways, and circular, in my neighborhood. Ah, I arrive home just in time for a big snowstorm.

You know you are procrastinating when voluntarily shoveling snow beats reading the book for your last final...

Don't worry, a Mitchell Report report is coming soon. Maybe I'll even do more than skim it for names before I write. Or maybe not, depending on how the alternative driving styles competition continues outside my window.

Damn Car

I should just rename my blog that.

I want to go home. I'm so over Ithaca, the snow, and working on papers. But my car decided to freak out, so I can't leave until its fixed. So I'm stuck in Ithaca indefinitely.

Gah!

I'm one skein of yarn short. I braved my car's temper today and drove to get more yarn to finish my afghan. Yes, I still have those two pesky little questions to finish on my microeconomics exam, but I needed a break. I spent a little while knitting, and one pattern repeat and three knit rows away from project completion, I find that I am out of yarn again. The pattern underestimated by one skein. Grrr.... I try so hard not to overbuy, but making extra trips to the craft store is wasteful too.

I'm totally in the mood for Christmas crafting. I think when I'm home I'm going to make a button wreath like this and a cute advent calendar like this. I also want to do a little scrapbooking. If only these papers would write themselves.

I'm also thinking about updating the blog a little for the new year. The links are sort of old and I'd really like a pretty banner. Any ideas?

What's Keeping Me Busy

Maybe the title is a slight misnomer. Public administration, ICS, Workforce New York, microeconomics, and educational theory (in that order) is actually what is keeping me busy, but a girl has to have some time for relaxation also, right?

First, I started this afghan before Thanksgiving. I LOVE how it is coming out so far. The picture and pattern is from Lion Brand. I need to buy two more skeins of yarn, and then I will be done. Maybe that will be my reward for finishing my microeconomics take-home exam.

Next is this bag. The pattern is from the book Bag Style by Interweave Knits (2007). I got the pattern from Knitting Daily. You are probably thinking that I'm not much of a fan of pink. I am making it blue instead. I will show you when it is done. It has a very cool, subtle color change. I have finished the handles and the front, and I am hoping to finish the back before I go home next week. I'm notorious for not sewing seams, so that will have to be one of my priorities. I think this bag will be perfect for holding socks in progress... once I learn how to knit socks.

I guess I better get back to those other priorities now. I hope you all are staying warm in this icky weather.

What a Game!

Did you see that? I was following the score on the computer, but when I looked with two minutes to go and the Patriots' perfect season was in real jeopardy, I decided to turn on SlingPlayer. What a crazy game! It sort of looked like the Ravens just sort of imploded, no? 35+ yards of penalties in the last minute. I have to hand it to them, that catch was amazing. Too bad it was after the buzzer.

Yes, I'm Alive

Grad school is kicking my butt. Classes are over now, but I still have a ton of papers, take home exams, and memos to do in the next two weeks. Let's see, what have I been up to lately?

• Reading- I actually read a book over Thanksgiving: Island of Exiles by I.J. Parker. It was entertaining, but I prefer the author's other books.
• The Current- We had lots and lots of reading and editing to do. I can't wait to see the final product.
• School- Thumbs up to the modeling exam, thumbs down to the public administration presentation.
• Knitting- I finished a scarf over Thanksgiving, but you can tell it's stress knitting because the gage is all over the place. I'm working on a bag now, and I just need 2 more skeins to finish my first afghan.
• Scrapbooking- yeah right!
• CIPA Prom- Hilarious! The pictures are on Facebook.