Enjoying My Vacation

What a luxury it is to wonder, at 7 PM, what day of the week it is. Also, I have a full sheet of bubble wrap to pop.

O Christmas Tree

Last night I went on a drive that took me by the building that The Hartford uses. They've put a Christmas tree on top and it looks really nice with the rest of the Hartford skyline. It made me happy, but also anxious- will I ever get home? In the past ten days or so I've written 45 pages and taken two exams. It's hard to believe there's still 15 pages left to write before I can leave guiltlessly.

The last real break in the work I had was last weekend. After we put on a field day for the Burmese children we tutor, Gabe and I decided to get them a tree. Going to buy one on the Berlin Turnpike was the first time I've really felt like Christmas was coming: it smelled like pine there, they had free hot chocolate, and everyone was in good spirits. I don't know if the Burmese really understood what we were doing when we dragged a tree up to their apartment, but they were happy anyway. It made me all the more eager to get home. I can't wait to see my Christmas tree.

Kiwi

Finals are taking years off of my life. I am putting the finishing touches on my 25-page paper now and perhaps taking a small break before beginning my 15-pager. Is anyone else going insane? I wanted to share one of my favorite things on youtube to help you survive.

Pug Fun

For any of you still using slow African village connections, I assure you this is also worth the wait.

Fall Shots

I have a couple pictures from break I want to post. I wish I had more, but my camera battery died on Wednesday night. Very sad. Oh well, these are still good:

This is post-Val's Roast. I forgot to bring my memory card to Coyote Flaco... I am really striking out with the camera lately!

We're dancing to M.I.A. and Val volunteered herself to be the thing we aim at when there are gunshots... no, it doesn't really make sense to me either. Regardless, we are giving her some friendly birthday love.Gabe is tolerating me.Nick is one of my best friends from home. I took a funny video of him swinging Percy around in the air with that stick, but it's sideways :'(Percy in the backyard, looking so wise!This is the tiniest babiest little Cocker Spaniel puppy that Nick and I played with at the pet shop. It's hanging out in his shoe.So teeny!Special bonus picture of Nola at Maynard's talking to Cris. I put it up because I don't mention her enough, and she just turned 21. Yay Nola!

Home Stretch

Earlier this evening:
It's cold and smoky out, but I'm sitting in my big soft chair, wrapped in my new blanket, eating a hot cup of broccoli and cheese soup, listening to the chapel bells. I feel a little better about finals week.

It was pretty rough leaving my home after Thanksgiving this year. I was lucky enough to have no obligations on Monday, so I could stay a little longer, but still. Ugh. Such a tease. I wish Thanksgiving weren't so late this year- we came right back in for the last week of classes and I have a lot a lot a lot to do. Only two more weeks though! And there are some fun things happening in them: the President's Reception, Senior Snowball, a day trip to New York this Saturday, Field Day with the Burmese kids, and maybe another trip after that. I'm done on the 16th, I believe.

Oh also! Today I really came back to team workouts. I did the lift and the erg workout. Well- it was musical ergs and I didn't do the switcheroos, but I did do the whole thing. I will be VERY sore tomorrow, but that's to be expected. I'm just glad I finally got motivated to be back (the holiday weight may have had something to do with this) and I'm well on my way to reclaiming my title as DYNO-master.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!