The First Snow (sort of) and Other Newsworthy Events

Remember when you were in college and you couldn't get started on your homework until your room was spotlessly clean? (What? Just me? Oh dear...) I think the same principle applies here, but instead of a little homework and a small dorm room, I've been battling between three major grad school projects and a modest-sized house. Not surprisingly, our house is currently in a state of supreme cleanliness it has never known. The homework? Not so much.

The blogging has been a bit boring these days, which seems sort of strange because our schedules have been anything but boring. Soon we'll have interesting pictures and stories to share, but for tonight it's just the wrap-up:

Boxes: We spent the day at work packing up our desks and boxing up our files to get ready to move to a different office building (seriously, didn't I just do this?). Here's my favorite part--we could be scheduled to move, with very little notice, any time between December 1 and January 4. Since Congress has yet to adjourn for the year (fuming inside), there is a very real possibility that I will need any number of files in the coming weeks that may or may not be in the bottom box of my 5-box-deep stack. Should be fun.

Flurries: It snowed today--just a few flakes, and just for a moment, but I happened to be walking to Cosi to order my obsessively favorite Roasted Turkey and Brie sandwich as the flurries started. Mmm... Love of snow is very strong.

Ice Cream: The season for frosty desserts is, obviously, over, but Cole and I have a date for ice cream when we go to Idaho next week. Shaanti said he was very excited. I'm not sure whether he is more excited to see me or to have ice cream, but I have a sneaking suspicion that if it really came down to it, he'd go with the ice cream. I mean, ice cream is really good.

Sleeping: It has been a fun fall, but we are ready for vacation. Early morning French, two grad school classes, and looming economic disaster have really worn us out! Luckily, we are packing up fun reading material and boarding a west-bound plane on Sunday. It will be "Thanksmas" at the Johnsons'--my mother, who on principle strongly opposes any opening of Christmas presents before December 25th, has decided that if we are going to do "Christmas" together when we're all home for Thanksgiving, she is going to make it official with the tree, all the Christmas decorations, and group viewings of "White Christmas."

Boys: There are a few other really good reasons we are looking forward to our trip--namely this and this. And, of course, lunch at Red Robin...