Story A Day

It’s getting to the busiest time of the school year at my job.  The application for teaching interns for Summer 2009 is on Monday, and we usually get the bulk of the applications the night before or day of the deadline.  A world of procrastinators! The next couple weeks will be spent reviewing applications, conducting our interview nights (with usually 50 or so applicants at each night) and finally, decision time!  It’s always tough to select from the pool since there are so many phenomenal applicants.  Here we go!!

It’s a given, isn’t it?  How could I NOT blog about snow when we get the biggest snowstorm of the year (and maybe of the last couple years, not sure).  I’m one of the lucky ones who got to work from home today – praise technology!  Guess I didn’t need those tires yet for today, but I’m sure I’ll be happy I have them tomorrow!  Interestingly, Tim got home earlier today than he usually does, because he said the roads were quite empty when he left work at 5:30!  Crazy.  I think everyone left early to avoid the traffic, and thus it was much worse at 3:00 than 6:00.  He was happy!  Meanwhile, I was doing a mid-snow shovel at home, in effort to make it a bit easier to shovel when it’s all over (I think we’ll be shoveling in the morning), and so that Tim could get his car in the garage It was a good workout, that’s for sure!  Ahhhhh….Minnesota.  Well hey, as long as it doesn’t get too warm, this will provide me with some more good cross country skiing opportunities.

The impending snowstorm moved higher on the priority list my need for new tires   See, I’ve been sliding around for much of the winter, with the tires original to my car (despite about 67,000 miles).  I’ve heard most original tires are supposed to be replaced at about 30-40,000 miles. Ooops!  The good news is that I got them replaced today, just in time – phew!  Also, a plug for the place I got them, Discount Tire.  They offer free tire rotation, air pressure checks and balancing for the life of the tire, as well as FREE replacement if the tire gets damage due to a pothole, a nail, etc.  Sweet!

I conjured up the courage to revisit the Como ski area this morning!  It’s a 5k course through the golf area.  I haven’t been there is about 2 years, and my last ski there provided me with a pretty painful fall With new cross country skis, and a fresh powdery snow, I figured there couldn’t be a better time to scope it out again!  I did the whole loop, and despite many hills (some quite large) I only fell once!  It was at the bottom of a hill where the trail turned sharply, and my skis didn’t!  A fabulous skiing excursion

I spent the weekend with some girlfriends near Lake Mille Lacs.  It was a good time spent relaxing, reconnecting and enjoying the beautiful recent snowfall.  This morning, Liz and I went to Mille Lacs Kathio State Park, hopped on our cross country skis, and hit the trails.  It was gorgeous.  We were the only ones on the trail, and we wondered where everyone else was on this amazing ski day!  The sun warmed us as we glided on the snow, and sailed down the hills – without falling, I might add!  The sun also cast crsip tree shadows across the snowy landscape, a striking image.  A beautiful start to the day, and a refreshing way to appreciate winter again.

- I’m glad I don’t work on Wall Street
- I’m glad I’m not the President
- I’m glad we both have jobs
- I’m glad our investments are in for the long haul
- I’m glad we love our little home (enough to stay put for a while!)
- I’m glad to have things to be glad about in the midst of lots of depressing economic news!

Morning…reading lesson plans, replying to emails from prospective applicants, finalizing selection committee members.

Afternoon…learning about real estate investment strategies, discussing tax rates, deciphering financial lingo.

A two-hat day…BSP work in the morning, real estate continuing ed classes in the afternoon.  Keeps my brain fresh!

I’ve spent all day confused about what day of the week it is.  I was even disappointed when I could not find the TV shows I expected to be on this evening – oh wait!  It’s Wednesday, not Tuesday!  Weird.  If anything, it’s felt like a long and busy week, so I should feel like it’s closer to the end of the week!

…and somebody shook it!  I was leaving work after dark this evening and the scene was magical!  The snowflakes were as big as quarters, and they glistened against the dark sky, filling my field of view.  It was the most captivating night snowfall that I’ve experienced in some time.  Before I got in my car I stood there, staring straight up into the sky, snowflakes melting on my face.  Pure peacefulness.

In the midst of busy lives, and weariness with do-it-yourself projects, we decided to hire a contractor to make some progress on that basement bathroom.  I LOVE how much they can get done in just one day!  Wow.  We found a reasonably priced contractor (thanks Tom and Liz!) to install the toilet, and tile the shower, in the basement bathroom.  Check it out!  He will be back later this week to grout.  So nice…