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What I'm doing on my Christmas Vacation by Amelia
Christmas Day I spent 12 uneventful hours in the car with my parents driving to Maine. Traffic and weather were fine. Music choice less so (Joan Baez, fine, Joan Baez for 8 hours, um okay, other options I nixed were Kris Kristofferson and Michael Bolton. We finally settled on Eric Clapton and the Mama Mia soundtrack. (Yes, my mother is a middle-aged white woman.)
Friday I snuggled with my kitty (the one the ex-boyfriend gave me in highschool, the only remaining childhood pet as the dog and two other cats have died). My dad and I went cross country skiing. We skied a lot when I was in elementary school, but by high school I had switched to downhill. I'm not sure when the last time I went cross country was. Junior High? Maybe? It took more concentration than I remembered, and I fell down once. Conditions weren't great (hard snow since it had rained and frozen a couple days before, also narrow, uneven trail). I didn't get to enjoy too much of the woods since I kept looking at my feet, but eventually I got the hang of it. It was nice to hang out with my dad.
That night I went to A.'s house to hang out with three friends from high school! It was so good to see everyone. A. and E. live in Waterville, and L. is an art historian like me (except she's already employed in a tenture track job) and lives in Mobile.
Saturday my dad left for a church trip to Honduras. I got up and went to see E.'s house and meet her babies. The last time I saw her she was pregnant with baby #1 and now #2 is 2ish. The kids are soooo cute and I got parenting tips to pass on to pregnant sister.
Saturday night pregnant sister arrived after driving 15 hours with BIL and the two dogs. About 30 minutes after they arrived I went out for drinks with E., L., and L.'s sister-in-law. We went to You Know Whose, it was fine. There were some other random people from high school we waved at. I was supposed to see J., but the roads were icy so we rescheduled.
Sunday I was supposed to help my mom usher at church, but since it was the only time I could see J. I bowed out. He picked me up and we went out for coffee. I hadn't seen him since he moved to the West Coast, but it is particularly nice to catch up with him since he is a friend from both highschool and college (in highschool we "dated" briefly, after college he was the best man in our wedding).
That afternoon mom and I hacked at and shoveled away all the ice coating the driveway. Fun, fun, fun! I also finally finished my grading and submitted grades. Now I just have two recommendations to write and syllabus prep for next semester.
Monday I slept in since I had horrid insomnia and I was up until 3am. I futzed around the house with the kitty and the dogs (my sister and BIL had driven to the coast, mom had to work). Tonight we're having lobster from the farmer's market (where it's the same price as chicken at home). Tomorrow it's off to meet up with Denis in the Upper Valley and then Christmas #2! Then New Year's!
Christmas Day I spent 12 uneventful hours in the car with my parents driving to Maine. Traffic and weather were fine. Music choice less so (Joan Baez, fine, Joan Baez for 8 hours, um okay, other options I nixed were Kris Kristofferson and Michael Bolton. We finally settled on Eric Clapton and the Mama Mia soundtrack. (Yes, my mother is a middle-aged white woman.)
Friday I snuggled with my kitty (the one the ex-boyfriend gave me in highschool, the only remaining childhood pet as the dog and two other cats have died). My dad and I went cross country skiing. We skied a lot when I was in elementary school, but by high school I had switched to downhill. I'm not sure when the last time I went cross country was. Junior High? Maybe? It took more concentration than I remembered, and I fell down once. Conditions weren't great (hard snow since it had rained and frozen a couple days before, also narrow, uneven trail). I didn't get to enjoy too much of the woods since I kept looking at my feet, but eventually I got the hang of it. It was nice to hang out with my dad.
That night I went to A.'s house to hang out with three friends from high school! It was so good to see everyone. A. and E. live in Waterville, and L. is an art historian like me (except she's already employed in a tenture track job) and lives in Mobile.
Saturday my dad left for a church trip to Honduras. I got up and went to see E.'s house and meet her babies. The last time I saw her she was pregnant with baby #1 and now #2 is 2ish. The kids are soooo cute and I got parenting tips to pass on to pregnant sister.
Saturday night pregnant sister arrived after driving 15 hours with BIL and the two dogs. About 30 minutes after they arrived I went out for drinks with E., L., and L.'s sister-in-law. We went to You Know Whose, it was fine. There were some other random people from high school we waved at. I was supposed to see J., but the roads were icy so we rescheduled.
Sunday I was supposed to help my mom usher at church, but since it was the only time I could see J. I bowed out. He picked me up and we went out for coffee. I hadn't seen him since he moved to the West Coast, but it is particularly nice to catch up with him since he is a friend from both highschool and college (in highschool we "dated" briefly, after college he was the best man in our wedding).
That afternoon mom and I hacked at and shoveled away all the ice coating the driveway. Fun, fun, fun! I also finally finished my grading and submitted grades. Now I just have two recommendations to write and syllabus prep for next semester.
Monday I slept in since I had horrid insomnia and I was up until 3am. I futzed around the house with the kitty and the dogs (my sister and BIL had driven to the coast, mom had to work). Tonight we're having lobster from the farmer's market (where it's the same price as chicken at home). Tomorrow it's off to meet up with Denis in the Upper Valley and then Christmas #2! Then New Year's!
