Day: October 29, 2008

Hello, everyone!

On tonight’s agenda: the making of cabbage soup, and a (half-hearted) attempt to begin yet another painfully numeric stats assignment.  You, my faithful readers and loving friends and family, may remember my absolutely and unquestionably anonymous (ha) book survey which was sent out via email and Facebook a few weeks ago.  Thank you all so very much for participating.  I appreciate how very irritating it must have been, receiving everyone else’ answers.  Ohhh, the hours I spent compiling data.  I surveyed about 35 people – only to find out, after it was too late, that I needed to survey only five. FIVE!  F-I-V-E!!!  Ughhh.  You may be happy to know, however, that my mark was very much an agreeable one – yay!  This next assignment, thankfully, does not involve harrassing my loved ones.  

Greg is at work until 8:30.  I’ve been in all day, working on school assignments, watching snow fall, and doing laundry.  Hooray for snow!!!  The first snowfall always makes me feel like a kid again.  (Not difficult, really, as I act like a child most of the time.)  I’ve been singing “Oh, the weather outside is frightful…” and “Snows are a’fallin’ on Douglas Mountain…” all day.  I don’t know the names of those songs.  They make me think of Grandma Sparr.  And Raffi, of course.  Yup, the snow is lovely.  The river looks very pretty, with the trees around it covered in white.  

It’s Research Week, which means there are NO classes – time to get caught up!  I won’t even pretend that I’ll get through it all…or touch my readings.  There’s too much.  I learned very quickly to recognize what’s really important, and what’s, ehrrrm… skip-able.  And I find myself so easily distracted!  I mean, who could resist reading The Penguin History of Canada??  Seriously, the chapter on Champlain’s miserable, frigid, and ultimately fruitless attempts to establish himself as Main Guy in the not-so-permanent French colonies was just enthralling.  And did you know that there were beaver-like creatures 2 metres long wandering around North America until human beings found there way here 10,000 or so years ago and killed them all?!  (Is that terrifying?!?)  Anyhoo, you can see how difficult it is for me to keep on track.  Greg worked till 2 am last night.  That wasn’t very much fun for either of us.  I tried to stay up – mostly because there are weird noises in the apt at night, and the thought of turning out the lights, admittedly, gives me the creeps.  And because I love him.  Of course.

Huge, exciting news for Grollis this past weekend!  Amy had her baby!!  Miriam Grace.  We are hoping to make a run over to see them this weekend.  I can hardly wait!  I am really looking forward to seeing Lucy, Amy, and Rick, too.  It hit me, dancing, somewhat tipsily, at Mike & Irene’s wedding this past Saturday, with all the various Joneses whom I’ve come to know over the past few years, how great it is to be able to call all of these wonderful, happy, fun people ‘family’.  Crazy the powerful realizations that come to you when dancing and drinking.   

Mike & Irene’s wedding was absolutely gorgeous.  They looked fantastic.  The ceremony had me ridiculously teary-eyed.  The speeches, too.  Irene’s dress….my God….she was every girl’s dream bride.  I had so much fun!!

I do get rather emotional when cooking – I think it’s the bay leaves.  I don’t know if I trust them.  

Maeg and Dave Merry drove down to London Monday afternoon and the four of us had dinner at the Waltzing Weasel.  They spent the night with us.  We had such a great time!  It was difficult saying good-bye to them Tuesday morning.  Tried to lure them into staying here in London by buying Count Chocula for DM.  No luck – Gus was home alone.  I miss them so very, very much.  We hung the picture they gave us over our bed.  I took photos – will have Greg post them asap.  

Just before I forget – speaking of dancing….WOW.  I danced up a storm at the wedding.  I can’t help myself.  The music was great, the company was great, the food and drinks were great…factors all very conducive to Hollis-dancing.  Later in the evening, on the dance floor, dancing to an exceptionally vigorous song for which I do not know the name (lots of drums!), I bumped into a couple of girls from Irene’s side – I apologized for having done so, and they said, “Noo!!  We LOVE you!!!  Keep going!!”  Although they were very sincere and pleasant, a clever person would have – probably should have – taken this as a clue that her dancing was reaching dangerous levels of exuberance.  But, oh, not Hollis!  Oh, she kept right on dancing!!  Sigh.  As long as no one was injured or offended, right?  (Right?)

Mmm, having a bowl of my cabbage soup – delicious!!  It’s like cabbage roll soup, Greg’s right.  

I am going to make myself a large pot of tea, and then I will get to work.  Tea and digestive cookies – essential work tools.  :-)

Cheers, all.