Spring break

The Houston Alters ski Santa Fe

Spring break means different things at different phases of your life. This year, for me, it means that none of my family are safely where they belong, a though that sort of disquiets me. Colin and his family, above, are skiing in Santa Fe--not sure how they had the nerve to go to Santa Fe and leave me behind, but they did. Megan and her family are in Beaver Creek, Colorado, and Jamie and his family have gone to Seattle so Maddie can see the University of Washington (if you want to be cool, say U-Dub). and Jordan, Christian and Jacob have gone skiing in Ruidoso. The latter is a bit funny--Jordan does not ski, end of discussion; Jacob tried I one day at Christmas and wasn't particularly enthralled, but maybe he'll do better this year. Christian loves to ski.

Jordan and Jacob in Ruidoso

Meantime Sophie and I were left behind. Worried about a long, empty week where work and no play makes Judy a dull girl, I filled my dance

card too full and am having a really busy week (sorry but I can't make this type justify left). Yesterday I had lunch out and friends in for leftover

from Sunday night supper. Tonight I have had breakfast, lunch, and dinner out and am worrying about when I'll ever get my

1,000 words for the day written. Tomorrow I have a breakfast date but an otherwise empty calendar--except I think I should

really run to the grocery store. And Thursday evening Colin and his family will stop overnight, bringing with them the friends

they're traveling with, so I'l have a full house and a full guest house. Friday morning, we'll all go to Colin's favorite restaurant, Carshon's Deli,

for breakfast. Then they'll be gone, Jordan will come by in the late afternoon, and Saturday I will cook for 16 people for Jordan's b'day.

Meantime, Sophie and I know how to relax. I'm sleeping letter in the mornings--no Jacob to hug on his way to school in the mornings--

and I'm getting nice, late, long naps in the afternoon--no Jacob to pick up and do homework with. Here' Sophie relaxing:

 

 













Still busy days

I thought today would be calm, but it turned out not to be. Went for an early morning haircut--my haircut lady changed the way my hair was swept from one side to the other, and I'm still fighting the urge to smooth it back the other way. But I had several compliments on it. Of course, I was quite late for work, and then I left quite early to go to the church bazaar (sort of a disappointment) with Jean and Jeannie, then for a great lunch of bratwurst, kraut and potato salad. And then we ran an errand. I though I had plenty of time to nap before an early dinner, but a crisis came up--material had to go to the newspaper today or our Dec. 5 event would not get publicity. Ended up that I had to go back to the office in my "napping clothes"--T-shirt, cotton flannel pants and obviously worn tennis shoes.
I did get a nap, was all dressed and ready for dinner and the phone began to ring: first Megan--we had a good visit and hung up when she got to the grocery and needed to run in; then Megan again, asking a political question. I thought it was strange that she'd call twice, but when she asked something about my Christmas list, I said, "Be sure to talk to Lisa." The voice responded, "Who do you think you're talking to? This is Lisa." Oh my. So we had a good laugh. But then Colin called and said, "This is Jamie," which of course I knew wasn't true. By then Linda from Granbury was here and ready for dinner. We went to Lili's Bistro and I had the most interesting--and amazing--dish: an avocado, apparently whole, but stuffed with spinach and mushooms, topped with scallions and tomato bits, and on a bed of black bean puree and couscous. Really good.
Okay now it's late, and I'm sure I'm not in the mood to review budget cuts for TCU Press next year, but that's the task that looms before me. And then there's the cookbook--maybe I'll do that.