Just like that, our first Wisconsin Christmas is a wrap! The one thing I wanted more than anything else was a white Christmas. Elliott came barreling in with cold so fierce by Friday morning, there was no way any of that snow already on the ground was melting. The result? That perfectly picturesque Hallmark white … Continue reading Oh, there’s no plate like ham for the holidays.
Tag: Christmas
Smoke on the water, a fire in the sky.
Sometimes, southern Wisconsin really reminds me of the Pacific Northwest. It's been one week since we've had even a glimpse of the sun. That lone jellyfish cloud in a sea of blue sky last Thursday was the last time I spotted any sort of bright glowing orb (Christmas lights and lava lamps notwithstanding). Not only … Continue reading Smoke on the water, a fire in the sky.
My Kingdom for a Potato Masher!
When we were packing up all our worldly possessions back in August, we were trying to be strategic about which items we might need, and which could remain in storage for six months or so. We knew moving from a three-bedroom house to a two-bedroom apartment meant space would be limited, and we didn't want … Continue reading My Kingdom for a Potato Masher!
If You Need Me, I’ll Be Busy Rescuing Kids from a Burning Building
Years ago, when I had to come up with weekly blog topics on ENT conditions, I set up a bunch of Google Alerts. These are notifications you receive whenever Google finds new results based on search terms you specify. Mine were based on keywords such as ears, nose, throat, and allergies. Whenever a relevant article … Continue reading If You Need Me, I’ll Be Busy Rescuing Kids from a Burning Building
You’ll Have to Pry This Cookie Gun From My Cold, Dead, Flour-Dusted Hands
At one point on Sunday afternoon, I was gathering and stacking wood while Tara was in the kitchen baking. Then I went downstairs to watch football while she busied herself doing laundry. Rarely have our gender roles been so clearly—and, it must be said, stereotypically—defined. It's not always like that. Honestly, it's rarely like that. … Continue reading You’ll Have to Pry This Cookie Gun From My Cold, Dead, Flour-Dusted Hands
Downtown is a Norman Rockwell Painting
A lot of people complain about the early darkness this time of year, but I kind of like it. Because quite often, around 4:30, I'll glance outside my office window and see a sight like this. That was Friday's sunset. It made up for the fact that I was the only person in my department … Continue reading Downtown is a Norman Rockwell Painting
Six-Pack of Giant Spiders
If you were reading me over the holidays last year, you probably recall a friendly little competition with Kelly, the overzealous neighbor across the street. She took so much pleasure in taunting me with her holiday display I started referring to her as Christmas Light Kelly. Gauntlets were thrown as we each tried to out-illuminate … Continue reading Six-Pack of Giant Spiders
There’s No Place Like Hermosa for the Holidays
Every year, come mid-July or so, I begin yearning for the holidays something fierce. There's nothing like triple-digit heat to make one long for mistletoe and holly and egg nog and yule logs. OK, maybe not yule logs when it's 102º in the shade. But everything else! And yet, more often than not, Christmas feels … Continue reading There’s No Place Like Hermosa for the Holidays
Freezin’s Greetings
Now that almost everybody we have sent Christmas cards to this year has received theirs, I can finally share the photo with y'all. (Karri, close your eyes. Canada takes longer and we didn't get these out quite as early as planned.) Photo Christmas cards are a tradition dating back to childhood. Like, early-early childhood. My … Continue reading Freezin’s Greetings
When Potlucks Go Awry
It’s been an interesting week at CenturyCo, capped off with a visit by the fire department this morning. This is what happens when potlucks go awry. Could've been worse, though: at least our building didn’t burn down. The close call merely resulted in a smoke-filled office, blaring fire alarms, and a forced evacuation. You know, … Continue reading When Potlucks Go Awry
Mark My Words 