things work out

My grandpa turned eighty-something last week. As we were cutting up his birthday cake, my brother-in-law asked him what he had learned in the last year. He thought for a long while then said that this year had reminded him of something he has long known. Things work out. My grandpa is a very wise man.

cookie party!

Tonight my sisters and I are throwing a party. It is the tenth anniversary of our annual Cookie Party. It is a grand affair at which we force people far outside their comfort levels and are richly rewarded for it. Stay tuned for highlights.

fake tree

snowmen

Snowmen are funny things. When I was in college, my parents had a Brazilian exchange student named Cleber. Cleber witnessed snow for the first time with our family. He also made his first snowman with us. Cleber named him Ice Cube. A pretty typical snowman, save for the down cap with earflaps- to keep him warm. It makes me sad that kids today are more likely to make virtual snowmen than go out in the snow and roll misshapen balls out of snow to be stacked clumsily on top of each other.

One time my sister wrote a clever email to a potential suitor that referenced meeting him by a snowman. I cannot remember the exact context, but it was undoubtedly clever. Jamie has a razor sharp wit that thrives on courting men. When Jamie met the guy in a coffee shop, he arrived with ziploc bag bearing a little snowman he had made. Jamie told me this story the next day and I think my reaction was something like, 'marry him.' I know what you're thinking- it sounds almost creepy. But trust me. She should have married him.

Here was the day's inspiration.

Kids these days.

frost

I do not love winter, but I love this about winter. Amongst other things.