(Perhaps . . . maybe . . . the powers that be at St. Edward will see the wisdom of leveraging Sharon's inestimable talent.)
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Final Curtain Call
Today Sharon auditioned kids for The Princess Who Had No Name -- this year's Little Thespian offering. Of course, since Arianna will graduate in May, we don't anticipate anybody asking Sharon to continue directing plays at St. Catherine of Siena.
(Perhaps . . . maybe . . . the powers that be at St. Edward will see the wisdom of leveraging Sharon's inestimable talent.)
(Perhaps . . . maybe . . . the powers that be at St. Edward will see the wisdom of leveraging Sharon's inestimable talent.)
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Quiet afternoon
Arianna spent much of the afternoon in the basement working on her science fair presentation board. Since St. Catherine called off school tomorrow and Tuesday, she'll have a lot of extra time to get it done.
She changed the title. "The Eyes Have It!" was Sharon's witty contribution. Arianna preferred something a bit more descriptive.
This evening Bruno finished another puzzle.
And, at Sharon's request, Arianna sorted Little Thespian scripts. Auditions are scheduled for later this week, but I suspect that will change -- given the cancellation of school tomorrow and Tuesday.
She changed the title. "The Eyes Have It!" was Sharon's witty contribution. Arianna preferred something a bit more descriptive.
This evening Bruno finished another puzzle.
And, at Sharon's request, Arianna sorted Little Thespian scripts. Auditions are scheduled for later this week, but I suspect that will change -- given the cancellation of school tomorrow and Tuesday.
More . . .
Woke this morning to the rumble of the snow plow.
I stumbled into the kitchen and in the pre-dawn light noted that the bird feeders in the backyard were covered in snow.
About 2" of snow fell overnight. Due to the cold, the moisture content remains low. A light powder is so much easier to shovel from the driveway. It still took me little more tan an hour to clear the driveway -- even with Sharon's help.
I'm glad the snow stopped before the next blast of arctic cold arrives.
It's going to be another tiresome week . . . .
I stumbled into the kitchen and in the pre-dawn light noted that the bird feeders in the backyard were covered in snow.
About 2" of snow fell overnight. Due to the cold, the moisture content remains low. A light powder is so much easier to shovel from the driveway. It still took me little more tan an hour to clear the driveway -- even with Sharon's help.
I'm glad the snow stopped before the next blast of arctic cold arrives.
It's going to be another tiresome week . . . .
Friday, January 24, 2014
Science Fair 2014
Last night I spent three hours helping Arianna with her science fair project. The paper, which has qualified for regional competition at the Illinois Math and Science Academy (IMSA) on March 8, was due today.
Arianna had some collating to do this morning . . .
Arianna had some collating to do this morning . . .
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Down with Downton!
We've given up on Downton Abbey.
Adultery, rape, and seduction -- regardless how prettily dressed up -- are hardly edifying themes to invite into the living room.
I wondered aloud last week whether anybody would mind if I failed to join the family for successive viewings of the series. Independent of my thoughts, after a day's reflection, Sharon announced that she was no longer interested in viewing the show.
We find other activities to amuse us on Sunday night . . . a game of Bananagram, perhaps?
Adultery, rape, and seduction -- regardless how prettily dressed up -- are hardly edifying themes to invite into the living room.
I wondered aloud last week whether anybody would mind if I failed to join the family for successive viewings of the series. Independent of my thoughts, after a day's reflection, Sharon announced that she was no longer interested in viewing the show.
We find other activities to amuse us on Sunday night . . . a game of Bananagram, perhaps?
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Straight A's
Two quarters in a row!
Arianna is pretty blase about her achievement, but I am very proud.
It would be great if she could keep the momentum up through year's end. I know this is a lot to hope for. Once the snow melts and Spring makes an appearance school work becomes less a priority. And, with a Little Thespian production . . . .
Regardless of what's to come, today I'm joyful.
Arianna is pretty blase about her achievement, but I am very proud.
It would be great if she could keep the momentum up through year's end. I know this is a lot to hope for. Once the snow melts and Spring makes an appearance school work becomes less a priority. And, with a Little Thespian production . . . .
Regardless of what's to come, today I'm joyful.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Pepper
Next month Pepper will have been with us 17 years.
Since Thanksgiving she's been on the decline. Although she's recently rebounded from a week or so ago, when she continually soiled herself and left us a mess in a variety of rooms in the house, her neediness remains unabated.
Regardless of where I sit, Pepper not only needs to be on my lap but becomes vocal when I stop stroking her. Even now, she's sprawled across my lap.
Of course, I'm not the only one from whom she seeks comfort.
We're trying to make her as comfortable as possible. And, we've modified our behaviors regarding our allowing her free reign of the house. For example, whenever the house is empty Pepper must remain in the basement. As well, she's sleeping downstairs too. Luckily she's laid claim to an old ottoman of Bruno's -- over which we've spread a small, plush rug and relocated near the the fireplace. Lonely, but cozy.
Since Thanksgiving she's been on the decline. Although she's recently rebounded from a week or so ago, when she continually soiled herself and left us a mess in a variety of rooms in the house, her neediness remains unabated.
Regardless of where I sit, Pepper not only needs to be on my lap but becomes vocal when I stop stroking her. Even now, she's sprawled across my lap.
Of course, I'm not the only one from whom she seeks comfort.
We're trying to make her as comfortable as possible. And, we've modified our behaviors regarding our allowing her free reign of the house. For example, whenever the house is empty Pepper must remain in the basement. As well, she's sleeping downstairs too. Luckily she's laid claim to an old ottoman of Bruno's -- over which we've spread a small, plush rug and relocated near the the fireplace. Lonely, but cozy.
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Disassembly
Today we began the process of putting away the Christmas decorations. Into their boxes the ornaments and lights went. Down to the basement they were carried.
Temperatures being a balmy 35 F, I went outside and took down the Christmas lights from the front of the house too.
There are always bits and pieces that remain to be done, but January and the post-Christmas day-to-day reassert themselves with little fanfare.
Temperatures being a balmy 35 F, I went outside and took down the Christmas lights from the front of the house too.
There are always bits and pieces that remain to be done, but January and the post-Christmas day-to-day reassert themselves with little fanfare.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Arctic cold - Day 3
- 10 F on the thermometer this morning. But, it actually got above 0 F today.
Surprisingly my entire class showed up for CCD this evening!
Surprisingly my entire class showed up for CCD this evening!
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Monday, January 6, 2014
Arctic blast
-20 F.
That's how cold it was this morning when I left the house.
Walking to the street to retrieve the newspaper for Bruno, my nostrils stung in the cold.
I had wanted to work from home, but my employer's inefficient processes compelled me to drive in: I had no access to the corporate network, since my password expired while on vacation. Employees cannot reset their password from home.
The drive was strangely slow -- despite few travelers on the road. Since schools were closed, I had no school buses to contend with this morning. As is my habit, I prayed the Rosary while driving to 6:30 Mass at St. Mary's in Buffalo Grove. A sheen reflected off the snow packed pavement. In every village and town through which I traveled, snow was piled in heaps at the side of the road. At IL53 a car exiting the northbound lanes spun out of control and ended up in the snow at the side of the road facing the wrong direction.
At St. Mary's there were only two cars in the parking lot. Eight men attended Mass.
At the office, I wondered at the sheriff who directed traffic. In the parking lot of the South Plaza build where I work, there were less than to dozen cars. In fact, I was able to park in the first row -- closest to the building.
Inside, while going for hot water for tea, I counted four other employees on the floor, including my Vice President and a Sr. Architect.
First day back to work after any holiday results in spending time sifting through email messages. And then what?
Around 10 o'clock I began to feel cold, but attributed it to all the windows I sit near. After lunch, when the facility services crew walked over to the aisle where I sit and began talking, I realized the zone was experiencing an issue with the heat. As a couple more workers arrived with a ladder and began lifting ceiling tiles, I knew I'd never warm up.
At the insistence of my manager I left the office early -- upon completion of what I was in the middle of -- around 3 o'clock. Other had left early too and sat in their cars, letting it warm up before starting on their way.
I can't remember shivering as much as I did earlier today while driving home from the office.
Less than a mile from the office, a car was stopped on a bridge over the Des Plaines River.
Although there were more cars on the road than this morning, my commute was not arduous. On the radio, reports of closed highways, of ice covered roads, of stranded motorists underscored how dangerous it in fact was to be out and about in such extraordinary weather.
Warm at home, I was glad I followed through on my plan to have the car repaired last week.
The forecast isn't much better for tomorrow. I'll work from home.
That's how cold it was this morning when I left the house.
Walking to the street to retrieve the newspaper for Bruno, my nostrils stung in the cold.
I had wanted to work from home, but my employer's inefficient processes compelled me to drive in: I had no access to the corporate network, since my password expired while on vacation. Employees cannot reset their password from home.
The drive was strangely slow -- despite few travelers on the road. Since schools were closed, I had no school buses to contend with this morning. As is my habit, I prayed the Rosary while driving to 6:30 Mass at St. Mary's in Buffalo Grove. A sheen reflected off the snow packed pavement. In every village and town through which I traveled, snow was piled in heaps at the side of the road. At IL53 a car exiting the northbound lanes spun out of control and ended up in the snow at the side of the road facing the wrong direction.
At St. Mary's there were only two cars in the parking lot. Eight men attended Mass.
At the office, I wondered at the sheriff who directed traffic. In the parking lot of the South Plaza build where I work, there were less than to dozen cars. In fact, I was able to park in the first row -- closest to the building.
Inside, while going for hot water for tea, I counted four other employees on the floor, including my Vice President and a Sr. Architect.
First day back to work after any holiday results in spending time sifting through email messages. And then what?
Around 10 o'clock I began to feel cold, but attributed it to all the windows I sit near. After lunch, when the facility services crew walked over to the aisle where I sit and began talking, I realized the zone was experiencing an issue with the heat. As a couple more workers arrived with a ladder and began lifting ceiling tiles, I knew I'd never warm up.
At the insistence of my manager I left the office early -- upon completion of what I was in the middle of -- around 3 o'clock. Other had left early too and sat in their cars, letting it warm up before starting on their way.
I can't remember shivering as much as I did earlier today while driving home from the office.
Less than a mile from the office, a car was stopped on a bridge over the Des Plaines River.
Although there were more cars on the road than this morning, my commute was not arduous. On the radio, reports of closed highways, of ice covered roads, of stranded motorists underscored how dangerous it in fact was to be out and about in such extraordinary weather.
Warm at home, I was glad I followed through on my plan to have the car repaired last week.
The forecast isn't much better for tomorrow. I'll work from home.
Friday, January 3, 2014
Lunch Out
Bright, cold morning. Dramatic drop in temperatures . . . and the worst is still to come.
Although I'd suggested we use our Olive Garden gift cards today, I reminded Sharon that the cards had no expiration date . . . that we could use the cards in . . . say . . . May . . . .
Nothing doin'.
Fun time at the restaurant. Everybody in a pleasant mood.
Then, off to Woodman's to do a little grocery shopping. Seldom does the entire family shop together. Customarily, Sharon and Bruno tackle this chore while Arianna is at school and I am at the office.
Weather forecasters say temperatures may reach an all time low this coming weekend. We'll see . . . .
Quiet evening. A sense of the holiday coming to a close.
Although I'd suggested we use our Olive Garden gift cards today, I reminded Sharon that the cards had no expiration date . . . that we could use the cards in . . . say . . . May . . . .
Nothing doin'.
Fun time at the restaurant. Everybody in a pleasant mood.
Then, off to Woodman's to do a little grocery shopping. Seldom does the entire family shop together. Customarily, Sharon and Bruno tackle this chore while Arianna is at school and I am at the office.
Weather forecasters say temperatures may reach an all time low this coming weekend. We'll see . . . .
Quiet evening. A sense of the holiday coming to a close.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Will the snow ever stop falling?
The weather forecasters explain the storm as a freak occurrence of lake effect snow. Typically winds blow west across Lake Michigan and dump snow on Lake County, Indiana. But, at present the winds are coming our of the northeast -- toward Chicagoland.
I read in the Chicago Tribune that it has snowed in Chicago for 50 continuous hours.
Here, in the Fox River Valley -- what locals refer to as the "Far Northwest Suburbs" -- the snow has in fact stopped accumulating. The flurries that have persisted on and off throughout the morning are of no great consequence or concern.
Of course, we've experience greater snowfalls . . . while clearing the drive I recalled the Ground Hog Day Blizzard of 2011. But the combination of extreme cold and continuous snowfall is extraordinary.
Some variation to our day: in addition to reading and playing games and sitting in front of the television watching videos, Arianna wrote thank you notes. This is the first time that Arianna proactively wrote thank you notes after receiving a gift. (I hadn't even thought to begin nagging her on the subject until the weekend.)
I read in the Chicago Tribune that it has snowed in Chicago for 50 continuous hours.
Here, in the Fox River Valley -- what locals refer to as the "Far Northwest Suburbs" -- the snow has in fact stopped accumulating. The flurries that have persisted on and off throughout the morning are of no great consequence or concern.
Of course, we've experience greater snowfalls . . . while clearing the drive I recalled the Ground Hog Day Blizzard of 2011. But the combination of extreme cold and continuous snowfall is extraordinary.
Some variation to our day: in addition to reading and playing games and sitting in front of the television watching videos, Arianna wrote thank you notes. This is the first time that Arianna proactively wrote thank you notes after receiving a gift. (I hadn't even thought to begin nagging her on the subject until the weekend.)
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Happy New Year!
I'm glad we went to Mass last night.
To date, we've had nearly two feet of snow; I've had to shovel 8 or 9 times already.
And the snow just keeps on falling.
As did the confetti last night . . . .
I often wonder if Arianna feels the love Bruno has for her? He so dearly wants to be part of her life . . . to help her . . .
Lazy day . . . reading . . . playing games . . . working on the puzzle . . . and watching a costume drama.
To date, we've had nearly two feet of snow; I've had to shovel 8 or 9 times already.
And the snow just keeps on falling.
As did the confetti last night . . . .
I often wonder if Arianna feels the love Bruno has for her? He so dearly wants to be part of her life . . . to help her . . .
Lazy day . . . reading . . . playing games . . . working on the puzzle . . . and watching a costume drama.