The Arctic Tundra

I don't wonder anymore what it must be like to live in the arctic tundra. I'm currently living there. Despite the slow start--an unseasonably warm December and early January--winter has hit Boston like a ton of bricks. Make that a ton of ice chunks. Ice is everywhere. I can no longer wear normal shoes outside--one needs turbo traction to navigate the sheets of chunky frozenness. Days like these make me so thankful for my relative nimbleness and youth. I don't know how the infirm, young, old, extremely pregnant, and handicapped are getting around the city. It has been reminding me of the long recovery period after my achilles tendon rupture, how I had to be so careful with each step so I wouldn't fall.

This weekend I'm heading to an even colder climate--northern Michigan! It's my annual Presidents' Day Girls' Weekend with my grandma, aunt, cousin(s),--and uncle (although he tends to make himself scarce when the knitting gets underway). This year my cousin Emily is coming too, and my cousin Karen is bringing her baby Isabel up from Kalamazoo. I'm really looking forward to the quality time with family.

Renovation update: We unplugged the fridge last night and emptied all the cabinets. Our living room now looks like a kitchen supply store. The demolition starts Monday! Stay tuned.