Quick Successions: New Mexico Edition

Hannah is at a point where she likes to do projects and such. My time has to be carefully planned so that we can make things and when we do, we have to do things that are easy. I was a craft store and I found this foam post office that is supposed to be sort of a Valentine's Day box and it was 60 percent off, so I bought it. When I brought it home and gave it to Hannah she clapped and cheered, saying "Oh this is just what I always wanted! I love it sooooooo much!" And then she paused and said "What is this?" It was very hilarious. We had a good time reading the directions and determining when to follow them and when to do something creative. Her attention lasted through the whole thing. She put the creation on the piano and she shows it to people as something that she has made.

So Christmas Break was not very interesting after I got sick. I mostly laid in bed watching Downton Abbey  seasons 1-4. When I finally did get better, I went to Utah. The purpose of my trip was to work on a project with a professor at a university there. Brian and Hannah remained in Kansas. When I came home the garage was clean, the house was in good shape, and my child was bathed and fed, so they must have been busy while I was away.  I taught junior high in Utah for about 10 years. People always congratulate me for being brave and tough to teach adolescents, especially middle level ones, but I really had fun doing it. There were times that were hard, but in general, it was great. I left teaching so I could pursue doctoral work because it was a goal I had for a long time that was incompatible with classroom teaching. If you just want a PhD attached to your name, there are programs you can do where you can do class online or at night, but if you really want to participate...

New Year, new us.... Not really. I have no pictures of New Year's Eve. I have been battling one of the worst bouts of influenza of my adult life. I started to feel sick on Monday, December 29 and then woke up Tuesday in agony. I did not leave the house at all that day. Instead I sat in bed catching up on the BBC/PBS series Downton Abbey. I had academic work to do, but I didn't do it. Wednesday was an awful day too. I did manage to make the New Year's oriental inspired food, but I did not eat much of it. Thursday was bad, but manageable. Today was not too bad. I plan to be better just in time to go back to work on Monday. We did get the tree down and the Christmas decor has been put away. On Saturday we were invited to a graduation party for the girl who babysits Hannah during the week. We were able buy a present for her. I anticipate being well enough to go tomorrow. I no longer have a fever and seem to be drying up. I think I have a picture of Hannah and I making O...