Air out that Sickness

We've been passing around a cold. It's fast and relatively mild, in that one could function through it. We each get a slight fever (99.5-100.7), super congested, and really painful, swollen lymph nodes. Headache, exhaustion, general not feeling great. So far each person has needed one day off, Luke was home Friday, I was out of commission Tuesday, and Micah is home today. Unfortunately for me, I get disrupted each of the days. It's the sort of illness where if we needed to, we could take Advil and make it to whatever is going on. But if you have the space to take a day, it'll really help recovery. I enjoy lounging around more than probably most people do, but even I have limits to how much time off I like.

Spring Restlessness

There are certain times of year I know I'm going to feel more restless, and I'm most likely to make sweeping life changes during those times. Not surprisingly, spring is one of those times. The earth is thawing, the sun is increasing, and I start looking around to see what I can change. Another time this happens to me is in the fall when school starts. Last fall I assisted in an English as a second language class at the women's shelter. I ended up really enjoying it, much more than I'd expected.

Our class was a pre-literacy level class, which means the women in the class couldn't really read or write well in their own language. So we taught the alphabet, how to be in class, how to live in Boston, and how to speak and read and write English. Most of the students in our section happened to be Haitian, and the oldest was 86 years old! I hope when I'm in my 80's I'm still out tooling around town, taking classes, and making it happen.

This spring, we didn't have enough students to hold our section, so I find myself at loose ends. That combined with tendinitis in my ankle that's been limiting my running miles, and I feel restless. One way I act on that is joining the Y. Spin class for the win! And I started looking for a job.

I look for a job a lot in the spring. I don't know if I finally get bored or if the light and warmth give me new energy or what, but this year I finally remembered Idealist. I have a degree in social work and certificate of substance abuse studies, but I assume working in addiction I'd need a license or the only options were full time or evenings and weekends. So now I've applied for two options, one of which is 12-15 hours a week working with families in addiction. I'll be interested in seeing how it all works out.

One Good Snow

It's been a rather un-snowy winter. It has been very cold, but not very snowy. On the days that we got rain, it was too warm. We had one snow day this year (in Boston?!).

When we did have a snow day, we made the most of it.

Second Fall

I never expected to be a person who enjoyed fall. Fall means dead leaves, gray clouds, less light, cold is coming. However, fall in New England is a lovely time. The air is clear and cool, the light is so beautiful, and the leaves are beginning to turn. It's relaxing and interesting and inspiring. This year, I'm actually looking forward to winter, cold, and cozy indoor routines.

Good intentions, the best even

Y'all, I had planned to write every week. I have the best intentions, I mean to write, I sometimes have things I want to write about, even. Then I forget. Or I get busy. I want to write really good posts and give them my full attention but I think I don't have time. So here's a picture of Micah on a dinosaur:

Did that make up for it? Micah and I had a great time at the zoo. Mike has been working like crazy for the past few weeks, including yesterday (Father's Day). He takes doing a good job seriously but he also takes being a good dad and husband seriously, and he feels guilty when he needs to work during what is usually family time. The kindest thing I could do for Father's Day was to take the boys to do something fun so they would be occupied out of the house and he could work without distraction or feeling guilty. We were getting ready to go to Skyzone, then Luke spiked a fever suddenly.

Luke stayed home and read a book, Micah and I went to the zoo because no one needs us bored around the house. It turned out we had a REALLY good trip together. I forget how good it is to have one on one time with him. He's a chatty person who shares a lot about his thoughts and feelings, but it's just a different dynamic when it's just the two of us without other distractions or personalities.

Plus the zoo is doing a dinosaur exhibit and that was fun.

What is happening outside?

It's April, and this is turning out to be the most confusing season so far for me. Summer was a welcome change with no humidity, lower temperatures, and a single bug bite all season. Fall was better than expected, though the light changed until sunset was 4 pm. Winter was exciting, even four nor'easters in a row in March was nothing. But now it's April, and it's still in the 30's and the trees and plants have barely begun to bud. Crocuses have just started poking up. Where are the azaleas? Daffodils? Leaves on the trees? I'm so disoriented...

Skiing in New Hampshire for the First Time as a Southerner

If you ever have a chance to learn to ski with very kind, patient friends who are also relatively new skiers, take advantage of it. We have friends walk us through the process of skiing on Saturday, and now I'd say we're proficient. Micah was on the double black diamonds.

This was actually a really big scary hill

We went up to Pats Peak for the 3 pm-close session. Honestly, $50 per person for skiing, rentals, and snow tubing is worth it. They have 2 beginner areas and a lot of greens, but I'm told more experienced skiers could get bored. They can go to Utah.

The rental process was very organized. Decide skis or snowboard, go through the lines, you're all set! Then I was in uncharted territory. Don't get experienced skiers to help you here, they don't know what you don't know. Another newer skier who has recently taken lessons knows how to tell you how to snap into your skis and whether you need poles (yes) and doesn't laugh when you fall off the magic carpet in the baby beginner section. 

Micah caught on to skiing very quickly. He was comfortable within minutes, and after the dinner break he was heading down the greens with his friends. I'm going to have to figure out what to do, because his parents can't keep up with him, but I don't think we can just let him go off on the mountain by himself yet. Luke likes to go as fast as he can, and he says he wants to try snowboarding next time. I got to where I felt in control on the bigger beginner hill. I never tried the green, but Mike did!

The light at sunset was beautiful