Back to BG

We had a great and very busy Thanksgiving back in ABQ. I think I saw most of my readers over the weekend, but I'll post some highlights here anyway.

• Airport security wasn't a big deal. Despite all the hoopla (which we had been following), we avoided both the new scanners and the pat downs by choosing the line for the metal detectors. This worked in both Detroit and ABQ. We waited for 15 minutes in Detroit and about 5 in ABQ to get through the lines. On the way back to BG, both of our flights arrived early. Perhaps the worst part of the trip was having to drive for an hour to get home after the day of flights. (We'll have to get used to that).
• We woke up to a dusting of snow on Thanksgiving morning. I was surprised that our first snow of the year was in ABQ not BG, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Nothing beats the look of snow on the desert plants. 
• The food was great. We had breakfast at Weck's more than once--their green chile is unbeatable. (We successfully brought home some frozen one-serving size containers that Mark's parents had been collecting for us). We also had Dion's. At my family's Thanksgiving meal, I was delighted to eat Dad's smoked turkey, Grandma's dried corn, and Mom's pies. Yum.

Of course, the most important part of the weekend was the quality time with family. It's so good to be back and see everyone, and I'm looking forward to heading home again for Christmas soon.

Now that we're home in BG, we're trying to plow through the last two weeks of the semester. (We've decided, as we do every year, that Thanksgiving falls at a terrible time in the semester for students and teachers). Mark has evening commitments every night this week, and I'm starting to grade the last major assignments of the semester (essay portfolios will come in at the end of the week...). But we know that we will, as we always have, get through.

Pictures

By request, here are pictures of our Christmas decorations. Nothing too extravagant...

Holiday Fever

I can't wait to be home for Thanksgiving, and we've started getting into the Christmas spirit early, too. About a week ago, I started listening to Christmas music (thanks to a rediscovery of Pandora). The city of Bowling Green has started celebrating, too. Last night was the community tree lighting ceremony, and this morning was a holiday parade. We didn't actually go to either (although we thought about it...). Instead, we decorated our own trees at home last night. Mark played Christmas music from his iPod (using the receiver Mark's parents got us when we moved). We had to find new places for our decorations, but everything looks great. It seemed worth it to decorate a bit early since we'll be out of town quite a bit this holiday season. I realized last night that the real fall weather seems to help me feel ready for the holidays. In Tucson, it always seemed like they snuck up on me. Not this year! I'm really excited to head home and see all the family. Plus, I'm having serious food cravings, often centered around green chile.

Other than looking forward to the holidays, I've been planning ahead for the end of the semester. At this point, I'm really starting to feel a difference between my former life as a teacher AND student and life as a full-time teacher. It's a relief to be only worrying about how to get all the final assignments graded on time without having to worry about writing my own final papers. In fact, although I've been strategizing a lot about how to get everything done before leaving town for Thanksgiving, I find myself with more free time today than I've had on this weekend in ages. I've also discovered that I dislike the lack of control that sometimes comes with teaching. For example, I wanted to have a set of essays I collected last week graded and returned before the break. I planned time in my schedule to make that happen. But I have a handful of students who haven't turned their essays in, which means I can't finish my to-do list! I've realized that I have to learn to let things like this go. I can certainly finish the ones I have, return those, and not feel pressure about the others. They made the choice to turn it in late, so they can wait longer to get it back.

Perhaps I should mention that I'm still really enjoying my job and my wonderful colleagues. I do have some great students, and I feel like I have learned a lot from teaching these classes so far. (I've got a list going about what I can do differently next time, too :-). It is so helpful to be able to ask the other instructors questions and share ideas. It's amazing that this semester is almost over, and while I welcome the break, I keep thinking about how much I want to continue to work here next year. With the uncertainty about that, I almost hate to be counting down the days...

Tea Party

Today I had the pleasure of enjoying a formal tea at the The Swan House in Findlay with some of my colleagues. The 4 of us who live in BG carpooled down together (about 25 minutes). While it wasn't as swanky as the Devonshire or St. James in ABQ, it was enjoyable. (It was also about $10 less expensive). The tea was great, and we were able to try as many flavors as we could drink. (I think I had at least 5 different kinds.) They also served a nice selection of finger foods on tiered plates. Again, I don't think the food was quite as good as the tea rooms in ABQ (or as good as my mom's), but it was pretty tasty. I think both mom and mom-in-law might be interested in trying it out next time they are in town. On the way home, the ladies also pointed out a bookstore that is in an old church not too far from the tea house. I thought that might even give Mark and Dad C. something to do if they wanted to get out of town also while the ladies have tea. I brought home a flier so I'll be prepared should anyone want to go.

It did seem a bit strange to be at a tea room without either mom there, since all my previous teas have been with family, but it was really nice to spend some time with these ladies outside of the office. I really have been blessed (again!) to work with such wonderful people. It also got me thinking about family and feeling thankful to be heading home in just a couple of weeks. I miss everyone, and I'm really looking forward to spending some quality time with all of the family over the holidays. I get a little anxious about all the travel, but I know it will be worth it in the end. In fact, I imagine I'll be in mom's living room having tea with her (or perhaps helping to prepare the Thanksgiving meal) at about this time two weeks from now. Can't wait!

First Frost

This morning we scraped ice off our windshield for the first time. I also wore my "winter coat" that I bought years ago in ABQ. I wonder how long I'll last before I decide I can't live without an ankle-length one...For now, though, I'm still trying to be excited about this change of climate. And, I'm thankful that our apartment pays for the heat! :-)