a Monday of interesting happenings

Of course you think I'm glued to the TV today, right? Watching a performance like no other? Doing my daily mile walk to the sound of pomp and fanfare in the living room?

No, of course not, but I am moving between themes that are so strong right now that one is more forceful and distracting than the next. There's the weather, there's news coming at us quickly, to shock, to make our hearts race and hope crumble, but then, too, there's a lovely lunch with friends, and there's packing, and ... did I mention the weather?

It is bitter cold. When the temps fall this low and I walk to the barn in subzero (F) temperatures, I often think to myself -- how did people manage before central heating warmed up our indoor spaces? How could you stand being so cold for such big chunks of each day for so many months? You watch those movies about the Gulag in Siberia, you read books about life in Wisconsin, Minnesota 150 years ago and you feel so guilty that you should have any complaints about life today. We have heat. I took a hot shower this morning. I flushed a toilet. I fixed a warm mug of steaming milky coffee. In those minutes alone, I felt like I was born in a privileged place, at a privileged time.

In these January days, I feel for the chickens. 

They can't walk far without a pause to warm their claws. If they do stand, it's only on one foot. And of course, they don't know that this too will pass. That there will be summer. That life will turn around for them soon (well, not that soon!). All they can do is take one minute at a time and make the best of it.

...while we, with some guilt, sit down to a lovely breakfast at home.

We shouldn't eat really. We have a lunch date with Ed's friends today and three meals for us is a bit much, but I cannot pass up my granola with yogurt and fruit and importantly -- my milky coffee.

I am absolutely habit driven with foods. I have great love for and total devotion to the small treats that are part of my day. Breakfast is the most obvious one. Lunch snack -- another. Wine used to define my dinners -- now, for all those blasted medical reasons, it's no longer a dinner fixture, but it does still make me so happy to have a kir vin blanc (a little white wine with a splash of cassis) with a "citrus, ginger and thyme crisp" or two from Rustic Bakery before the meal. And finally -- a square of chocolate in the evening, on the couch. All of the above -- total bliss.

But today of course, lunch is going to be unusual. We meet up with Ed's friends from long ago for a lunch at Miko. Some would call it a seafood restaurant, but it's more like a poke bowl place. And importantly, it's participating in Madison's restaurant week. Do you have those in your community? Here, several dozen restaurants serve up 3-course meals for an even $20. It's a way to get you to go out in January, when restaurant visits tend to plummet.

Yes, it's a lovely way to get me to do the (nearly) impossible -- push me out into the bitter cold!

And shortly after, I go to my daughter's house... 

(hi, Sparrow!)

 

... to help Snowdrop pack for a forthcoming trip.

The trip starts on Wednesday and it has become somewhat of a staple fixture in my travel year -- it's to the mountains and I take her along for the skiing opportunities that it provides for her. Why now? Well, her school has several built-in closures in the second half of January, so it minimizes absences. If I waited until March -- her spring break -- there wouldn't be snow. Finally, January is the cheapest of the ski months. Places I pick fill with families where kids are on semester breaks (February and early March). January is comparatively slow and everything, from airfares down, is less pricey.

Today we pack. It's a tough assignment. It is impossible to manage with only a carry-on because we need to pack warm outdoor clothing. I attack the job with resolve!  We did it before (last year) and we do it again today.

I then get Snowdrop ready for ballet...

 

 

... drop her off at the dance studio and come back home for lunch, part two: our boxed leftovers from the earlier meal with friends.

And a piece of chocolate. On the couch. With so much love...