Friday, November 18, 2005

snow, stomachs, and the best of friends

As if I have any skill as a weather forecaster. Those low clouds on Tuesday proved me wrong and poured forth snow all day on Wednesday. I was crossing a parking lot on my way to British Novel that morning, thinking: hey, this rain is awfully thick. Stretched out my arms to watch it fall on my coat, and sure enough, it was just barely snow. On my way to my next class—weight training—it was most definitely snow. Small, white, and pelting.

In theory, I love snow. So I slowed down to enjoy it until my cheeks filed a complaint. My left ear was also filling with slush…

On my way to work, the grass was covered white. On my way home, the paths were covered. It was like the weather was bored, or made a last-minute decision. “What do you want to do tomorrow?” “Oh, how about a complete winter scene, in twelve hours flat.”

It’s still with us, all that white stuff, our first official snow. Kind of nice, seeing everything coated… all our benches look upholstered with snow. And I’m remembering all my usual walking-in-winter rules… watching out for ice, carrying tissues, bringing gloves. It makes it cosier to study inside, all our lamps lit and jazz in the living room.

And so, I’ll have clouds and some snow this weekend to kick off reading Jude the Obscure. I was hoping for bleak weather… we’ll see if it holds. And I’m hoping to like Thomas Hardy. I’ll let you know.

I’m also studying up on invertebrates for oceanography. We’re learning about deep ocean creatures, and we’ve been seeing some weird slides in class. Our professor was telling us how the fish nearer the bottom of the ocean are mostly mouth and stomach (to converve energy and body mass, etc). It was right before lunch, and all I could think was: oh, to be mostly mouth and stomach and let loose in Europe! The only dilemna would be—do you head for the Parisian patisseries first, or the Italian pasta places?

In and around invertebrates and thesis work, I’ll be hanging out with some dear friends this weekend. Maria, one of the most amazing women I know, is visiting from India for a little while. Saw her for a few hours Wednesday night. I’ve missed her so much. And then my suitemates from freshman year—Laura and Sarah—are visiting this weekend as well! Reunion!!

Hopefully we’ll be together for lunch tomorrow, and we’re also planning on going to the Gospel Choir concert Sunday afternoon. It will be so good to catch up with all of them.

And then, I leave for home on Tuesday! Dad is coming on Monday to get me (as I am still carless), and then we’ll leave after oceanography on Tuesday. A long conversation all the way home—one of my favorite times. I’ll just be praying that we don’t have another Thanksgiving week blizzard, like last year! A little too scary for my taste. Hopefully we’ll make it home just fine, and I’ll have a few days with my sisters and parents.

Casseroles, anyone?—jl

Posted by Jenn Langefeld on 11/18 at 10:55 PM
(0) Trackbacks • Permalink

<< Back to main