Sn-iz-ow D-iz-ay

Actually, the second full day of a vacation from daycare for the boys that started yesterday at 1. Again, this impedes my thesis progress but that's OK - snow days, while exhausting, are fun days. We got some real snow yesterday and then sleet, snain, frezzing rain, more snow and a lot more freezing rain. The ground coverages this morning was like frozen precipitate lasagna with all those layers. Not great for playing in per se, although good for making snow balls. The boys and I made snowballs and through them at the stop sign on the corner -

So its an interesting test of stamina and cretivity (two things that pre-school teachers have tons of) to keep a 2 and 4 year old entertained all day without venturing far from the house. We did art projects, cleaned up, read stories, played music and watched a video - all before 11 am. Then it was on to bed jumping for half hour, lunch and then about 90 minutes outside. Emmet settled in for a nap (although not easy, Roni basically had to lay with him until he fell fully asleep) while Micah and I did puzzles - Micah;s really good with puzzles, and we had fun.

Now Micah is chillin' and nearly asleep on the couch and I just heard the sounds of Emmet waking up. We'll probably do a bath , and then have dinner and try to get them to bed at a reasonable time. I should stay up late and do work to makeup for lost time, but after 1.5 snow days I'm definitely zzzzzing early. As much as I love hanging with the boys, I need Thursday and Friday to be kick ass work days.

Other recent happenings include:
- a night out with some homies from the neighborhood last Wednesday - we rolled to this newer place in Hampden, right around the corner from us, Rocket To Venus- a cool spot, but serious hipster bar - I can tell a place is hipster-central when all the men have haircuts like the dudes I went to high school with - it seems like the mid-80s shag/mullet is back in style big time amongst 21-25 years olds.
- Keeve and Becky came for dinner on Saturday. We had a good time and they got to spectate and participate in bed jumping activities with Micah and Emmet. It was really fun to see them and Becky gave us a copy of her band El Patapsco's recently released CD- coll instrumental surfish rock.

- Brian unfortunately got his bike taken in a mugging - luckily he is otherwise unharmed. I have not ridden my bike to work recently but between the clueless antagonistic drivers, and the occasional threats from teens (luckily, though, they never followed through with me), biking to work is definitely a serious endeavor - and add to it the freezing cold, and Brian gets a hero's medal for being triply brave. It really sucks that he got bike-jacked, but I am very glad he came out unscathed physically.


Aight, back to playing - catch up with y'all later.
McG

Things are going well today

And for the past week for the most part.

I got back and focussed on thesis work after last week;s distractions. I'm making progress, and actually enjoying the process. This "sabbatical" was the right idea -
I really was dreading it to some degree. I thought I would really miss teaching (I do) and find myself squandering the time while wishing I was in the classroom. But this uninterrupted time has been very beneficial. I have a hell of a lot of work ahead of me, and may eventually go nuts form the day to day isolation. But for now, things are happening, I'm making progress, and looking forward to meeting with my advisor as I actually have accomplished stuff and have lots to discuss. Also, because I am not doing daycare and drop-off for the most past (thanks Roni!!!!!), I have more time in the morning and afternoon. I get an earlier start on my work and have been exercising in the late afternoon. Man, I am seriously out of shape! But at least it's a start. I've been going to the Hopkin's Homewood gym. It's a really nice facility, but I am happier doing things outside. I look forward to non-sub-20 weather in the spring so I can walk, run and bike outside.

Boy am I babbling. But, like, whatever. Oh, and this past weekend we had some fun. On Saturday we drove down to Tacoma Park to chill with Jim and Lily. Their boys Joseph and Loren entertained Micah and Emmet (and us!) as we got to meet newest family member Isabelle - a cutie. We dined on Peruvia style chicken and yuca from a local carryout, hung out a ton and didnt hit the road home until late. We ended up getting home around 8 pm, and Micah and Emmet were beyond tired. A lot of melting down followed, but it was because we had such an awesome day, so I ain;t mad at 'em. Unfortunately, I had to miss the ping pong tournament at Brian's house, but now at least I can talk smack about how I would have obliterated everyone in competition, since there is no datato dispute it. On Sunday morning we drive 45 minutes north to the "Maryland House" rest stop to meet up for breakfast with Bubby and Pop. They were in Wilmington visting Debra and Aaron and welcoming Lily home. (yes, Lily finally came home from the NICU - unfortunately she had to go back today because of a stomach condition - hopefully she'll recover and be back home soon - poor Debra and Aaron this has been a hellride for them). We at at Bob's Big Boy - I haven;t been to one of those in 4ever. Let me tell you the menu stays the same- grease, fat and more grease. Afterall, Bob didn't get big from gulping down fat-free yogurt. It was a fun visit and good to see them. Afterwards we came back to Bmore to attend a birthday party for one of Micah's friends. It was at a duckpin bowling alley. If you have not seen a bunch of 4 year olds bowling, you;ve missed out. No less than 3 balls on a lane at once, resets happening al the time, and finer pinchings abounding. Micah and Emmet had fun, but were tired and growing increasingly melt downable as finger pinchings proliferated. We stayed long enough to have cake and then set sail for Hampden, jets on.