Hunkering down

mustache gone . . . exam date soon approaching

Ken's first PhD exam is Dec. 2! Then 2 more generalists on Dec 9 & 19. He has remained remarkably calm and joyous.

Instead of working on my seminar papers, I'm baking banana bread and blogging. Can you tell it's about THAT time? I mean, I don't blog forever and ever, and then all this? It's that time when I know I have a ton to do before "the end," but tomorrow nothing is "due" per se. At least blogging is productive procrastination, right?

Thanks for all advice on Christmas tree, etc. Will get tree in a couple of weeks, or maybe a little sooner. And I'll stop worrying about Christmas cards.

Have you ever noticed that the spell checker on this blogger tool picks up "blog" and all associated words as misspellings? It totally freaks me out.

The man with the dark mustache eats turkey

contemplating the mustache at Jean's house

Occasionally, Ken does not shave for a while. When this happens, and I see him get out the shaving cream I always BEG and PLEAD with him to keep a mustache, just for fun. ISN'T IT FUN?!?!? I thought it would just be funny, like silly and freakish.... but I started to like it! What do you think? Errol Flynn?

Ken brought his mustache to Jean's on our Thanksgiving leftover day over the weekend. Which, by the way, was a delicious reintroduction to normal food for me. PTL.

Scott, Kate, and Andrew on Andrew's Baptism.

Couch!

back to blogging . . .

I was considering posting a photo that showed our new couch in full, but this photo kills me. So.... that's our new couch! We're completely satisfied with it--it's divinely comfortable, very pretty, and *so far* not all that attractive to the claws of my darling preciouses. We got to pick out the fabric of the couch and pillows from about a katrillion samples--how did we do? The pillow was from a totally different "set" than the couch, but we thought it would spice things up a bit.

It's been a busy & wonderful 2 months... my parents came for a visit, Sam and Anna's engagement party brought Ellie and Sarah for a visit, we've been to reunions, baptisms, I've handed in one 25 page paper and sundry shorter papers, while Ken has been steadily studying for his PhD exams. His first one is on Dec. 2! I had a blast writing about Anne of Green Gables, and the next big paper I am working on will be about Little Women and the 3 film adaptations (1933, 1949?, and 1994).

I won't belabor my pre-Thanksgiving "episode" with all of you sensitive readers, but I am feeling better now. Ken and I will be heading to Jean's to help her with her copious leftovers today. Wish my tummy luck.

Now, a few surveys for whomever is still sweet and kind enough to check my blog after a horrid 2 months (or so) time away.

One: Last year I over-purchased Christmas cards, and now I have a bunch left over. I don't know which card I sent to which person. On a scale of one to ten, how offended are you when you get the same card in the mail from the same person 2 years in a row? (Ten is "egregiously offended"--and let "x" stand for "it's never happened {i.e., I never noticed)".) (Did I punctuate that properly?)

Two: When putting up a fresh Christmas tree how long does it last? (Assuming you cut it yrself and put it in water.) Is it safe to leave it up in a house with kitties for 4 days while we travel? If not, on a scale of 1-10, how depressing is it to take down a Christmas tree before Christmas?

Enjoy the pretty snow. I didn't even put my bulbs in yet.