HOLIDAY RECOVERY AND PREVIEW OF NEW YEAR'S EVE...

Well, this week we've done our best to finish unpacking all of the loot we got over Christmas, although I've still got two bags in the closet that I'll tackle tomorrow. We're going to spend the New Year's Eve weekend with Trevor's step-dad, Jim, and Trevor's grandparents up in Door County. We're leaving tomorrow (he's got the afternoon off and I'll pick him up--right after I stop at Loopy Yarns for their 70% off sale!--and we'll be off!).

I spent the afternoon today with my friend Kate and her new baby, Ella. Ella was a little boogery, but she was still a giggly little bundle and it was really fun to meet her. I made her a hat that was too big for her little baby head, and Kate will send me pictures of her wearing it as soon as their computer is fixed!

(quick digression: "Snakes on a Plane" is coming to DVD soon. I'll be renting that.)

Speaking of renting movies, Trevor and I watched a waste-of-time movie starring our favorite t.v. sitcom actor, Zach Braff, called "The Last Kiss." It was a total dud, but it took place in Madison, so they had a scene on the Terrace, which was exciting. Before that, though, I watched "The Descent" which is a fabulous horror movie. I think even Trevor would like it. He came home in time to watch the "making of" portion of the DVD (called, appropriately, "Beneath the Scenes" [it's a movie about caving in the Appalachian Mountains]) and found it interesting. I might rent it again so he can watch it as well.

Well, I'm off to finish a scarf for our friend Simona. See you all in the new year!

Bork-Power

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Here's some of the gang sitting down after Christmas Eve at the Bosco's. It was the first Christmas Eve celebration for the newly married Borks (Greg and Paula), and mom and I spent a bit of time teaching Erica to knit. We're passing the torch on to the next generation; it's all very exciting. We'll work with some fun yarn and bigger needles today at Christmas dinner. And speaking of knitting, I'm also including a photo of the first really successful hat I've made! More to come, and happy happy holidays!

Bork-Power

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

It's a pre-Christmas post! Trevor and I will be doing a lot of traveling during the holiday season, but luckily it's all in Illinois and Wisconsin, which isn't too bad. We're spending the eve before Christmas Eve with the Power clan out in Yorkville, where we will be exchanging gifts and hopefully playing some games. Then Christmas Eve to the Bosco's for some Secret Santa action, and to the Bork's for Christmas Day, and then to the Madel's for some dessert! A few days later, we're going up to Door County to visit Jim, see the Madels again, and do some holiday decompressing. I'm currently filling my days this week Christmas shopping, visiting friends for lunch and dinner (I was back to Navy Pier this afternoon for the first time in nearly six months--the theater's changed a little, but my feelings about making the career change were sure solidified...) and I'm also doing a bushel full of knitting. I took a photo of my first really successful hat (which I turned into a Christmas present for my friend Roxanna) and I'll post it soon.

The picture above is the finished wardrobe in our bedroom. Although it's containing most of our stuff, Henry has miraculously managed to eat--in the past five days--one remote control, one throw pillow, and one regular pillow. Needless to say, he no longer has free reign of the bedroom, and until he learns to curb his appetite of non-tasty items (reading glasses, yarn, plastic...) he'll be crated while we're out of the house. Trevor seems to think Martin instigates the incidents. I, however, believe he's just a ruiner like his meowing brother.

HARVEY MAKES AN APPEARANCE:
Finally, here's a picture of our car, Harvey! He's pretty cute and he rides like a dream, and because of my commuting, he's already up for a tune-up at a couple of months old. Next semester, I'll hopefully be able to take the Metra, so Harv can have some more quality time with Trevor on the streets of Chicago!

Last weekend we had breakfast with our friend, Dan, and he and his lovely wife, Simona, met us at IKEA, where we bought an eight by eight wardrobe, which we brought home, and have finally erected! It's beautiful and I'm posting a picture of before completion, and I'll do my best to get a picture of it all finished sometime this week. And this weekend we celebrated our friend Jessica's birthday at the Gold Star, I went to DEPART-ment (a crafty fair) and got some early Christmas shopping done, and Trevor didn't go with me, so I was able to get some stuff for him, too! And we watched old movies, and Die Hard III, and Die Hard II (well, the second one was Trevor, I was in the shower...but I certainly did enjoy number 3!).

It's also my last week of full classes--next week I've got to sit out in Crystal Lake for two evenings to collect portfolios, but then I'm done for four weeks! FOUR WEEKS! I'm going to work on lesson plans, take naps, drink tea, knit, go grocery shopping, take naps, read some books, do Christmas shopping, nap, crochet, write, nap, drink tea, have lunch with Trevor, take Henry to the park, drink tea, have lunch with Grandma, go up to Door County with Trevor over New Year's Eve to visit Jim and the Madels, drink tea, have lunch with mom and look at Greg and Paula's wedding pictures....and on and on...

So, I might jump on during the next week to vent about the piles and piles of student final portfolios I have to wade through for their final grades, but until then...stay out of the cold!

BORK-POWER