Saturday morning

I love to go out to breakfast on the weekend, don't you?  We woke to more snow.  Doug hustled out and shoveled our drive.  We live on a hill an have a big, long drive.

  Then we headed to "the spoon." 

"they dined on mince and slices of quince which they ate with a runcible spoon."

 I love the blonde mocha which is a mexican coffee and the mimosas by the pitcher.

a pitcher of mimosas and a blonde mocha

 I love living in a college town.  It is so interesting.  The young men to my right were speaking in a language which I didn't understand.  The women at the next table seemed to be a professor and a student.  I love watching people.  The young woman and the older woman, who I imagined to be a professor, were both so beautiful and seemed to be having such an interesting conversation- I wanted to join them.  Do you watch people like that and imagine what their line of work is, if they are single or married or any manner of imaginings?  It is so fun.

to my right

 This pic of Doug- such concentration.  Or maybe he just couldn't see.  

Doug scowls

a chair on the porch

this is where we sit when it is warm

 Then we went next door to Boxcar Books.  Boxcar Books is ran by volunteers.  When we went into the store, there was a young lady out front- shoveling the walk.  She said "let me know if you need any help."  Who just lets you go into a store and trusts you not to rip them off? 
There is a public bathroom inside with lots of posters and information.  There is a sign instructing you not to "poo."  Apparently, the toilet will overflow if you "poo."  There was a big chalkboard with lots of chalk in the bathroom.  In pink chalk I wrote "no poo, no ew."  I thought that was a good contribution.

next door to the spoon

in the front yard of Boxcar

 Because Doug and I were the only ones in the store, for some reason it occurred to me to to make an artistic statement and I asked Doug to take the photo of me, below.  I thought it was funny.  But I'm a little strange different that way, sometimes. 


too many mimosas!



Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day, 2011.  Despite the fact that the university didn't close, I chose to stay home today.  Doug works for the city and he was told to stay home.  No one was on the roads.  Initially, classes were to begin at 10 a.m. and then 1 p.m.  I didn't have cable or Internet until late in the day, so I felt out of touch.  We lost a limb on a tree in the back yard, last night.  I heard it crash to the ground with the sound of breaking glass.  That was the extent of the injuries.  I piddled and putzed today. 
I did hear that Punxsutawney Phil didn't see his shadow. 

2011 NO SHADOW!

 Jennifer came over and we watched the 1993 movie Groundhog Day. Bill Murray plays Phil Conners, TV weatherman.  Andie MacDowell plays his producer, Rita.  Chris Elliott plays Larry his cameraman. 

Groundhog Day movie

Murray plays a man stuck in the same day.  Living it over and over, at first he decides he can do what ever he wants to do without any consequences.

No regrets!

He asks a couple of guys that he is bowling with "what would you do if basically your life was the same, day after day?"  Basically, that is life.  It is up to us what we do with it.  How we change it up.  How we choose to affect others.
In the movie, he kidnaps the groundhog and lets it drive.  He is telling it "don't drive angry."  To me, this seems like a good philosophy.  

"don't drive angry"


If you haven't seen the movie, you should do so.  I bought it at Target for $5.00.  (Not an endorsement for Target.)  It is worth $5.00 to watch it once a year.  You need to see how Phil finally breaks the spell.  It does have to do with making the most of this life we are given. 
I know that whenever I'm in a rut, I try to look up and around and see how I might better the life of someone around me.  If you've seen this movie, tell me what you think.  If not, tell me how you spent your Groundhog Day. 

Indiana weather report

Got up this morning and made coffee and muffins.  Waited around for the university to close.  (The university never closes.)  So, I went to work.  It was like a tomb, so I got a lot of work done.  The city closed down at noon unless you were essential.  As Doug is a lab tech in water quality, he was considered non-essential.  Because of that, I was able to come home to a warm house with a fire burning.

my car after work

 

sur la terre



encrusted tree in town

 My car-clearing technique includes heat running full-blast and the rear window defrost on.  I sat there revving my car in an effort to speed up the process.

driver's side window

In all fairness, maybe a quarter of an inch of ice.

before I thawed/scraped

 It took me a couple of stops before I got the hang of it.  My ABS was going crazy.

ice every where

 After that, I was overly-cautious and arrived safe and sound without mishap.  Then I wandered about taking some photos of the frozen tundra.

woods at home

ice-covered

more ice covered



fence and foilage



rear of dug's truck



more rear.  note moisture on lens

  I've been kind of bummed lately.  If you've been bummed, too, raise your hand.  I was going to stop at the grocery (again) today and had "flowers" on my list.  Doug stopped for a few things this afternoon and he told me "I have a surprise for you."  I hoped it was flowers and it was.  I love flowers.

On the table when I got home.  Good boy!

We had spagetti for supper and the lights were flickering.  It was "hurry, hurry, hurry get supper done" and "hurry, hurry, hurry down-load photos" and "hurry, hurry, hurry to post!"  We have a fireplace and can cook, sleep, stay near for warmth- but I hope we get to keep our lights on. 
So many states are affected by this storm system.  Wherever you are, give me a shout-out.  I hope you are warm and safe and dry.  This has been your Indiana weather report.  Over and out.