Getting to know winter.

I went outside for a brisk walk and noticed that I have not looked up at the sky much since the snow has came. I find myself staring at it, as if it is some kind of impostor, wondering when it will say, "Okay jokes over, you can see the grass again."

While looking at the ground, across the thick blanket of snow, I watched a flock of Canadian geese try to walk on top of the snow. They would balance for a brief moment, then slip into the snow, just like I did as a child. I remember that brief moment of magical stability before becoming heavy and human again.

Before I came back inside I saw a small pack of Robins in a tree top. Another reminder of childhood. However, today I think they may be tricking me because they are a sign of spring and I know winter is far from being over.

Hello, I have not written in a while because preparing for grad school has been a real time sucker. I have not even been cooking.

My latest recipe:
One store roasted chicken
One package of tortillas 
One jar of salsa 
On brick of pepper jack cheese. 
Instructions: make into quesadillas and tacos until chicken is bones. 

My Neighbor

I have been watching football with the hubby, eating a lot of cheese and freaking out. I realized today that I have been taking this whole going back to school very emotionally. I am not a person who deals well with the need to rush things, frankly it puts me in a panic. I have decided I am going to complete as much as I can. The best that I can do. If I don't get in this semester I will take as many courses as they will allow and try again next year. However, I am all full of hope that I make it.

The End to Cabin Fever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGRLMClDVVc

Should have

I would like to explore the words should have. I always say, "I should have gotten up sooner." my husband always says "You should have..." after I've screwed something up. (Which by the way is not helpful.) What does "should have" mean in both utterances? Can we remove it from our language or is it necessary for motivation. Is there and alternative that is more helpful. Are men wired to say things like "should have" because of their pragmatic nature?

School

I have begun the process of going back to school. Yeah!
So in preparation of the school life, today I am going to try to audit two classes at Yale, (with permission of the professors).
Also I will hopefully be in a research and statistics course at SCSU by the 24th of January. I need to be enrolled in those two classes for acceptance. I wont find out if i get accepted until early spring. My fingers are crossed.
I will keep you posted.

Trip to New York

So I have become the selfish blogger, me, me, me. So sorry readers I have forgotten about you. It is funny how internal focus is just plain depressing. I haven't even wanted to write because I was becoming a very dull topic.
Let me take you to New York. Wake up early. Make tea, while your husband makes oatmeal with walnuts, raisins, cinnamon and clove. Have your tea and oatmeal with honey and milk.
Have friends come over to car pool to Union station. You will have company and you can split the parking fee. Look around the train station. The train station has great hanging lights that are large and round like Christmas ornaments, that have been embellished with steal. The ceiling is broken into squares each repeating a pattern as if the heavens have been tiled.

Buy your ticket. Soon after that, down you go through a long tunnel. You are passing one side that is made of silver metal and one side that is white. You are walking in a tube. Then up you go to the platform. On the train you pass abandoned buildings, groves of trees, and large bodies of water.  You arrive at grand central station. Another stunning ceiling. Grand Central Stations' ceiling is painted blue. Upon the blue are constellations of stars and line drawings in white.  There is a horse, probably Pegasus that looks as though it coming right to you. After a long line to the ladies room out you go into what looks and feels like a city.

There are people walking quickly, there are people looking up and around. The sun is bright rising out of the windowless station underground.

Light dances from one building and bounces onto another. So many windows make for a great play ground for light. 

You can see why it is called the big apple: after passing a giant cigar, nut cracker and Christmas balls. 

You walk though central park and see large sculptures, Walter Scott and others. You see carriages with holiday riders. You see a man blowing giant bubbles. There are kids sledding and there are lots of snowmen and snowman parts. 

You go to the Metropolitan museum and see an actual Egyptian temple. The temple was moved to the US as a gift from Egypt. (and I thought I got good gifts) You should have brought snacks and are starving when you and your pile of friends find a Thai place for lunch.  That's about it for now. There will be more to come after lunch.

Every Day is New

2010 ended with an array of lucky foods. We had a dish called redneck caviar, made from black eyes peas and fresh salsa ingredients. Eating black eyed peas represent acquiring wealth in the coming year, so I should be loaded next year. Then we ate meatballs and crab cakes because they are round. Round foods represent, that all things are cyclical. So if bad stuff happens good stuff is sure to follow.
I began the year with cheers and kisses. I began the year with fireworks, and watching friends dance and then fall on the floor giggling. We all had the feeling of a new start.
What makes the year new? Is it like new socks or new blue jeans? Better after it has been worn in. No, I say it is more like a new bra best before it has ever been washed. There is this idea that a new year lets you start over and begin again. Just like the end of a yoga class where you lay in savasana, (corps pose) letting go of any holding and starting fresh. My mother says she loves the morning because the day feels new.
What a wonder to perceive the world as new every day. I think that will be my resolution for this year. Each day will be new along with my opportunity to be kinder to myself and those around me.