December 8, 2004
Thanksgiving was very nice, minus the weather factor. We had thunderstorms and hail, in November! I dorve to Chelsea, as Chris does not have snow tires and we didn’t know what we would face when we got there. My top speed on Interstate 89 was about 50 MPH. I actually joined the “four-way parade” at one point as my speed had dropped to 30, yes, 30 MPH. Once we got off the Interstate in Barre however the weather pretty much cleared up. It was still pouring in places, but there was no more hail.
This was the first year we had Thanksgiving without Hannah. It was different, but we still had a good time. Our family friend Eileen Haddon was a guest at our table this year, as she has been for many years. We played our annual game of Scattergories while the men napped in the living room. I neglected to take an “eating habits of America” photograph, but we had a very nice spread, complete with Chocolate, Apple and Pecan pies. Hannah called almost exactly as we finished saying Grace, so we couldn’t talk. She did call back later to relate her difficulties with the dishwasher. Let’s just say that Dawn is for the sink…not the floor. You should ask her about it.
Chris and I are next planning to go to California for Christmas, sadly leaving my parents to their first ever childless Christmas. As we will be gone for a week, we will have to board Sophie, which will be a traumatic experience (though I’m sure more for me than for her).

November 22, 2004

I have returned from Nashville. What an incredibly boring city! I must categorize that comment with the fact that I am NOT a country music fan, therefore was not interested in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum or the Grand Old Opry. As conferences go though this one okay, I’ve had worse, I’ve had better. I did get to go to the Melting Pot Restaurant. My experience with fondue is limited, having had it only once in my life, but this restaurant is fabulous, and not as expensive as I thought. They have a “Fondue for Two” dinner that is $25 per person (not including beverages) and it is three full courses! I didn’t have any chocolate fondue for dessert, but the cheese fondue was divine!

Both Chris and Sophie were happy to have me home and I was glad to be home. We are now on to Thanksgiving.

November 14, 2004

Six months to go!

The Boston Red Sox have won the World Series and the world as we know it has not come to an end, amazing! I, for one, must admit that I was glad when the playoffs and the series were over, it meant that I could finally go back to sleep, what an amazing concept sleep is. Here in Burlington at the University of Vermont, the students did something like $60,000 in damage when the Sox beat the Yankees (which was the best part after all), but thankfully everyone was on their best behavior the next week when the Sox won the Series. I still just can’t believe it!

This week I am off to Nashville, Tennessee. I’m going to the American Society of Criminology Annual Meeting. It is supposed to be in the 60s there, which will be a very nice change of pace to the 30s and 40s we’ve been experiencing though, we have not yet had snow. It will be sad being away from home, but at least it is a short trip, as I am back on Saturday.

The wedding plans continue. We have booked the florist, which means that I actually have to decide what kind of flowers I want, sooner rather than later, but I’ve got time, thankfully. We’ve even booked our honeymoon and that, to me, was the strangest part. I’ve never booked a personal vacation, my vacations are always at home doing chores around the house. We are going to Jamaica for six days. Six days in a beachside private villa with a private pool, ah the pure luxury of it all.

Next week is Thanksgiving, Chris and I will be going to my parents house in Chelsea for the annual feasting and game playing. Sadly, my sister will be unable to join us this year as she and Josh have just moved to Florida. After several months of unemployment, Hannah finally found a fantastic job opportunity where she won’t have to de-ice water buckets in the middle of winter.

Hope you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving with your families.