New Phones and No Dates

I upgraded my phone this week and am still wandering around in the fog of 'I don't know how to use this thing.'

Tuesday on the train just as we were getting close to my stop, and the part of the ride that is always most crowded, someone's phone started to ring. As no one speaks on the train, and the phone was ringing loudly, it was impossible for the owner to miss. I looked left and right searching for the person with the phone, willing them to answer and stop the grating noise. Just then I realized, it was mine! I hadn't recognized the ring! I felt stupid and pulled it out of my pocket to answer trying to speak as softly as possible since there was a whole train eavesdropping. About 30 seconds into the call, we were disconnected, but rather than lose face to the crowd, I kept talking, pretending like the other person was still there. I was trying to figure out how to naturally wrap up my pseudo-conversation, when the phone started ringing. There went my cover. At that point I got off the train. I had no alternative.

Also our company party is on Saturday night. This year, I replied Caitlyn + 1 guest, becuase I was determined I would bring someone. However, as I thought more about it, my guest had to either be a completely platonic friend or an already established, not platonic friend, because these are my COWORKERS. I figured I had a week to figure it out, and if no one could come, no sweat.. I'd just go by myself. However, at work the next day, the fact that I had selected the +1 was a hot topic around the lunch table. EVERYONE was dying to know who this person was, and not wanting to say that I didn't really know yet, I just took on a ridiculously mysterious air, and said, "You'll meet him on Saturday." The fact that there is now mystery involved is intriguing people even more.

Oh GOD. What have I gotten myself into?

Here's to Saturday night...

Frostbite of 2007

For all of western Michigan's snow, we have the equivalent amount of cold in Chicago. There is not a flake of snow to speak of, but it is a balmy -5 degrees today withOUT the windchill.

I'm becoming more intimate in my relationship to cold every day. Last night on my walk home from the train station, I could actually feel the skin on my cheekbones DYING. You have to constantly wiggle your nose around to keep the inside from freezing, and when I got home and began un-layering, I looked in the mirror and saw tiny icicles on my eyelashes! This morning, I realized that my conditioner, which sits on the windowsill in the shower, had ice crystals in it.

On another note, I went to church this morning. I haven't been to church in a LONG time (besides Christmas), I've actually been kind of anti for a while. But I recently had an idea of going, and so yesterday I started looking around for churches. The one I decided to try this morning was a little Episcopalian church about a mile or so from my apartment. I actually really enjoyed it.. it was a good fit for where I am in my spiritual journey. And yes, at the end, the congregation all sang, "Bear down, Chicago Bears" in unison. The greeting after the "peace be with you" part was "Go Bears!"

The Blizzard of '07

That's what they're calling it. For those of you not in the West Michigan area (which may be all of you depending on how much snow Laura has) we're snowbound. We've been under a blizzard warning all weekend with near white-out conditions. Half the time I can't even see across the park. We haven't left the house since Friday night and the temperature is COLD! This is me next to the snowpile we've accumulated next to our driveway. We've been working hard to keep it semi-clear. The snow just keeps on coming. We're supposed to get another big storm this afternoon/evening. 4-8 inches! Most of the churches around here cancelled all of their Sunday services. That's a big deal for Holland! We're loving it, although we're going a little stir-crazy. It is too cold to take Elinore out, and she's really grumpy with a nasty cold!

If anyone wants to show up with their CC skiis, you're more than welcome!!