Saturday, December 26, 2009

New Year's Resolutions

1. I resolve not to let stuff get under my skin so much.

There's a saying in my family: "Let her be Nancy." It comes from this eccentric lady named Nancy whom one of my aunts just despised as a young woman, and her mom, my grandma, would listen to her frustrated tirades and say "Oh, you'll just have to let her be Nancy." It's such a great saying. Other people are going to be weird and you can't change them. If it stresses you out too much to be their friend, then don't be friends with them. Otherwise, let them have their notions and know it does not affect you. And hope they do the same for you.

2. I resolve to quit stressing.

I've been grinding my teeth in my sleep for a year and it's starting to hurt. I get into little emotional panics over things. (This relates to Resolution 1.) I gotta start being more stoic and remembering that things always turn out all right eventually. Because they always have.

3. I resolve to go to the dentist.

Aside from the teeth grinding, my wisdom teeth are pushing one of my bottom incisors out of my mouth, and I have a small cavity going on the tooth opposite my first cavity. I have to swallow my fears and go. Of course, my childhood dentist is BAD AT FIGURING OUT HOW MUCH ANESTHETIC TO USE (at least I only had to have a cavity filled, and not a root canal, like one of my classmates who also went to him), so I'm going to go to a nice, competent dentist in Iowa City and hopefully that'll help me get over my fears.

4. I resolve to work out at least every other day.

I've been doing this for a while, but I resolve to keep it up!

So, we'll see how these go.

Happy holiday of choice and a joyous New Year!

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Snow Day! December 9 & 10, 2009


At this point it's about 9:00 in the morning, it's been snowing since noon the previous day, and I'm still not aware that classes have been cancelled. I see the bus drive away a moment after I snap this picture.


Later, about 3 in the afternoon.


Lots of these big white clouds billowing down the street.


Trying to dig out, even though the snow's not gonna stop until about 6 in the evening.


The next morning! It's so much nicer-looking in the sun.

Some drunk students built this HUGE snowman across the street from where I work! (Sober student shown for scale.) The buttons and eyes are beer cans. It just goes to show you what great things can be accomplished with teamwork and a little alcohol.

Another one -- not quite as impressive as the first, but size isn't everything. I liked the candy-cane nose.

Sunday, December 6, 2009