Every Day I'm Shufflin'

Midterms. One little word robbing students everywhere of sleep...

Just kidding! Kind of... There's only one midterm that's making me a little nervous. One instructor demands a level of specificity bordering on the ridiculous since many of these "necessary" details are not directly connected to the theories of microeconomics. Maybe it's just me, but it seems a bit unfair to ask for a list of the physical symptoms of sleeping sickness rather than the economics of the situation...on a microeconomics quiz.

Don't worry though, I have helpers...

 

 

And a wonderful husband who buys me flowers.

He also bought me a chocolate cupcake, but it didn't last long enough to take a picture.

P.S. Watch this video. You'll feel better about your neighbors and hum this ridiculously catchy song for days. You're welcome.

The Good, the Bad, and the Not So Exciting

Nothing new to report on the Idaho front, other than it's supposed to dip below freezing multiple nights this week. Low temperatures give me a good reason to start enjoying my favorite winter drink - hot spiced apple cider!

Our weekend consisted of grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, organizing, and a very sad lack of hiking. And one of my instructors forgot to open the mandatory weekly discussions on time last week, which has left me playing catch-up. Oh, well.

"Optimist: someone who figures that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it's a cha-cha." 

- Robert Brault

Of Hills and Mountains

Last Saturday was beautiful so we took advantage of the nice weather and did some exploring. We discovered a great park on the northeast side of town and an acceptable alternative to Noah's Bagels. The park has a ridge that offers fantastic views of the city and an extensive trail system that will afford additional weekends of wandering.

The climb

View to the east

View to the west

We also took a drive up the mountain to check out Bogus Basin. The entire area is open for hiking so we are planning to take a couple day trips up there in the next few weeks. Most of the locals say that the drive up takes 20 minutes, but our drive clocked in at 45 minutes. The locals must have rose-colored glasses...or insane driving skills.

"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in." 

- John Muir

Dear Sunshine, I Miss You.

Fall arrived in an overly enthusiastic fashion, leaving me to unhappily decode the forecasts calling for day after day of "partial clouds" (translation: heavy clouds...all day). The cat is dealing with the cold temperatures by shamelessly sneaking under whatever blanket(s) that I happen to be in possession of at that moment. Of course, I really shouldn't judge since I have absconded with a certain someone's favorite slippers...

Someone is not cut out for winter here.

Last weekend was beautiful; 70 degrees and sunshine felt amazing after days of rainy 50 degree weather. We had a wonderful visit with my parents which included touring the city, playing the rowdiest game of Monopoly ever, introducing them to Korean BBQ, checking out a new church, and thoroughly enjoying our time together.

"Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length."

- Robert Frost

Where Did Our Summer Go?

The forecast is cold and wet for the next few days. Ugh. It was warm and sunny all weekend (and the week before that, and the month before that), so going from summer almost straight into low 50s with rain is a cruel blow. But the good news is that I can bust out my jackets and scarves. Oh, how I've missed them!

"Hi, my name is Rachel and I am addicted to scarves. It's been one week since my last purchase..."

Target is the worst for playing on my weakness with their displays full of lovely (and inexpensive!) scarves right by the entrance and registers. I bought my sister a scarf that will bring out the blue in her eyes...and then bought a duplicate for myself. I'm a weak, weak person.

In other news: my parents are coming for their first visit!! It will be cold, but it should at least be sunny.  And even if it's not, there will be scarves for all.

"Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open."

- John Barrymore