Almost February

I had to have one more letter in January.  Just a few more hours.  Didn't it fly by?

We welcome a quiet week.  It was back to school this week.  I loved the break, reminding me of the long weeks Joe, Margaret and Annie had off from college at Christmas, in the summer, spring break, fall fling, long weekends.  Did they ever go to school?  I know they did.  And studied probably harder than I am.  Anyway, hope springs eternal at the beginning of the semester, before papers and so forth are due.

Speaking of college, Annie got her first acceptance, from Northeastern.  Yeah.  And we know Claire is still working on her applications, with an audition coming up at Hope College.

Annie also sent around a photo of the place she will be renting when she moves out to Yunnan for the remaining months of her time in China.  Looks pretty cool.  A pagoda next to a stream.  No guest bedroom, but she's hoping for visitors.

I neglected to mention Mary's swim meet in the last letter.  She joined a masters group from the local Y, and entered in a meet, just the other side of Albany.  A full day affair, with lots of races, capped off with a team meal at a nice restaurant nearby.  Lots of fun.

Last weekend, we went to Boston to join our friend Cliff for his annual Burns night celebration.  I am not sure how he got started with this Scotland thing, but it may have something to do with single malt Scotch whisky.  Anyway, we read some poems, had a good meal, listened to bagpipes and a few speeches and watched the "haggis enter."  Joe may be the only one who knows what that is, and he attended a Burns night party in Washington.  I understand it is marked around the world, and there is pretty much the same schedule of events.  Cliff is trying to talk us into walking the Great Glen Way with him this summer.  Funny thing is we're the ones with a Scottish heritage, not him.

We are planning a trip out to Rochester over Presidents Weekend.  I will be giving a talk at Cornell, and so we thought we'd brave the lake-effect snow and try to go a little further.  Fingers crossed.  We talked to David a couple of times, on his way to and from Albany and then New York City.

Word from out west (Dundee) is all is well.  Daniel hurt his ankle playing hoops, but seems to have recovered.  Lur seems to have gotten over her episode, but the doctors are watching carefully.

Speaking of doctors, Peter got a second opinion on his knee and was told he needs surgery.  Stay tuned.

This Sunday is Super Bowl.  One consolation - it sure is not to be able to watch (or not) with no stress.  Why do I let it matter so much?  

We talked to Margaret and Joe, and it seems like work, work, work.  Good.  It actually sounds like they are doing interesting things, but time consuming!  

Last Saturday, I walked on water, across the lake.  Okay it was frozen.  We've had a nice respite from winter these last few days.  We think it's coming back tomorrow, and snow over the weekend.   

Next letter, we'll have news of our cleansing diet.  But only if we get through the seven days.  It's hard.

Hope you all are well.  Love from over here.