almost 6 weeks

Wow. Almost 6 weeks have passed since our last blog post. It feels as if we have done a million things since then, but not having made a post makes me feel as if we did nothing at all!

For my own sake, bear with me as I try to figure out the highlights from each week. I am compelled to quantify them or I may go crazy thinking we just sat around. Which is entirely possible.

Jan 2 to Jan 15 - I logged at least 45 hours working on my final projects from the fall term (in addition to a full day at the office). I had two projects due, one for a class on Human Rights, Globalization, and Childhood. (See the syllabus here - we had some *amazing* readings. Read about my amazing professor here.) And one from another class that sounded really interesting in September and then became a major drag. I won't even bother to give you the title. I think Ryan read some books during this week, but mostly he fixed dinner for me, cleaned the house, and did an awesome job of being supportive, which includes reading and editing my final projects.

Jan 16 to Jan 22 - I returned to the land of the living and realized what a different person I become when I am working full time and taking two graduate courses. I become a version of me that I don't like very well. I think the words to describe me would be tense and focused. Goodbye tension. See ya later focus. It was time for fun! During this week Ryan and I hung out a lot and we went to Martha's Vineyard for a few days to chill out. Literally - it was pretty cold mid-January. What were we thinking?

Jan 23 to Jan 29 - We held our "Jamaica Night" to share with friends all of the interesting things that happened during our November trip spent at the Clarendon Infirmary. It seemed to go pretty well and it opened many new doors for us that are exciting.

Jan 30 to Feb 5 - We went to NY to see my sister and her family over the weekend. They have just built a new addition onto their house so it was great to see the changes. We enjoyed a movie out, some spirited laser tag (I unfortunately was not the high scorer) and many good laughs while I played the "Starsky and Hutch" video game at their house. I am now dying for one of those x-cube-nintendo-sega thingee-majigs. Totally a time sucker but really fun.

Feb 6 to Feb 12 - The highlights of this week were NOT my 2 dentist appointments and 2 doctor's appointments. Class started again, but since I have an independent study and work was ultra busy I actually "skipped" class that week and made it up in the next week. And THAT is why it is an INDEPENDENT study. I get to be independent.

During this week there was a MAJOR score in the television department. LOST came back on TV and we stayed up WAY too late to watch it with our friend Mary Frances. If you are a fan and want interesting sites to visit *after* each show has aired, just let me know. I live for the LOST online discussion forums. Maybe that is an overstatement, but not by much.

Feb 13 to Feb 19 - Hooray for Valentine's Day and getting a certificate to the Aveda salon for a luxurious massage. Ah...all that tension and focus melted away for good. We also got to see friends from Canada (AKA Ray and Muffin). Best of all was the phone call I got from Ryan that week letting me know he'd been accepted to Notre Dame - we're pretty excited and it is sounding more and more appealing each day. We haven't made any final decisions yet...so you'll just have to keep waiting it out right along with us. We are still waiting to hear back from some other schools so we will keep you posted.

Feb 20 to Feb 26 - Lent started and I haven't decided if I am going to celebrate it or not in the traditional way. I had a classmate last year who gave up standard eating utensils for Lent. Instead of using a fork and knife she only used chopsticks. I thought it was a little bizarre until she said that it was a simple but challenging way she could practice slowing down parts of her life. I kinda like it.

And now...for a list of all the movies we RENTED over the last 6 weeks. This is pretty embarrassing but I would also like to add that I read 3 rather large books in addition to the film watching.

The Family Stone - I actually liked this. Quirky & sad. Not for everyone

The Break-Up - wretched film. a movie about two adults acting like children. waste of time.

Failure to Launch - even worse than "The Break Up" - barf.

Click - not as bad as the two movies listed directly above, but still pretty pathetic

An Inconvenient Truth - Ryan watched this while I had brunch with girlfriends

Ice Age 2: The Meltdown - loved it, especially the adult humor.

Ice Age - really enjoyed it, but found the sequel more enjoyable, how strange.

Jesus Camp - This was mortifying and uncomfortable. The kind of film that could make you embarrassed about being a Christian. Have to say it was well executed and the documentarians were very fair and not slanted in their perspective. Still, uncomfortable.

Catch a Fire - interesting, pretty realistic about the apartheid I think.

La Moustache - French film. Confusing and thus irritating. I still don't understand who was the nut-job in this.

Roman Holiday - had never seen it but really enjoyed it. a classic of course.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - drove me nuts. I wanted to slap all the characters a few times each. I don't care if it IS a classic.

24 Season 4 (that's right...the whole season in about 4 days) - This is the only show I love as much as LOST. What would I do if they ever competed for airtime? Ack!

We also went to a lot of movies at the theater including:

Jonestown - interesting documentary on Jim Jones. We drank Coke.

DreamGirls - long, boring, over rated.

Letters from Iwo Jima - really liked this one. moving in both feel-good and sad ways

Because I said So - better as a rental. loved Diane Keaton's skirts.

Babel - ugh, overwhelming but really great. Not a feel-good movie.

Stomp the Yard - enjoyed this mostly because I love dancing. stop laughing it is true.

So, in spite of reading 3 large books and writing over 35 pages on my combined projects, we mostly spent the time watching movies it seems. What else can you do in the middle of a cold Boston winter? I'm not complaining, we have another Season of 24 on the way. Time to get a cup of cocoa and my slippers.