Welcome, winter!

 These top two pictures are of our first snowfall of the year! Right on top of the clothesline.

And now for the snow from the last two days:

<---me

pete--->

This is the table on the back landing that is covered with snow. Pete and I put our hands there so you could get an idea of how much snow has accumulated so far.

Definitely over a foot! (And another 10 inches or so tonight!)

Week Highlights (besides the obvious snow):

- Assistant hang-out night with the game "things" and some much needed water.

- Playing my keyboard (felt soooo good)

- Sharing time at the Croyden home.  :)

- Dinner, Movie, Discussion night at the Radin/Remby house!

- Skype-ing/ phone calls with family

- I'm almost done Christmas shopping!

- We drew names for Secret Santa (I got Mike--shhhhh!)

- Joy and Maria visit in 10 days.  And I go home in 17. Can't wait!

Thanksgiving!

Within the last two weeks there has been an H1N1 "outbreak" resulting in our house on quarantine for 5 days, lots of walks, a Harry Potter viewing, a visit to the best tea lounge EVER (i know that sounds strange, but trust me, it's perfect), dancing galore at another L'Arche event, another costume party (this time Alice in Wonderland themed), and lots of having fun and hanging out.

But the best news of all is that Matt got a job!  Matthew Davis, legislative editor. :)

And in light of the good news (and because his new position starts in a week), he came up to visit me! We went out to eat, explored downtown, listened to music, spent too much money at Sound Garden, ate a whole pumpkin pie in 2 1/2 days (thanks mom!), and laughed a whole lot. I tried to steal him, but he was the one with the car... I'll definitely plan better next time.

Oh, and this song has been in my head recently:




Happy Thanksgiving!

Hooray!

Halloween was sooo much fun.  It helps that we had three big parties to dress up for, but this is definitely a big change from really hating it and trying my best to avoid the whole thing.  L'Arche definitely knows how to party!  It also snowed on Halloween, so how would I not love it?

In the top picture, that's Eric as a Snow Angel, with Rachel as a semi-goth fairy, and me as Liz Lemon. And then it's Mike as a cop (the boa was the big dancing prop-- it got around on the dance floor), and Peter as a cowboy/sheriff/deputy.  Or Pistol Pete, as I called him.  I even tried to get him to call me Jobin, but to no avail.

Oh, and the big news is that I'm a full-fledged assistant!  I passed the med. administration class a couple weeks ago, and recently passed all my med pours, so I'm officially med. ad. certified!  However, with all this excitement comes great responsibility.

Starting Nov. 1st, we've had two radio stations in the Syracuse area that are wholly devoted to Christmas songs.  This is semi-helpful because it reminds me how awesome it would be to have my shopping done early, but generally I don't like it.  Eric, on the other hand, loves it.  Thanks to him, we've been listening to "A Charlie Brown Christmas", and singing Christmas hymns for a month now.  (I've been here a month already!)

Ever since I moved in, we've had Ian, a prospective core member, over for dinners/parties, etc.  He was looking for a place to move in, and was considering our L'Arche home.  He's about half the age of the other core members, but the age difference doesn't seem to matter.  Everyone gets along great, and we all voted that we think he'd be a good fit for our house.  Apparently Ian agreed too, because he's definitely moving in at the end of the month! (!!!) We just have a lot of cleaning/ painting to do before that happens.

I am very much looking forward to the holidays.. I put in a request for time off, but I don't know whether it'll be granted or not.  I'm hoping yes. 

Oh, and when Mike says his prayers, he says Hooray!, instead of Amen.  Sometimes I think that's the way it should be.

I want to go to there

It's been raining here for the past few days, which means I've watched my favorite rainy day movies. What are they, you might ask?: Tied for first place are Casablanca and The Philadelphia Story.  Speaking of weather, we've already had our first frost.  It was supposed to snow 3-5 inches Wednesday night, although I'm sad to say we didn't see any of it.  Jens says he expects snow to be in full force within the next two weeks.  So pumped! 

Earlier Wednesday morning I went on a hike with Devin to Clark's reservation.  We were walking on the prettiest rock formations I've ever seen.  The trail took us down to the edge of a lake, which was even more beautiful with the trees dressed in their autumn colors. (I took a picture with my phone, but it really doesn't do it justice.)  Anyone who comes to visit will be taken here.  Get used to it, folks.  It's even open in the winter.

I'm currently taking the week-long Medical Administration class at the CNYDSO (Central New York Developmental Services Office) which, upon passing, will certify me to administer meds.  Among all of the really interesting and important information that I'm learning about current prescriptions etc., I've also gained a much bigger respect for all the nurses of the world, for they are the people that will always be (and have always been) blamed.

Oooh- we have 3 Halloween costume parties this week.  Good thing I really like my costume:  I'm Liz Lemon from 30 Rock, which means I wear converses (her "work shoes"), jeans, a blazer and black rimmed glasses. So easy, and way less involved than some of the other costumes going on around here.  (a cop, a sheriff, a snow angel, phantom of the opera, little red riding hood, inigo montoya, fairies, etc).  Oh, and I get to say things like "blurgh", "I want to go to there", "I'm going to go talk to food about that", and "Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate, ack!".  I may even sing about night cheese.

Fun fact of the week:  I walked into the family room Thursday night, and Mike said "Hi, friend" when he saw me come in.  So happy.

Ohh, I have one more story to share.  It's about a girl who met this cute boy on a dock in St. Mary's county.  On the 29th, it'll be 5 years that we've been together.  Sooo happy.

foolish grace

Anne Lamott once wrote, "Grace is having a committment to- or at least an acceptance of- being ineffective and foolish."  I was particuarly graceful making dinner Friday night.  The predetermined main course for dinner was steak (something that neither of us assistants were familiar with cooking).  Faced with this daunting task, we turned to google for help, and chose the sear-then-broil option.  Just sear the steak, then stick it in the oven to broil! 

Long story short, searing a steak produces a lot of smoke.  A LOT. Enough to trigger the fire alarm.  Perhaps I subconsciously wanted a chance to see the evacuation plan come to life.  But let me tell you, this house is a well-oiled machine.  We all evacuated the house very calmy into the rain, and ended up laughing about it all in the end.  The guys even said the steak was delicious.

On an unrelated note I went shopping today, and I paid with money I'd earned.  I haven't had that feeling for a while.  It felt good.

Other highlights of the week:
It was Peter's birthday on Thursday! 
I got many letters and packages!  Thanks to all!
My webcam is now working, so if you want to make a date, let me know.
I got paid for the first time.
I signed up with the Onondaga Free Library.  (!)
I got a key to the house.
I'm loving every minute I spend with the core members.

A week in pictures



Surprise!  



(they forgot the f in my name, but it's the thought that counts)

My little slice of home.  Full of pictures, music, candles, and as many blankets as possible. 

It already feels and smells like winter here.

The view from my room onto the small backyard.

But beyond the fence is our big backyard.

 Number 1 at the Syracuse Community Walk.

 Hannah!

 Feedin' ducks at the duck pond.

You'd be surprised what you learn about people over a plate of delicious veggies.