snow

This is the very reason I get to leave work at 1:00 today. And the reason I don't have to drive to the swim meet I've been dreading.

I love snow.

don't laugh

But I just might be going vegan. I know, I know. Vegans are annoying. And a little bit crazy. (Seriously, how is milking a cow bad for anybody?) But my friend Claire came over tonight (with dinner!) because she's the best visiting teacher ever, and she bore her testimony of how veganism improves your skin 100%. And I will do just about anything for porcelain skin. (Claire also bore her testimony of charity so as not to be sacreligious or anything.)

I still can eat some sushi. And couscous. And sweet potato fries! And Trader Joe's sells vegan cookies, which for me is a must. Plus, it might be a fun experiment. Don't laugh.

good day

Today is a good day, for two main reasons:

1. Due to the 4-day weekend, there are only 2 work days left this week.
2. I learned how to change my own car battery. It's a piece of cake.

9 degrees

That's how cold it was yesterday. But we still got up at 4 am because, as boring as history books are, it's kind of cool when you're there.



Notice how it's still pitch black outside?

Katelyn was trying to get everyone on the platform to join in the official Obama cheer. I'm pretty sure she made it up. When I say O, you say BAMA, O-BAMA, O-BAMA! Conveniently enough, it also works for Oprah, in case you want to cheer for her too.

The metro ride wasn't nearly as bad as reporters tried to make it sound. We got on the first train that came by, and even got seats! (Well, Ryan got a seat but was nice enough to give it to me.)



This is the last picture we have with Erica and Anne. Turns out, they are way cooler and way more important than we are, so they got to sit on the podium with Barack and everybody else. Okay, maybe not next to Barack, but they were pretty darn close. (Check out the picture Anne got!. Whoa.) I decided I need to start hanging out with Anne more. Not only is she awesome, but she has connections.


See Yo-Yo Ma? And see the girl in the purplse scarf behind Yo-Yo Ma to the left? That would be Erica. And Anne is next to her.

While our view wasn't quite the same as Erica and Anne's, it was not bad.




There were lots of snipers.

And tons of people. (Glad I wasn't way back there!)


Before we could get to our seats, we had to wait in a long line. For about 3 hours. And then wait another 3 hours for the inauguration to actually start. After 5 minutes, Laura was about to give up and go home. It was cold. I guilted her into staying. And let her sleep on me.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow at noon, I will be here:

Watching the 56th Presidential Inauguration.

It is going to be freezing. But so totally worth it. (See what the river looks like today?!)

erica (a week and a half late)

Last week was Erica's birthday. She turned 27, so we all went out for Mexican food. Yum.

There are lots of really great things about Erica, but one of my favorite things about her is her hair. Seriously. Check it out! That is some great hair. I've had hair envy for awhile now.

It's also really great that she let me call her Cripple Hipple when her leg was broken. She's nice. Too bad she has to be all smart and go away to law school. That's going to be a bummer.

parents

Sometimes I hate parents. Sometimes I love them. Today, I love them, mainly because of this email:

"To the good people who toil with Jake Starke on a daily basis, I wanted you to know that you will be able to ease into your long weekend as I am taking Jake out of school on Friday. I believe that there is one exception that Ms. Reed has taken pity on the little boy and may allow him to take his Physics test Friday during his first period study hall after which we will head north. I apologize for disrespecting the school calendar but I want Jake to think positively about colleges, so we are going to tour some in New York and Vermont. And then go skiing. I gather that I have no standing to take him out at this time so must beg for your mercy. "

Dear Mabel,

I miss you and your pink shoes. When can I come back to play play-doh with you? Maybe I'll even bring some of my shiny shoes and we can have a fashion show.

And we should totally invite Caroline over for a slumber party! Won't that be the most fun?!

Love,
Your favorite aunt Poodle

news

So my roommate has a new boyfriend.

He pretty much is Michael Scott.

And that's all I have to say about that.