Comfortable

Well, the break is almost over. But did it ever begin?

I've been working all the time at the bookstore--8 hours in a closet without any natural sunlight. I've gotten a lot done there. Almost too much, actually, because I'm close to running out of books to go through. That will all change once I'm back to 16 hours a week again next week.

I spent several days in Hutchinson for Christmas. I had to take Snickers down there so they could babysit her while I would be in Manhattan, and, let me tell you, that was the worst drive ever! First of all, it had just snowed a lot, so I went out to my car to load it here in Lawrence, and the plow had left a nice 2-foot ridge behind my car. I got stuck for about thirty seconds. Then I had to coax Snickers into the pet carrier for the first time ever. She hated it. She screamed and bit at the bars the whole time. She lost two claws in the first five minutes. So, I'm driving--slowly--but it's bad around Topeka, and my windshield wipers weren't working very well, so I could hardly see and started sliding. Scary, but I got it corrected. Then just outside of Topeka, I nudged a little ridge in the center of the lane, which sent me sliding into the other lane then back towards the ditch. Thank goodness, I got that one corrected, too. All this time, I have about 400 pounds of books in my backseat and trunk to drop off in Manhattan at the DB. I got there and had to unload it all by myself. Then it was back on the road to Hutch. Snickers was still going crazy. Finally made it to Hutch unscathed. Ugh.

I met my friend, Beth, at the Hasting's in Hutch and got to see her newborn son, Isaac, for the first time. Oh my goodness. It was good to see her, and it was the first time in recent history that I've gotten to hold a sweet, sweet, three-week-old. Beth lives in Wichita, and I've only gotten to see her three times in the last 2.5 years. We go back to the Alco days. And now she's getting married. :)

Christmas was pretty good. We spent Christmas Eve at my grandparents' house in South Hutch, which was nice because I hardly get to see them and my 103 yr old great grandma. I spent Christmas day afternoon with Jedsen at his parent's house in Galva. That was the first time we've ever seen each other on the actual day of Christmas. It was lovely.

The next morning, I headed back to Lawrence Snicker-less for a day and a half before it came time for my housesitting job in Manhattan. Another snowy morning that Friday when I left for my old city, but I didn't have the problems I had the last time. The week went very fast there. It was nice to spend time in Manhattan again and at the bookstore, but I've made my home in Lawrence now, so it just wasn't the same. That's the thing with me--I can never go back after I've moved on. I could never live in Manhattan again. That was such a transitional period for me. It was good, and I met some really great people (that I got to catch up with, too), but I had to move on in order to continue to grow as a person. But, yes, the real blessing for the week there was getting to spend time with my aunt, uncle, and grandma Lentz. They're such good people, and I'm glad I've gotten to know my aunt and uncle more over the last year. And then there's my dear grandma. I love my grandma so much! We share the same birthday, and we've always just had a special bond. Yes, and then there was Laura Beth and Miranda who made my Saturday terrific. LB took me to my first Manhattan thrift stores with her family, which was quite fun, and then Miranda had me over for Scrabble night and chatting. I miss those girls...

After leaving Manhattan last Sunday, I had to go down to Hutch to pick up Snickers and catch my brother in a basketball game with some friends. This is the first time he's ever played basketball in front of people on an actual team. We've always played basketball together, and he's been playing on the school courts with his friends for years, but he never joined a team until he and his friends decided to form a team through the rec. I talked to him beforehand and asked him how it was going. He said he was so nervous that whatever shot he threw up wouldn't end up anywhere near the hoop. I understand, I said. Remember when I was in 4th grade on the basketball team and was so nervous the one time I got the ball in my hands that I made a basket for the other team? Yes, I understand how you feel, little brother. Well, guess what. After not having made a single point in the first two games, he made four three-pointers! He was amazing, and I was so proud of him! I'm disappointed I won't get to see any more games, but I'm so glad I got to see this one. Yep, that's my brother.

Finally got back to Lawrence on Monday. And I've been working all week. It's good to have this weekend off and just chill because classes start again on Thursday. Thursday, Thursday, Thursday.