Hi, Remember me?

There are so many fun things to report this last week.

Last week, I had a really fun birthday party (photos to follow someday) which included a Mama Mia sing-along, a cake in the shape of a sweater with candy knitting needles and yarn ball atop. A few extra-special girlfriends squeezed into our small place. Husband built a roaring fire in the fireplace and took the dog to go play for a few hours and let the ladies giggle and sing loudly to a quintessential chick flick. I know I mentioned the singing and there was laughing, too. I wish you could have been here. Lovely gifts arrived (totally unexpected but HIGHLY appreciated!) There were at least 15 more friends I would have loved to invite, but alas not enough chairs or space to put them.... =/

I'm happy to report grad school is going very well. If I had known it would be this much fun, I would have started years ago. My goodness, 8 week sessions fly by! The amazing part are the grades to date.... 99.09% Is that normal?!? Imagine! Ah yes, but there are finals next week. We'll see if my luck holds.

Well, must run. Another paper is due AND I received an interesting career inquiry which I definitely want to follow up on first thing tomorrow.

Aunt Melissa

p.s. I TOTALLY forgot to tell you about the coconut cream pie! I must ask for permission, first, but my Mom's friend in Texas sent me her recipe and it is so simple and TO DIE FOR delicious! The second pie is almost gone and I'm thinking of making more for gifts this week.

Housework and Mid-Terms

Has anyone besides me noticed the inexplicable link between looming academic deadlines and the urge to undertake massive housekeeping projects? I noticed this strange phenomenon more than 20 years ago as an undergrad. It's very hard to explain, actually, given my usual aversion to the vacuum cleaner, duster (which makes me sneeze) and scrubbing granules. Cooking, I love! Sewing, knitting, you'd think I'm a domestic goddess.... Cleaning, however, is NOT my favorite pastime. Strange, though, how a looming important exam or term project bubbles interesting bookshelf dusting and reorganizing projects to the surface of a cram packed schedule. Even MORE curious is that the urges have absolutely no correlation to my interest level in the subject matter. I LOVE my classes. My term projects are actually quite fun! So why did I spend one entire afternoon dusting books and spreading lemony fresh Pledge on all Living Room surfaces?

Beats me?!?!

Aunt Melissa