Bus stops in January

When I was living in Portland people complained about winter, mostly that it was so dreary and that it had rained more than the year before. If I were to step outside right now, which I am refusing to, I would be greeted with negative three degree weather. And that is without factoring the windchill. Strike that, it's negative four now. So I'm moving back to Portland. Someday. Maybe. We'll see.

Being back on campus is an interesting thing. I'm definitely older than most of the other students in my classes and one of the few non-jocks. I attempt to distinguish myself by reading Cat's Cradle in between classes. But I don't think anyone cares. In one class we each shared our name and a hobby, one young man declared his hobby to be "binge drinking." It almost feels as though I could connect with my prof's more easily than with my classmates.

One marvelous thing about Ames / Iowa State is the bus system. I rarely have to wait more than a few minutes before I am carted away to wherever I am headed. But I also walk a lot, because I don't really mind it - it is exercise after all. But said walking necessitated that I buy new gloves; good ones at that. So I went to the local outdoor store where I bought some wonderful gloves and looked at snowshoes. Apparently you can rent them from rec services, which would be great this weekend if not for the frigid temps.

I am attempting to bring the Pancake Day [February fifth] tradition to Ames this year. I've acquired batter mix and a griddle and am slowly building up a nice lil' guest list. If you read this and will be in Ames on said evening, feel free to join us. Speaking of Pancake Day [Shrove Tuesday, day before Lent begins], I haven't given much thought to what I'll be giving up this year. I was thinking about Facebook, but that will be difficult to plan a Leap Year Day party with the ol' Fb.

I suppose that I should be reading for class, but I'm having a pensive afternoon / evening, quite possibly stemming from this damn weather - though I still prefer it to the humidity of August. A quick check of the weather reveals a windchill of negative eleven. Bears are wise to hibernate. you have my love.