Summer, are you really coming?

Even though temperatures dropped below freezing this weekend, and there is a chance of snow flurries tomorrow, I'm a little tempted to think of this past weekend as a prelude to summer. By postponing several work assignments to Sunday night (and later this week), we managed to achieve several of our Summer Goals just this week. First, Trevor, Christie, and I drove out to Madison for the Crazylegs Classic 8K run on Saturday morning. I can't believe how cold it was. My normal rule is that I don't run when the temperatures are less than 50, but I made an exception because I had already paid the registration fee. And I didn't realize how cold it was until we passed a thermometer on our way there.

We spent most of the day in the city visiting with friends who used to live in Milwaukee. As we had spent the morning running 5 miles, it was pretty low-key. And any time we hit a lull in a conversation, someone would just begin singing "I'm not gonna write you a love song. Cause you ask for it." We're not necessarily fans of the song. It just played on the radio frequently and we could never get it out of our heads.

Later that evening we headed to a local cocktail lounge. I can't even begin to describe how beautifully tacky this place is. But it has shimmering poinsettia trees and wood panel walls among its decor.

This evening we went to a bell choir concert at Concordia University, where Amanda went to school. She gave us a little tour, but it was too windy for us to eat our dinner on the bluff as we had originally planned. The concert was pretty good. It made me a little homesick for Moscow. Right now, I miss high school and how much simpler life was then.

Update

I'm sorry that I've been so bad about posting lately. But you see, the temperature of Wisconsin is now above freezing, and the snow if finally receding. My students are still demanding a great deal of my attention and the class that I'm taking is winding down. I have all sorts of assignments due in the next month. I handed in one of them on Tuesday, only to have given back to me on Friday to redo. Super. And this weekend I had to write a "self-identity autobiography" that focuses on my cultural background. I sit at my desk and think about the beautiful weather outside, I keep telling myself that I will have all the time I want in July and August.

And to be perfectly honest, I have had some quality down time recently. Bluegrass Wednesdays is still hot. Our kickball team is 1-1, which is already better than last year's record of 0 and every game we showed up to. I attended an MSO concert and saw the new conductor's first concert. And today I saw a woman with a Skip-it running down the street. And you know what my reaction was? I want a skip-it too.

This week is also looking to be jam-packed. I hope to find some time to tell you all about it.

Flattery?

Dental Hygienist (to me): You have good saliva flow. That's a good thing.