Better than bombarding your inbox: It's Dark and Cold

Music of the Day: Typhoon

London video of the Day: Restless Nights, Paul Richardson

Apparently it's shaping up to be the coldest winter in sixty years. Some of the headlines are a bit over the top, but, either way, we're bracing ourselves. It may get colder yet, but the sun situation has settled in; it's now dark by 4-4:30 in the afternoon. It's a double edged sword, really - at least in the run-up to Christmas. I'm sure I'll be tired of the darkness by January or February, but - for the moment - it's nice to be able to see Christmas lights by 5pm. It makes this city - one that kinda feels 'Christmasy' year-round - feel even more festive.

I can say that because there's no Thanksgiving here. Folks started decorating at the beginning of the month. The neighbors directly outside our window have hung enough lights on their balcony to cause a rise in their monthly electric bill. You won't find me complaining, though. They're colorful lights, not those boring, "tasteful" all-white lights.

Of course, Kenz and I are still planning on Thanksgiving, er, Friendsgiving. The turkey has been ordered, several new pots and pans arrived in the mail yesterday, and Kara and Jerry will be landing on Monday (with bags full of various food ingredients we can't get here in London - canned pumpkin being one).

Kara was proud to show off the fact that she'd done our Thanksgiving shopping already.

We had eighteen last year; this time we're projecting nineteen. It wasn't until this week that we began to remember just how stressful the event was. I guess the holidays are like that for a lot of people: all you remember is the good stuff - you forget all the cleaning, prepping, shopping, cooking, and nagging. At the end of the day, it's about the good stuff; my guess is that if all we remembered was the stressful stuff, none of us would do it! For now, at least, I still don't have that impending sense of dread. I'm looking forward to the coming week: long tourist days with Kara and Jerry and late night cooking with McKenzie. Friendsgiving is scheduled for Friday night; fingers crossed the bird fits in the oven.

****

There has been a dearth of interesting events this week. Kenz and I are like the proverbial ships passing in the night. I'm up before the sun rises and she works well into the night, long after I've fallen asleep. I guess our ships pass at about lunchtime - it's the only time of day the two of us can spare a few moments to catch up, coordinate calendars, and share a joke. We've hunkered down, knowing that life will be like this for the next six months or so. It's a sprint to the finish line for both of us.

It's so cold in the house, Kenz works with several layers on...

...no matter where she is in the house.

Our kitchen sink sprung a leak. Thursday's highlight was having the plumbers over. They'll be returning with the proper part tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed everything will get fixed before Friendsgiving.