The lyf so short

"It is going to be another snowless winter", meteorologists announced this December. "Definitely no snow for Christmas, probably none at all. If any, a little dusting in February."

I was happy after I'd heard that, because if there's one thing that'll insure heavy snowfalls is meteorologists announcing that there won't be any.

They were right about the lack of a White Christmas, but as soon as Christmas was over... we got hit by a minor snowstorm. It was the best possible time (for us): All the visits at the relatives over, Jörg still off work, and I'd already done the grocery shopping for the entire week because we all know what the shops look like if there are three holidays in a row, then one day for shopping, and then a Sunday. So we cheerfully let it snow, except in the Saturday afternoon, when I shovelled the courtyard and driveway. It was unlikely that anyone would try to get to our door, but the law is the law. Also, I no longer had to feel guilty about eating too much over the holidays. ;)

Sunday was a bright and sunny and frosty day, so the pretty snow stayed, and we got to go for a walk in the woods. The mother-in-law probably went batty during that time because OMG NO RENOVATION DONE ON HER LIVING-ROOM (seriously, fuck that, because Jörg and his brother worked on her stupid living-room most of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I wish I were kidding you.), but it was worth it.

You know what that means. Yup, it's picspam time!

( Under the cut for the sake of your friendslist. Large-ish, so it'll probably take some time to load. Fair warning. )

Today, it was a bit warmer (around 0°C), but grey all day. Still, we're being promised occasional snowfall until at least New Year's, so I'm getting what I wanted (well, another thing I wanted) for Christmas - a proper winter. Wheeeee!

Hope those of you who celebrated something in the past week(s) had excellent holidays and happy feasting!

It's snowing, which Felix finds utterly fascinating to watch; however, he is very mistrustful about that new white carpet, and doesn't dare touch it or step on it.
Yesterday, he met Supermarket Santa Clause, of whom he was also mistrustful, turning away and going "nah!". Before grabbing the tangerine Santy was offering. :P

This night, I had the weirdest dream I remember having had in a long time. It was like, a postmodern Valar apocalypse thriller movie directed by Terry Pratchett or something. Actually pretty cool, but seriously, seriously weird. I got pulled into the whole weirdness thing because a) we were having dinner in Postmodern Vairë's Restaurant or something and my dead uncle was there, too, and nobody seemed to find that strange at all; and b) I stole a fleece from Postmodern Yavanna's cows. (They were like Galloways. Would you shear Galloways? Look, I don't know, I only dreamt that shit.) Then I kind of took part in a Postmodern Valarin music hall show which would've been cool if I hadn't known at that point who they were and what powers they had. I also knew I had to do something to prevent the postmodern Valar apocalypse, but beats me what that was. Oh, also, Nessa was like Delirium from the Sandman graphic novels? I think she was on my side. Ah, subconscious, what are you doing.

Gotta shovel snow. Back laters!

Was on the traditional pre-Christmas shopping spree with my grandmother. Things were acquired. New pants, for instance, which I'd never have bought for myself because of the price. Amusingly (and, I admit it, with a certain delight, because even I am a victim of the, um, "slenderness" trend) it fit one size smaller than what I usually wear. Not that it's going to last, but hey...

Came home while the snow chaos was still in Eastern Westphalia, and now that it's come here I already lit the furnace and started to cook. Poor hubby is still on the roads, though. On plus side, this time it's the nice airy powdery variant perfect for skiing, not the heavy sticky sort we got last week

While I was cooking, I suddenly heard strange "bonk, bonk" noises from the living-room. Went to check, and what was going on there?
Well. Before I had started to cook, I'd checked my advent calendar, which today contained a chocolate shaped like a swan. I had decided to keep the chocolate for after dinner and set it aside, then went to the kitchen and started making meat loaf.
In the meantime, the cats had returned from outside, and after the obligatory story about starving cats they keep telling me, they slunk off to the fireplace. Except that 'náro took a detour via the table, apparently, and stole that chocolate swan. Fortunately he was still in the hunting stage, not in the eating stage, when I discovered the theft (chocolate is pretty bad for cats), and I managed to steal the swan back. I think I'll have to find something else for dessert, though...

Tomorrow, office hour with oral exam prof. Three topics, six books, eight essays and 2000 lines of Middle English poetry will have to be agreed upon. Fun times never end.

- for the rest of the year!

Professor decided to be a normal human being and ask nice general questions about (for both topics) the very first focus I had outlined. Somewhat oddly worded, but I hope my essay fits anyway. Had a wonderful sentence for the conclusion in my head all through the writing process only to forget it when it actually came to writing the conclusion. This is why you should take notes...
Eh well. It should suffice for a passing grade. I suppose hoping for more is graceless.

It's been snowing ever since I came home yesterday. Snow levels: rising! My hopes for a white Christmas: also rising! (Last year, about the only week of thaw we got all winter was the week around Christmas. Very funny.)

Speaking of Christmas, it's become fairly obvious that I won't manage to write Christmas cards this year. Sorry, folks! Next year.

Now, for all those creative projects that were put off or on hold in order to deal with the exams... augh, so many! Almost looks like hard work. And, of course, all those Christmas preparations.

Well, time to get started. ^^

Well shiver me timbers and split me infinitives, the weather forecast was right.

SNOW.
Lots and lots of SNOW.

I am still at work, and have to be for two more hours. I hope I'll manage to get home afterwards. Am not afraid of my own driving - I got winter tyres and proper Bergian snow-driving skillz - but am afraid of other people's.

I was hoping I'd be at home with tea and the fire on by the time the snows set in. Obviously not.

Eek.

... that today was the third day of snow we got this entire winter. And lo and behold, it actually stayed for a while! Two full hours, even!
Well, two days left 'till the equinoctium. Stay tuned for more news from the winter finish!

Today was my brother's birthday celebration - he turned 21 on Friday - with the family. I actually meant to leave after dinner and go to Cologne for the WG's creative day, but it was snowing so badly that I really, really didn't dare to drive. (It got better in the evening, but then it was too late.) So instead we stayed and waited for the snowing to stop. And then we got to know that it was Kene's first experience with snow - Kene is my mom's sort-of adoptive cousin from Nigeria - and he didn't know how to build a snowman, so we had to teach him that, of course.
And because we all love snow and picspam, here goes some. Just so you believe me about the snow. Also, because of yay!family.

Meet my cousin Lorenzo. My brother calls him El Awrence. He's the youngest of my godfather's sons.
This one is Ricardo, the second-youngest. He's beautiful, don't you dare to say anything else.
This would be Timo, the eldest.
And this is Alessio, the third-born, also known as Gollum. Unfortunately, I have no photo of Jesko, who is number 2.
There's more where that came from.
My uncle Jochen, freeing his car.
To boldly go...
My brother, Snowman, Jörg, me and Kene
And we build an igloo, too!

... yeah. That was random.

And I made an advent wreath. It's too small in comparison to the candles, really. Alas.

And NaNo? Requires a small miracle now.

I was just wondering why it was so bright outside.
It snowed, and the snow is reflecting, that's what happened.
SNOW! PRETTY WHITE SNOW!

*happy*
*doesn't have to drive, after all*