A Post Card Like Snow Fall In Connecticut

Snowy Afternoon in Connecticut

7:02

Up at 7:00 to a lovely morning of new fallen snow, trees frosted, sky gray, temperatures in the 20's, a high of 40 later in the day alas, then back to normal, a high of 20's tomorrow.  I was up at 3:00, as the snow plow arrived to clear the drive way, shovel the walk.  I thought it was 6:00 and started to get up until I looked  at my watch.  Fortunately, I went back to sleep.

A big day yesterday for Mitchell, as he was taking his SAT's at the high school.  He was super organized, clothes laid out, a request for an egg sandwich for Evie, ready at 7:10, then off to his test with his father at 7:20.  He didn't get home till after 1:00, longer than usual because the proctors were slow.  He felt good about it which is a good sign.  I kidded him about this being the most important event in his life, would determine his life's path, which, unfortunately, has a ring of truth.  Colleges put too much emphasis on tests like this and parents' place too much emphasis on getting in the 'top schools,' as though it makes a difference (it does to some extent).

Connecticut Humor

Around 10:00, we were all up having coffee, and Rami wanted to go out to breakfast.  Beth, Evie and I declined as we were not very hungry, so he and Marisa went off to enjoy a father/daughter breakfast, of chocolate chip pancakes for Marisa.  They called me just after they left to tell me they were going to a place I would love and did I want to come.  Clearly, it was an old run down type of diner, 'crappy but cheap,'  but I passed.

The rest of the day we hung out as a family, relaxing, as it was nice to have everyone home for the afternoon.  We had leftovers for lunch, none left for today, so it means probably a trip to Costco sometime today to stock up for the week.  Around 2:00, we settled down to watch a movie Beth wanted to see, Philomena,  the true story of an Irish girl, one of many, who found herself pregnant and unmarried, who were sent to a catholic nunnery in Ireland, where they gave birth to their children, then had to spent four years of virtually slave labor at the nunnery to 'atone for their sins of sexual desire.'  Most of the babies were then sold to rich Americans, like a puppy factory today.  The film tells the story of Philomena's quest to find her son, played by the great Judy Dench.  Along the way, the Catholic church, particularly the Nuns, do  everything they can to hide the truth of her son's whereabouts.  Another troubling story about an institutions failure to own up to its sins.  It's a compelling movie and even twelve year old Marisa understood it, liked it though she wondered why her Granny had tears.

Granny and Marisa

After the movie, the four of us, Beth, Marisa, Evie and I, decided to take Cody for a walk because it was snowing out, and we wanted to get some fresh air.  And it was a good idea; it felt good to be out in the cold, the snow hitting our faces, the street turning white with the new snow.  Nothing like nature, the cold and some snow, to pick you up.  Even Cody seemed to have a bounce in his step when we returned.

A Silly Girl Loving the Snow

With Beth and Marisa

Around 5:30, Beth and Rami left for a date night, taking advantage of their babysitters, and saw The Imitation Game, which they both liked before going out to an Italian restaurant in Stamford for dinner.  We lived it up at home, watching more of The Office,, chowing down on chips and dip and corn curls, not your healthiest snack but good.  For dinner, Evie out did herself by frying up some hot dogs, which we had with chips and a coke and we tried to watch an old movie, Nine to Five, which Evie thought Marisa would like but she got bored half way through, so we switched back to The Office,  the last show of Season Two where Jim tells the soon to be married Pam he loves her, kisses her, and the season ends, a great finale.

Beth and Rami were home around 10:00, just after Evie put Marisa to bed.  Beth and I watched some TV before going up to bed around 10:30, to read.