Commute

Yesterday was by far the worst day of my commute to work for the entire winter season thus far.

The roads were covered in black ice.
For those of you unfamiliar with the term black ice, it's bad. Really bad. Think skating rink. Only it's doubly slippery. It's a thin coating of ice that's so hard to see because the roads are naturally black from the pavement. Cold temperatures and an early morning snow fall made for the perfect storm in driving.

A thin sheet of black ice covered the roads all the way into work. Semis inched along. Cars pumped their brakes only to land in the ditch. I saw it. Three times. Eeek!

I was an hour late for work and I left forty minutes earlier than I normally do.

Tomorrow is March 1. No rest for the weary as we are in a winter storm watch AGAIN. I love winter. I really do. But driving in it is the pits. Just ask all those motorists caught in the 131 car pile up in Wisconsin. Want to know what it's like to drive in winter weather? Go google that accident. It's one for the books.

What would you do?

It's no secret how much I love England.
I could live there.

As you know, I spent a good portion of a day in Jane Austen territory. It was lovely. Whenever I need a break from daily life, I head to my photos and start reminiscing.

While ambling through the museum, I found this display in one of the buildings.

In case you didn't know, Jane wrote many many letters to her sister Cassandra over her life time.  A woman after my own heart! AND, she wrote those letters using a quill pen.  It's hard enough to pen a letter these days, let alone write one with a quill pen.

I tried it. It ain't easy! Just saying.
Anyway, back to the letters.
Here's the dilemma Cassandra faced.

See what I mean?
So, what would you do? It's a great question.
Here's what Cassandra did.

It's sad to think how much more we would know about Jane had Cassandra kept all those letters. But she had her reasons, and I understand that. I've written in many many journals over the years and decided a few years back to burn them. Some things are better left in ashes.  Agree? 
 

That four letter word

What's new in my neck of the woods?
Snow. Snow. Snow. And more snow.

Did I mention snow?
If you've never experienced the cold stuff, now might be a good time to venture north. It just keeps coming.
Perfect conditions for downhill skiing, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, making a snowman. The list is endless.
I'm loving the ideas of things to do inside. Things like write, and read, watch movies...there is something wonderful about the warmth of a fireplace on a cold winter night. Sounds inviting, doesn't it?

Spring will come eventually. Not likely anytime soon.  More snow is on the way this weekend. Oh goody! 

First sight

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Sometimes it takes two or three!

I remember walking along in this village a bit teary-eyed.  My dreams of English villages had fairy tale visions, but wow, when I actually stood in front of the home where Jane Austen lived, well, it's pretty indescribable.

No words.

Unexpected News

A friend has just been diagnosed with cancer.
Stupid cancer.
I'm just sad, so under my electric blanket I will go.

Still 50 in my mind

Don't mind me. I'm still in birthday jubilee mode.

I've been writing today and was just thinking how lovely it would be to write for a whole month in England. That's my dream. Spend a month in England, writing. There. It's out there.
Think of a crazy, way out there thing you would like to do. That's mine.

I think it would be lovely. Write for awhile. Go have tea at a pub. Write some more. Go walk around a village. Write. In an English village. For a month. It could happen.


  

Review

It's my birthday. It's my birthday.

All I can say is WOW. It has been quite a jubilee year. Lets review.

Birthdays and chocolate. What's not to love!

Fabulous dinner out at Pazzaluna. One can never go wrong for eats at this place.

Woke up to 50 years old at the Saint Paul Hotel. 

My jubilee year was a year of many firsts. I had never been to Mickeys Diner in St Paul, so this was our breakfast stop. You have to go if you've never been.

St Paul is famous for its Winter Carnival. It's cold! Today especially. We're breaking records this week. No need to worry about anything melting. Last year we spent some time checking out the snow sculptures. Creatives out there. Amazing.

Yep. Had to go! 

Ended the perfect day at Red Cow with family. Best burgers EVER. Let the jubilee begin.

February brought us to an outdoor event in Wisconsin. Book across the Bay. We pushed our exercise limit here! Cross country skied across the bay. We made it. Barely. What an experience. Great memories. And a meal at the famous Delta Diner. So . Much. Fun. 

I bought a Mini ! I LOVE Diana. That's her name. Diana. So fun to drive! Every once in awhile, I look over and someone is smiling as I drive past. I think its the rear view mirrors! Wink wink!   

Who knew my jubilee year would include a royal wedding! Of course I got up early to take it all in. I didn't get an invite...shoot! But not long after the big day, I found myself in my happy place!

England! It was so wonderful. I'm grinning right now from ear to ear.

Grand Marais, MN. We went camping in September. Probably not the smartest thing we ever did. It was pretty cold. Should have known better.! But the fall colors were pretty epic.

A sad day in June, as Kate Spade took her life. On so many levels, this news gave me pause. I made my way to a Kate Spade store and bought a wallet. Every time I pull it out of my purse, I think about the gift of life and how fragile it is.

I joined the Jane Austen society in my year of jubilee. The gift that keeps on giving. In February, I'm going to a meeting about regency valentines. This society is going to grow me intellectually! I love it.

Today I turn the page on a great chapter. I loved every day of celebrating 50. Frankly, I don't want it to end. I'm sad to see it go. But oh the possibilities ahead. Life is to celebrate and that is what I will continue to do.
Yes, I planned a lot of my jubilee year. You need to do that because if you don't, life will just pass you by.
But there were many many serendipitous moments in my jubilee year. Every day wonders. I wrote in my journal..."The best moments of my life don't make it to social media."-patience pennington.

I know those moments, and didn't feel the need to share it socially. Like for instance, snowflakes that fell from the sky looking more like soap flakes! Or, seeing a shooting star and making a wish. Or...watching an eagle as it soared. These are here-now wonders. Life wonders. And I don't want to miss any of it or take it for granted. I hope I learned that this year. Wonders.

And so today starts a new chapter. I am so grateful I get to turn 51 today. The day is mine to do whatever I want. I live in the tundra and most things I was planning to do, I can't because so many things are closed due to the polar vortex! Yep. That's a thing here. Polar vortex. I don't understand all the science behind it, but I know for sure...it's FREAKING cold!!! It's best to stay put. And so even in this cold, I'm thankful. I get to write and read and imagine the possibilities ahead.

51. I'm liking it already.