Life in the Slow Lane

It's been one of those months. Maybe you've had one. Or it had you. Briefly, in April we Found out SOS was accepted to grad school and they wanted to see him in person two weeks later. Planned and executed a last minute trip for each of us (two different destinations), one requiring the acquisition of new formal wear. Moved storage facilities. Owed taxes for the first time ever. Broke into a house (with owner's permission). Survived a round of flu... and a nasty cold. Celebrated 6 years of marriage (hugging the toilet, no alcohol involved). Celebrated a birthday (hugging the toilet, no alcohol involved). Enjoyed visits from both sets of parents. Acknowledged our car was officially too far gone when it failed to change gears in traffic. Researched and purchased a new car. Learned that a case that has haunted us for nearly three years was settled. Discovered that the girl we were expecting is actually a boy. Listed our house for sale. Were offered a TA pos

Gentle Readers, it appears I will have to learn how to Do Winter. I've never had to, up till now. For nine years, I lived in the tropics... things get cold when temperatures drop to 60 degrees. For thirteen years, I've lived in Southern California. I own eight pairs of flip-flops... and two pairs of shoes that have both a closed-toe and an enclosed heel. Flip-Flops. A good choice for every season. Right? The other years? Those are the coldest I've ever known. It snowed once when I was in high school. We got about an inch of snow during the night and it melted almost completely by 10 am. The important part of that day, though, was that school was cancelled on account of it. But aside from the rare coincidence of cold and humidity arriving on the same day, my years in Central California were marked by a long-standing inability to believe that there existed temperatures colder than 60 degrees. I remember standing on the blacktop during the gray winter days of second g