The shape of a day

A snow day, that is. Yes, another one! (Even though the roads were clear by 9 that morning....shhh.)

It starts with my new favorite breakfast: a puffed pancake (recipe from Naomi of rockstar diaries), drizzled with Ohio maple syrup, plus fresh coffee and orange juice. Eaten at the kitchen counter while reading a rediscovered children's book. With an immense feeling of satisfaction at having finally conquered the pancake's tendency to stick to the pan.

Then there's some research for a project.

While there are lesson plans due next week, I don't feel guilty about ignoring them. Because we weren't supposed to have this day anyway.

After lunch, a long walk with a friend along our favorite route, followed by cups of hot chocolate at the end of the road. We split up to be productive, which means settling down with The Hobbit to prepare for an upcoming literature unit at school. (So there is some work after all.)

Lately I've been having trouble feeling entirely at home in Providence, and things at school have felt like the start of the year all over again (like winter break was five weeks long instead of two). But yesterday was sort of a reintroduction to my apartment and one of the best parts of the city, and today things are looking a lot brighter.

Happy weekend, looking ahead.

Double snow day

Yes, that's right. Double snow day. (I love working for independent schools.)

As you've probably heard, the east coast got a good dose of winter a few days ago. I spent most of Wednesday at J's house, watching episode after episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and marveling at the snow from the comfort of a couch. It felt indulgent and extremely irresponsible (considering the pile of grading I still had left to do), but snow days demand irresponsibility. Everyone's a kid on snow days.

Then, on Thursday, we both got a second day because the roads weren't clear. Even though Providence public schools had reopened, even though the parking ban was lifted. So I spent that second day acting a little more like a grown-up, writing a history exam and battling with the roads to photocopy the exam for Friday.

But that afternoon, I let it all go again and watched Harry Potter and baked sea salt brownies and went for one of those winter walks. It was absolutely magical.

Winter walk

A confession: winter and I don't always get along. I think the cold and snow make things festive, especially around the holidays, but perpetually gray skies get me down. So I turn to the old standbys to lift my spirits, like long underwear (striped), hot chocolate, and lots of silly old movies (like this one). And walks.

When L and I were in Cleveland over winter break, we took a walk in our local park system.

We remembered that on the rare days the sun decides to appear, an Ohio winter can be quite lovely.

We're more inclined to look for little moments when it's sunny and clear.

 

And when we've had enough of the great outdoors, we can always come home to a house that smells of the pine twined around the banister.

Back in Providence, I have to remind myself of these things. We're between snowfalls, so the city is cold and grimy and not very pretty.

Another walk might be just the ticket.