Singing with the orchestra chorus this weekend for the holiday concerts. First rehearsal with the orchestra was last night, went from 6:30 to almost 10. Lots of fun but definitely needing the coffee this morning.

Same rehearsal schedule tonight!

Oldest daughter got in from college last night, and now we have everyone at home for the next two weeks! The delight comes with the growing, sobering realization of the limited number of times this will ever happen again.

Iowa work potlucks are always tasty.

Iowa work potlucks, when supplemented with the Indian co-worker’s homemade chicken biryani are 1000% improved.

I mostly use Due for short-term reminders, but using it for long-term ones feels like magic somehow. 9 mths ago I thought “hey, my college kid might want to renew their drivers license when they’re home for xmas break”. Made a reminder. Today it popped up and I reminded them. Thanks, past me!

Stunning graces at church yesterday: the man whose wife died on Wednesday back in the pew after two months gone caring for her in her last days. The young man who saw him sitting alone and went to sit with him. A dozen people lined up to embrace him during the peace. ⚓

2024 Reads: Shadow of Doubt by Brad Thor 📚

A good reminder why I rarely spend time with books like this. So thin and repetitive…

The weather guys weren’t kidding about the ice! Thankful I could make the 10-hour trek to pick up a college kid yesterday and we can all just be home today!

A brown mailbox covered in a thin layer of iceSmall fingers of ice hanging off a pergola

Catching up on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and just got to the musical episode. It’s like they crossed Glee with Star Trek and I am slightly embarrassed to admit how much I am HERE FOR IT.

Unpleasantly cold for an Iowa December this morning - currently 7F feels like -12F. But the office is warm, and there is coffee. And it’s supposed to be in the high 40s on Saturday?!?

Chattering from his perch on high.

#photography #nature

A brown squirrel sitting atop an electrical pole, with a clear blue sky in the background