Wednesday, January 31, 2018

January Was Survival Mode

Well that title is a bit on the overly dramatic side. I can't help it though as that is what it feels like when I look back. For those of you that do not live in the upper third of the United States, it is hard to really describe how much grit it takes to get through the entire month without being in a melancholy haze. It's cold; it's dark; the January thaw days yield to multiple days of refreeze when walking from house to car and car to stores is treacherous. It was an unusually draining work month as well, so added to congested weekends, I know I did not get enough down time.Perhaps though, the business was a good thing as the month sure seemed to fly by. I need to borrow some plays from Anne at New Happenings at the Table and her Joy Month post. Anne set out with an aggressive list of things she want to do each month that will bring her joy. These truly are the good stuff of life like entertaining friends, old and new, trying new recipes and drinks, reading new books, and going to different places. 

Here's what I had on the calendar and life in January. Some was physically draining, other just mentally exhausting. Yet, in most things, I did experience joy, perhaps not in the senses that I was happy doing it all, but perhaps in pride of accomplishment.


  • Three show choir competitions, two of which I chaperoned, and one of which was a three day weekend commitment with travel.
  • Two day snow storm
  • Supporting DD2 with finals
  • Supporting DD2 in registering for another ACT and  AP tests
  • Supporting DD2 in 2018-2019 school year registration
  • Supporting DD2 in setting up three additional college visits
  • Reffed volleyball a night
  • Hosted MIL for supper
  • Got bid number one for the bathroom ( a whole post in and of itself-DIY in our future)
  • DH's man flu, then persistent cold; my persistent cold, DD2's persistent cold
  • Three full days of training for work
  • Started a new employee
  • Went through the job posting, interview and promotion process for another position at work
  • Incorporated duties into my and other jobs to cover a leave of absence
February still leaves me a person down at work, but the new staff has been exceptional, taking on some of the existing work while she preps to take on the job she was hired for by April. February is a busy show choir month as well, but only two weekends, though one is the competition we host so I'll be working Friday night-Saturday night. We have a three day weekend in there with presidents day and one of the college visits. It feels like it shouldn't be as draining as January, though looking at what I just wrote, my plate is pretty full. We also pick up more and more minutes of daylight with each turn of a calendar page, and that makes me happy.

14 comments:

  1. I do remember the "grit" needed to make it through the winter when I lived in New England. I found March particularly difficult. When we moved to the southwest, and I would wake up to warm, sunny days in the dead of winter, my outlook and energy level sky rocketed. I realized then how much I had been suffering. I vowed never to return to the northern climes. We're in the PNW now. I miss the light, but there isn't the snow/ice/bitter cold of New England. If it were entirely up to me, we would have stayed in the southwest, but DH couldn't take the heat of the summers. Plus, (and more importantly, actually) the schools there, as well as in our southern state second home are just not a good fit for our kids. People have told us about wonderful private schools, but I really cannot fathom shelling out more per year per kid for k-12, than I paid to go to a private, residential college.

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    1. I think I might be fine in the dry heat of the southwest, but the lack of water/green would get to me. While I love rain I night tire of that too. I guess I'll just count days to spring and get on with living.

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  2. I can't imagine how hard it is to get out and about when life is freezing, and dark, and icy,. We gripe if we have 3 successive nights below freezing.
    You had an outrageously busy January but I know the competitions were fun ( at least the part where you got to see your daughter perform)

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    1. The ice and biting cold gets to me-plus the dark. I'm fine in December because of holiday lights. My weekends with my daughter and friends have been priceless. I missed not chaperoning last weekend.

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  3. I feel for your schedule and I remember how busy I was when the kids were home. Cold and dark get me down but when you are forced busy it helps. I also loved Annes post. February will be a good month you just wait and see.

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    1. I just remember it all ends in 18 months-then I won't know what to do with the time! Anne's post was awesome.

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  4. Have you narrowed down your college choices yet? So many great ones within a couple hours of the Cities.

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    1. She has a favorite, but it is the most expensive and competitive. She's looking for an equivalent choice but hasn't decided yet. Those are the next four visits-probably last, before she decides where to apply.

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  5. I agree with the others that your schedule for January looked hellish to me. But then again, I also believe the busyness can help get you through it. I don't mind the cold at all but grey days can be depressing can't they. Anna

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    1. It was a whirl, but yes, hard to dwell on crap weather when you just need to get on with things.

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  6. It amazes me how you are still able to accomplish so much given the weather. Here in California if it gets below 66 degrees we just want to bundle up at home under a blanket and hibernate. It's too cold even to go get groceries or fast food! I know, we are such babies :) I give you credit though! Hoping Punxsutawney Phil won't see his shadow tomorrow and you get some spring like weather soon.

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    1. This is why my son will probably stay in CA-he loves it year round. that darn Phil either doesn't cooperate or lies. We always have at least 6 more weeks of winter.

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  7. Yikes! You're busier than ME woman!!!

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    1. No sewing, no grandson here though. I still tip yo your schedule as the busiest

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