score: grace 0, mouse 1

It is so strange how winter descended upon Western Michigan this year. Though it has been snowing constantly since Friday, I have yet to reach the "JesusMaryandJoseph is it EVER going to stop snowing?!?!" emotional point. It has to do with the unseasonably warm temperatures last week methinks. And that I have not yet had to trudge to work in the freezing cold thanks to my feminine wiles.

Erin's going back to school today. I'm heading to the costume shop at 3:30pm to figure out a schedule and pick a dress to drape and build. I'm nervous. I haven't sewed a garment in years let alone drape anything. I'm hoping that it'll be like riding a bike though I suspect it's going to be more like running. Just because at one point in your life you ran 26.2 miles doesn't mean that you can rush out and run 5 miles at your formerly "relaxed" pace of 10 min/mile if you've taken a significantly long break. Sigh. I also had a brief moment of "what if the other kids don't like me?" and was told not to worry. They won't like me.

My weekend was just about as wonderful as I had hoped it would be. I had a fabulous time with the former roommate and am hoping we can get together some time this week for a more cost effective date of tea. She's amazing. She looks great, she sounds serene, and she's inspired me to start doing yoga and--brace yourselves--attempt to give up coffee. I don't think I'll ever be able to truly give it up. The taste alone is way too good, but I haven't had any since Thursday and do feel like less of a slave to the bean. Friday was Love Actuallied out. Saturday, aside from the work part, was chock full of solitude. Sunday was fruitful as I came home with a load of very nice clothes compliments of gift certificates from last year. Our last trip was to Target where I could not help but spend some money. The evening ended with the BSC announcements (I will refrain from ranting about the selection process-which is bullshit!-and fuck (sorry parents!) Notre Dame going to the Sugar Bowl) and be happy that Michigan is playing in the one Bowl that is still unassociated with commercial endorsements) and 2 hilarious episodes of the Family Guy and American Dad.

When the Bolton announcement was originally made, I assumed it was his choice to resign. No, oh no. He can't get the Senate nomination. Ha! In stereotypical Bushian fashion, he's standing by Bolton despite widespread opposition. You know, I've always operated under the assumption that Bush was the big dumb pawn in the American political game, but I'm starting to think he's just that stubborn. No one really knows what the deal was with the Rumsfeld memo leak. Is it an embarrassment to the White House? An admission that Rumsfeld did in fact disagree with Bush on Iraq at the end? Is it a leak from the Democrats who are all too happy to point out the irony that a man who seemed absolutely positive that his was the only way did in fact have doubts? Is it the Republicans attempting to give Rumsfeld some cred because they know that he was just the scapegoat? Regardless, the G.W.B. era of arrogance and stubbornness is about to end. As January approaches and Iraq starts feeling more like a geopolitical chessgame and less real, I'm starting to rethink my early assertions that the Democrats leave him alone.

Let's go after the bastard.

And one final story from Erin's life:

My first mouse made it's appearance last night. It was so stinking cute! It popped out from behind the stove and then attempted to make a run for it. Grace was all over that. She caught it and then dropped it. She caught it and then dropped it. She caught it and then dropped it. I think she played that little game about 6 times before it made it's escape into the tower of returnables. Though I've always said I have a zero tolerance policy regarding mice it's a little tough being the good vegetarian I am to fill my house with traps. Alas, I fear I have no choice. My initial response was to stop feeding Grace as much in the hopes that the little darlings will at least die a natural death, but the thought of waking up and finding a family hidden in my pantry is too much for my heart.

Plus there is that whole bloodthirsty part of my personality that I need to occasionally indulge.