1. Yesterday the home-internet went from "barely working" to "not working at all, whatsoever." In the welcome advertisement pack from the US Postal Service, there's an ad for Earthlink at $10/month for the first three months, so I might have to look through the fine print and then go with that. I think my parents have been reasonably satisfied with Earthlink.

2. I finished unpacking the pod yesterday! I am proud of myself for getting it done, although hulking the three-drawer filing cabinet, the cedar chest, and the loveseat up the six steps of the back porch was NOT a fun project. At times like that I am grateful that I am a tall, strong woman. Hopefully I can downsize my files to a point where I won't need the filing cabinet the next time I move. Mostly this will have to be accomplished by more fully digitizing my reference collection. I am also grateful that the loveseat features extremely sturdy construction - why I bought it. I had to do multiple end-over-end maneuvers with it.

3. So now I am working on the unpacking of boxes and figuring out where things should go. This apartment has built-in shelves in the dining room and living room, which are fantastic. To give you an idea of some of the things I've missed: a tweed jacket, my wool CRAP jersey, the toaster oven, my hand-knitted mittens, the sewing machine (to think I almost got rid of it when I moved from AZ!), the enormous desk space (so vast!), the ghetto-blaster (boombox), ALL of the cast iron frying pans, the blender, the oil paints, the lap quilt from scrottie's mom, my oil paintings, my handmade ceramic bowls, and and and...

I've also enjoyed the sensation of rediscovering things that I own. For instance, I had completely forgotten that I already owned a pair of wool long underwear leggings. I bought new long underwear in Portland last fall, but I am overjoyed to have these other long underwear leggings, because they are Smartwool. I've been wearing long underwear every single day, so it's good to be able to trade out a pair. I also discovered several pairs of pants. YAY more pants. And now a lot of the wool socks that I had glanced at skeptically while in Texas I am suddenly excited about.

4. The last time I lived in a place with weather like this was twelve years ago, so there are certain things I've forgotten about with cold weather. I finished unpacking the pod on Saturday as it began to snow - the first snowfall since I've moved here. After the unpacking wrapped up, I biked over to the hardware store for a couple of things, and then headed back past the apartment towards the grocery co-op for groceries. At the stop sign right across the street from the apartment, I tried to brake and stop and then suddenly found myself sideways on the ground. So I put the bike away and walked to the grocery store (have I mentioned how wonderful it is that I can WALK to the grocery store?). This morning, walking in to campus, I slipped and fell again. Having lived in warm places, I've forgotten what it's like to live in a place where these slips and falls are just a normal part of the winter experience.

The slipping and falling sort of has an upside. I injured my right leg somehow during the bike ride last Monday, and it has been bothering me quite a bit this week, especially when stair-climbing. But now I have other aches and pains to think about instead.

I think this means it's time for me to go ahead and order a recumbent tricycle. I bet those are really fun to skid around on.