Winter Term 2012-2013, Week 4: Make New Friends But Keep the Old

"...One is silver, and the other's gold." So goes a little ditty we learned as Brownie Scouts when I used to be a member of the Girl Scouts in elementary school (Daisy Scout is as far as I got, which I think is only one level up from Brownie, but I digress).

Anyway, the title is appropriate because I got to reconnect with a good friend of mine this week. We had dinner together in the College Center on Wednesday, and then we went to a book sale at the Rock Island Library on Thursday. That was so cool because most of the books were just 25 cents. I got 12 magazines for a nickel each, including a couple of stocking-stuffer cycling magazines for my brother. Score!

As you might imagine, the Christmas season is in full swing here at Augustana. There are fake and real Christmas trees as well as lights literally everywhere. The only thing that could make it more Christmas-y would be some snow, but I've seen the forecast for this coming week, and it doesn't look exceptionally promising. However, I have it on good report from home that Minnesota got absolutely walloped with snow over the weekend, so I think it's gonna be a white Christmas in the Mini Apple.

This past week, I had midterms in Microbiology and Physiology. As you might expect from me at this point, I was worried about how they would go because I've felt a little distracted by all of my preparations for vet school interviews. I haven't seen the grades yet, but I feel fairly confident.

Not much else happened in class or in my extracurricular activities this week. I suppose that's a good thing because last week was chaos. On Saturday, I did get to do some volunteering, and I really enjoyed myself. We went to a local Methodist church to help them serve their Saturday lunch to the homeless people in the community. There is just something I love about being in the kitchen and feeding people. I think it's the Italian in me. I was in charge of dishing out fruit, and what's better than that? I felt so good knowing that I was helping them get a good, healthy meal. I didn't even mind cleaning up after! Dishes is just one chore that I actually sort of like (as much as you can like a chore). We got to talk to some of the older members of the church, including an elderly gentleman named Frank. He was so hilarious and adorable. I just love talking to old people. They have so many stories and so much wisdom to share.

Yesterday was a pretty good end to the weekend, I must say. At the Mortar Board meeting, we got to write Christmas cards for our troops overseas, and I just felt really good about that, too. I hope that whoever receives my cards gets a smile and encouragement out of them. I also went with Sarah to the Julbord, a traditional Swedish Christmas meal put on by the Scandinavian Department. We ate such delicacies as cheese with bread, a relish made with herring and beets, meatballs (made by Sarah) and potato sausage, potato and sausage wraps with shrimp, red cabbage with apples, ham, rice pudding, and cookies. Needless to say, I was stuffed! In an effort to defray the costs of feeding about 20 people, they charged $5 this year. I would have gladly paid, especially since I feel bad eating someone else's food when I did not help nor am I affiliated with the Scandinavian Department. However, Dr. S, the chair of the department, offered to cover my share because he had already paid for two people who did not show up. I was delighted and surprised at this kindness, especially since I feel like I have taken advantage of too many people's generosity already this term, what with going to Cincinnati for Thanksgiving and borrowing Devon's car to drive to ISU. I just feel so blessed. I hope I can reciprocate soon.

This week is shaping up to be pretty excellent. Tomorrow I get to watch Sarah as Sankta Lucia, Wednesday we are going to Denny's to try the Hobbit menu before the movie comes out, Thursday is a Christmas party and going to the theater for the premiere of the movie, and Friday I get to go home! I'll only be there for the night, though, because we have to get up early on Saturday to drive to Kansas, but it'll be nice to touch base there and see Emmie before our trip.Then, I get to come home for three weeks of bliss! (And working and shadowing, of course!)

With that, I leave you to admire some Christmas-themed photos. What do you love best about this time of year?

This is one of the few real trees on campus, located in the lobby of Founders Hall. It smells SO GOOD. Nothing evokes the warm, happy memories of Christmas for me more than the aroma of a Douglas fir.

I just love Grumpy Cat. I don't know why. Meme courtesy of thefunnyway.com.

So, the story with these next four is that I wanted to cut some snowflakes, but I didn't have any construction paper. I did, however, remember that I have some Christmas wrapping paper. Behold the results!

When studying on Friday evening in the quiet room on the first floor of the library, I couldn't help but notice this lovely tree.