We had a classic Minnesota Christmas this year, complete with a bona fide snowstorm. The winter storm warning lasted three days, starting on the day before Christmas Eve. Now we are used to forecasters exaggerating around here, so we were not expecting it to be too bad. Will and I worked until about 7pm that day and headed down to Caledonia just as the snow began to fall. The roads in the Cities were fine, but after we passed the Hastings exit on 52, the snow started blowing pretty hard. A few miles outside of Cannon Falls, the cars in front of us started braking and as soon as we tried to do the same, the car fishtailed and spun us into the ditch. We were going about 50 mph, and though everything turned out totally fine (thank God), I would prefer not to do it again- it is a pretty helpless feeling not knowing when you are going to stop! After that little adventure, we drove ridiculously slow the rest of the way.
We had a great time down in Caledonia with the family. It was awesome to have Kirstin and Stephen with us from Chicago (Kirstin's family is from MN too). They are in the midst of planning a wedding that we are looking forward to in May! The four of us read and lit the Christ candle at the service on Christmas Eve- it just wouldn't be a Christmas at home without being roped into taking part in the service in some way:) Unfortunately, the weather did change our Christmas Day plans. We weren't able to go up to the Guthries'. It is the only time that our whole extended family can get together, so we were so sad to miss it this year!
So now it is 2010. To me, this is the year of becoming ABD (all but dissertation)- all that will stand between me and a job as a professor is that little thing called a dissertation. Though it sounds like a lot left, it will be really exciting to have classes, my prelim (cummulative exam) and my dissertation proposal behind me. As of now, we don't have any other major plans set in stone, so we will let the year take us where it wants!
Until next time,
Kirsten
