This has been a strange sort of winter, and especially a strange January so far.  The middle of January is on average the coldest time of the year, average temperature wise.  Well, so far, this has not been the case.  It has not been exactly balmy, but not very cold either.  If I think about a typical day the high would be about 0 and the low perhaps -5.  Ok, for one day it probably got down to -11, but that was unusual.  Today it was about +5, and this Thursday it is supposed to get up to +10, or so they say.  If it does, maybe I'll take several hours of vacation and, I don't know, ride a bike or something....

Snow wise less than normal also.  So far average wise we are about 20 cm of snow below average.  Outside?  Green grass, no even very much mud.  Perfect weather for early April.

... Boy, I expect we are in for a rude awakening sometime soon...  I can see it now - some day I will wake up to a meter of snow and -15C temperatures... brrr...

New Years was pretty uneventful.  I started writing a "New Year's" blog entry, but then, in classic style never finished it.  Well, that opportunity was lost - I will have to wait another year for that...

Let's see, time for an obsession rundown for G and me:

Chuck's obsessions - fewer than normal

• Getting exercise: doing reasonably well here.  Ok, my motivation is not very pure - the more I exercise the more I can eat.  And I LOVE to eat...  But either way, I am managing to get some sort of exercise most days, either at the gym, walking, or (weather permitting) running outside.  At the gym I am mostly doing stairmaster and treadmill (running, not walking), and stretching (still my major weakness).  Overall goal by spring - 166 lbs (76 kg), which is about 8 lbs (ok, maybe even 9) below where I am.  But I give myself until June 1 to get there, so it should be pretty easy.  <Of course, I have said that the last 2 years and failed...>


• UML: This is a work thing.  I need to learn and understand UML 2.0, since knowing this is the bread and butter of my job, and I will never have time to get it right at work.  I don't do this stuff that often, but mid-winter is a good time.


• UML tool evaluation: part work, part play.  Evaluating demo versions of SW development tools that really do cost $13,000 a copy!  Better my company than me buying it.  Makes MS Office Pro look cheap!


• Budget: We don't really have one, and we need one.  Slowly working towards getting one set up.  At least all of our past year expenses are categorized now, so we know what we have spent before.  (We are actually doing pretty well).


• Oboe: Unfortunately, NOT an obsession at the moment, and needs to be.  Well, someday.

Gwendolyn's obsessions - few, but intense...

• Classwork: Anatomy done (A+), now working Nutrution, as well as Human Growth and Development.  She is trying to complete two one-semester courses over Christmas break.  May even succeed.  Unfortunately almost killing her at the same time.  Everyone keep your fingers crossed and think kind thoughts.


• More classwork


• And more classwork yet


• Blockbuster Online DVD club: Hey, you have to do something besides study.  So G has a continuous stream of DVDs coming to her.  This was a familiar experience when Masha was here, but...  G averages about 3 DVDs per week it seems.


• Sewing: obsession in remission.  But always there if the going gets tough!

Gee, what else is there?  Well, the living room roof replacement is now completed, but a new spot has shown up on the "flat spot" on our roof.  From what we understand, not a roof failure, but a siding failure.  But SOME DAY we will have the house fixed up.  Then we can work on getting the water damage to the drywall fixed.  It never ends.

Well, that's all for now...