Tuesday, December 30, 2008

New Years Eve

We don't know what we will be doing tomorrow evening. It's the first year without kids, since both boys are invited to parties, and therefore we want to do something special. Perhaps we will go to the Boston Pops, if we still get tickets...

But regardless, where we will end up celebrating the start of a new year,
I wish everyone happiness, health and prosperity in 2009.

Monday, December 29, 2008

Winter walk at Horn Pond

One of the best things which happened this year was a walk with a friend around Horn Pond in Woburn, MA. Until my friend showed me this beautiful recreation area, I had no idea that it even exists - although we are living only about two miles away and this now for almost ten years!
Since this day in summer, my husband and I have walked the paths which lead around Horn Pond many times. To the holidays, we had friends from Wilmington visiting us, and we spent an afternoon enjoying the tranquility of a winter day at Horn Pond:






Wednesday, December 24, 2008

For the Holidays

I'm wishing everyone happy holidays. Those, who celebrate Christmas, like us (in Austria we celebrate and exchange presents on Christmas eve)



And to those, who are in the midst of Hanukkah/ Chanukah (how is it really spelled?), enjoy the festival of lights. And lastly, let the spirit of Kwanzaa stay with you through the year.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Sunshine Again

I'm still amazed how quickly the weather is changing here. Yesterday grey sky and hours of snowfall, today bright sunshine, blue sky and a white winter wonderland:




Sunday, December 21, 2008

Winter Night


Too much of a good thing

I enjoy having white christmas - but what's too much, is too much. It's snowing, and snowing, and snowing and no end in sight. We got one foot of snow on Friday, a few inches yesterday and at least another foot today.

For my sons however, this means good business. Neighbors are already calling. They want them to come to their houses for snow shoveling.



Friday, December 19, 2008

Diverted to Bangor

It's snowing - about 5 inches in just a few hours. My husband didn't make it back from San Diego in time before Logan airport was closing. Their flight got diverted to Bangor, Maine.

At least, the passengers were allowed to leave the plane. It didn't look like this at the beginning. The crew told the passengers that they would try to go to Boston in a few hours. Until then all passengers had to remain in the airplane. Later this changed and passengers could leave.

My husband and his colleague decided to drive home from Bangor. It's a four hours ride in good conditions - only the conditions are not good right now. They have already rented a car and are now looking for a hotel for the night.

Again, I'm experiencing that weather impacts the daily life here much more than we are used to it from Europe. It's only five inches of snow, and the schools closed early, and we have a snow emergency ....

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Getting ready

...for the next big storm. While here in Massachusetts thousands of people are still without power one week after the big ice storm last Thursday/Friday, we are getting ready for a new winter storm. According to the forecast, about a foot of snow within a few hours with wind and blizzard like conditions can be expected. School will end tomorrow already at 11:15 am, so that the kids can get home safely.

My husband is currently in San Diego and was supposed to fly back tomorrow. He is now trying to get a flight tonight because Logan airport will probably be closed tomorrow if the weather gets as bad as forecasted. Unfortunately, many other people had the same idea and he doesn't know yet whether he can reschedule. If not, he may be stuck in Houston for many hours. I keep my fingers crossed that he can get a flight tonight.

The weather today was just beautiful - the calm before the storm. This morning I enjoyed watching a spectacular sunrise over the lake in our neighborhood:

Friday, December 12, 2008

State of emergency

Even after 10 years living in Massachusetts, I'm still surprised about the weather extremes. One day (Tuesday), temps are in the low 30s, next day close to 60. Now, a ferocious winter storm with heavy rain, ice and sleet, lasting all yesterday until this morning, left 350 000 Massachusetts customers without electricity. Our governor declared therefore a statewide emergency. Downed tree limbs are blocking roads and caused severe damages to roofs and cars. View the Slideshow on WHDH.com

Monday, December 8, 2008

Christmas tree farm and first snow

It was snowing yesterday - the first snow of the year. We had planned to go to a Christmas tree farm with a nice farm store and trails for hiking and the snow made the trip just perfect.







Our trip was to Brooksby Farm in Peabody, MA. Click here to find other Christmas tree farms nationwide:
http://www.christmas-tree.com/
http://pickyourownchristmastree.org/

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Birthday cake

My husband had birthday yesterday, and this time I didn't have to bake a cake. My younger son brought from school a great looking and very delicious cake, baked by fellow students at his vocational school.




The students at Minuteman Regional High School in Lexington, MA entertain as part of their job training a restaurant, bakery,auto body shop, beauty salon, bank, gift store and flower shop. Next week, they will start selling Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands, poinsettias, and table arrangements. (Minuteman.org)

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

20 years...and engagement rings

and still together.




My husband and I, we had yesterday our 20th anniversary. Since I had to work late because of my evening class, we postponed the "real celebration" to Saturday when we will see the theatre play "Rock'n Roll" by Tom Stoppard.

Fittingly to the topic marriage, I read today an article in our newspaper about legal issues concerning engagement rings. The article was about the question "who gets the ring if the wedding is canceled?" I found this article very interesting because I'm used to a different custom:

Men in Austria or Germany normally don't buy expensive diamond rings for the engagement. The custom is that the future husband and wife put at their engagement the wedding bands on, but on the left ring finger. A married couple wears the wedding band on the right finger.

Well, since things are different here and some men apparently spend a fortune for 'The Ring', the legal question seems appropriate.

The article explained that the regulations are state law. In Massachusetts and in many other states, if the wedding is canceled the ring has to be returned to the giver.

Like always, there are exceptions to the rule. The ex-fiancee may for example be able to keep the ring if the day of the proposal coincided with her birthday or Christmas. Then she can argue it was a personal gift.

Another exception could be extremely bad behavior of the former groom: Cheating or domestic abuse might give her the better cards for keeping the ring should it come to legal proceedings in court.