In the Icebox

Outside, it feels again like living in an icebox. However, the frigid weather couldn't stop us from venturing out into the woods. The bright sunshine and blue sky were just too tempting. So we bundled up, grabbed our snowshoes and went to the Middlesex Fells Reservation for a hike in the snow.

Everglades II

Unfortunately, the pictures for my first blog entry about the Everglades didn't upload properly. I fixed it yesterday and apologize for the mishap. To make up, today a few more photos:

Everglades National Park

On day two of our short Florida trip we went to the Everglades National Park. I was really looking forward to the visit and had great expectations.



We drove all the way down to the southernmost point, Flamingo and made several short hikes. It was surprisingly quiet in the Everglades. You could walk for minutes without hearing even one bird.


Later we read in the information material from the park service about the precarious environmental situation in the Everglades. Less than half of the original marsh is left. The rest of the swampland was drained and is now being used as farmland. Fertilizer and other agrochemical waste put the nature and the animals in the National Park at risk. Park rangers told us that several species are extinct or close to extinction. A dead panther that was found in the park had such high mercury levels, the concentration would have been fatal even for a human. Initiatives to save the Everglades need more support.








Above: Anhinga, roseate Spoonbill, Osprey

Miami Beach and Art Deco

Our first stop in Florida was Miami Beach and the Art Deco architectural district. According to Wikipedia "the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the world"

1258 miles

It was printed on the ticket: Only 1258 miles between Boston and Miami - but what a difference. After a bit more than three hours in the air, we were back from our short trip to Florida. Back also to snow and cold after a few marvelous days in the sun. The difference in temperature is really amazing: 80 F yesterday afternoon on the Keys, 26 F at arrival in Boston. All we have left are the memories that must get us now through almost three months more of New England winter.

SAT Prep

Today, I read an article in our local newspaper about SAT prep courses. Apparently, people in relatively well-off suburbs don't even question the necessity of these courses and spend willingly thousands of $ for SAT prep and college coaches.

I'm wondering whether there are any research studies that prove these classes actually make a huge difference. To me, it seems to be just a big business. My son will take the SAT in spring and I really hope, he will do okay without us spending big money. In two weeks, he will take a free practice test at his high school. Then we will know more.

Looking forward

I'm looking forward to four days of warmth and sunshine. On Friday morning, my husband and I will go to the Keys and to the Everglades. Only until Monday eving, but a nice break to our dismal New England winter weather. Today, for hours rain and sleet. Brrr....

Snowboarding in Boston

Boston is definitely not a Number One destination for skiing and snowboarding. However, when you are living here and you love wintersport, then you have two options: Drive for a couple of hours to a decent snowregion or live with whatever the Boston area has to offer. Today, we chose the latter and went to the Blue Hills ski areal.


For my husband, who grew up skiing every year in the Alps, the Blue Hills are not a real ski area. Therefore, he didn't bother to get his ski gear out. Instead, he joined me snowshoeing through the woods and up the hill. Our boys and their friends though had a lot of fun in the ski area with their snowboards. It was a gorgeous, sunny winter day and it felt good to be outside.

2009 - A good start

We spent New Year's Eve at the Boston Pops' dance party in Symphony Hall. The music was great, we danced into 2009 and it was the perfect evening.

 

Then the unpleasant discovery when we wanted to leave shortly after midnight: my husband had lost the car key. First we searched the dance floor and asked at the coat check whether someone had found a key. Then, we searched outside and backtracked our steps to the car. It was frigid with temps below 10 degrees, and about 8 inches of new snow on the ground. We didn't have high hopes but when we arrived at the car and almost gave up, my husband suddenly saw something in the snow about two yeards away. The car key! Hundreds of people must have passed the key since we lost it, but it was still there.

A good start for 2009.