Dearest Friends and Family,

Well, the snow here is piled high. Troy has shoveled the walk twice this week and will probably have to do so again tomorrow. They tell us another 5 inches will fall tonight. Wind chill factors last week and this could reach 50 below 0. The schools will be closed tomorrow and that means so will our childcare place. Snow is pretty for the first few hours. But as it piles up, gets really dirty because they have to sand the roads and gets slushy mud all over everything -- well, I could do with a lot less of it.

Things have been extremely hectic lately.

I am trying to finish numerous projects before school starts next week including: organize and file the stacks of papers on and around my desk, finish reediting Looking Queer, several other writing projects, and proposals for classes I would like to teach next year. I took a couple weeks off after finals and got caught up on household projects including mending and making clothes, making curtains for the baby's room and the living room, finally finishing decorating Rowan's room and the office, and generally cleaning and organizing the house.

Oh, I made all As last semester -- including the Data Analysis (stats) class. I am only taking one class this semester -- "Health and Cultural Diversity." The other two class credits will be independent studies while I work on reading tons of material and writing my dissertation proposal. I am also still working in the Women's Studies Program and am the Treasurer for the Graduate Women's Studies Association and a member of the Anthropology Graduate Student Association.

And the Pagan groups -- We are all still active in both the local group (River City Pagan Community) and the network (IPAN). Troy is editing the Imbolc (Feb.) issue of the newsletter. Lon edited the Samhain (Oct.) issue. I will be the editor of the Oestara (March) issue. RCPC and IPAN will also be working on the "Weaving Community Symposium" scheduled for April. Meanwhile, we also continue to work both as a family coven and with a circle of friends.

Lon's big news is that he will be returning to school this semester. He finally got the certification for his learning disability. That meant the university has substituted three history courses for the language courses they require. He already has one, so he will take two more (both in European history). He will also retake two previous courses he didn't do well in (one in Psych., the other in Philosophy). That should improve his GPA and he will have his BA in Psychology at the end of the semester. He is also volunteering with the Crisis Center to gain counseling experience.

Tina finally quit Sears. A job she has hated and where she has been passed over for promotion twice. Her last day is Friday. And she has two job interviews this week which both look good. Either of the new jobs would include more pay and better benefits.

Troy is still in school. He has a full load including Petrology, Into. to Philosophy, Ecology & Evolution and a math course. He is still doing Aikido and occasional caving with a friend. Yes, he still has seizures, but they don't happen often. Only when he over does it and doesn't get enough sleep.

Rowan... where do I begin? He learns something new everyday. He is a joy and an wonder. I never knew life could be made so much more exciting by children. He is almost 8 months old now. He loves to sit up by himself and stand with help. He talks (his own language) constantly. He is usually happy, loving and energetic. Next week he begins a tots swimming class. Tina and I will go with him. They have an indoor swimming pool and will take children from 6 months to preschool. He loves the bath, so we expect he will adore the pool. He is getting so much bigger. He outgrows his clothes at an amazing rate.

Well, it is the middle of the night. I was up with Rowan until 1 and then just felt like getting some things caught up in the office. I think I had better get some sleep. Miss you all.

Love,

Dawn