It's becoming disheartening, as it does every February, to wake up day after day to temperatures that hover around zero. I look out at the gray tundra, and I feel nothing but a numb acceptance. Well, I'm still alive. I guess I won't be going out today, again. The body needs sunlight to function optimally; this is a fact. The winter here is too cold and long and bitter. Believe me when I say I have a high tolerance for the cold of winter, but this is the breaking point.

I spent a part of the morning clicking through the blogs of people the live in tropical locales. Something like California dreamin'. I showed real estate listings to Cedric. Look, an acre of tropical paradise, for only $250,000. How soon can we go? There's a reason people live longer down in the West Indies.

I have a big consolation, though. In a week, we're flying down to Florida to get some sun, and some Mickey Mouse. I might come back from the living dead. They might not get me back on the return flight. It's about, oh, 78 degrees warmer there than it is here. Oh sun, warm me with your rays.

And then, I got good news in the mail today. I was accepted to the graduate program I put my biggest hopes in. This is a school that has rejected me before, back when I thought everything would be handed to me without hard work. What a punch in the gut that was! So, nothing was certain. In fact, they sent the news in the thin, letter size envelope, and I thought Oh no , all over again. But no, this was just my unofficial acceptance from the department. The Department of Graduate Studies will send the official letter. Hooray! The program is an M.S. in Elementary Education. I'm very, very exited to begin this program. More so than I even imagined I would be. This is a great school, and public school corporation seems very dynamic. I have a lot of lofty ambitions. Let the hard work begin.

So, February persists, but hope is not lost. I have much to look forward to, and much to do even now. All the bureaucratic stuff is good distraction. If I could only get the cold out of my bones, and the gray out of my skin tone.

Florida, here's looking at you.

Congradulations!!!!!!! I am so excited for you on your acceptance into the Masters program......On another note I am very envious of your trip to Florida, please bring some sunshine home with you....

Félicitations!