::Gelid
The air is gaspingly arctic. Fiercely penetrating, biting, numbing.
It is the time of year that I pay penance for working outdoors. When I make restitution for the eight months of the calendar where I flounce about in a T-shirt, enjoying the night breeze.
Now the wind sinks its teeth into my nose and sucks teasingly on my fingers and toes, daring me to wear one layer too few. Last night, four layers was just about enough. Except that I can’t wear four pairs of gloves and still do my job. It’s supposed to be ten degrees colder tonight — twenty with wind chill factored in. Color me displeased.
The glacial air seems to make the full moon twice as intense. She mocks me; she doesn’t feel the cold. She never understood. It’s why I quit talking to her, years ago. My friend Orion heaves into view during the course of the night. I trust his hunter’s eye more than I trust the inconstant moon.
Finals are looming next week. My schedule is not pleasing. I have two finals fifteen minutes apart. No cramming for me. It wouldn’t be an issue — except that I’m pulling a 3.95 GPA and thus I can’t relax and coast to the finish. I have to maintain my A’s. I have to ace every final. Every time. I have to and I will.
Books and computer screens during the day and icy wind at night. My family wants to meet on the 16th for Xmas and I haven’t had time to buy a single blasted thing for anyone. Ever tried to do all your Xmas shopping in one day? It looks like Friday is D-Day for me. Any advice? I’ve got half a day — since I work nights, and retail closes up around 10pm. ugh, ugh. crowds. lines.
Maybe I can just get the family really riproaring drunk for Xmas and they won’t notice that I didn’t buy anything except Scotch?
Good luck on the exams. What with the dedicated way you write about acing your tests, I’m sure you’ll do as well as you hope. Christmas shopping … ugh. I make most of the presents I give out, so luckily, I get to keep my exposure to stores to a minimum. I heartily endorse the riproaring drunk option! Let me know how it goes – maybe I’ll try it on my family next year. 😉
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My advice? Screw stores. Go to Amazon.com and order everything on the fastest shipping. Granted, the shipping will pretty much double the price of every order, but personally I despise lines enough to pay it. Well, I would, if I had any money. OR. Buy everyone dollar store snowglobes. Then you only have to make one stopm AND it’s cheap! :O
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happy studying 🙂
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“Color me displeased” may be my new favorite saying. Good luck with the shopping. I’d suggest gift certificates and if that fails, the Scotch will have to do. (In my family, they’d hit their knees and thank God that I loosened up that much.)
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i am cold just reading this entry. one year i waited until the night before christmas and did all of my shopping at kmart. you would be amazed.
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RYN: Unfortunately, it’s somewhere around 40 degrees in Vancouver right now, and not showing signs of increasing, so the nude beaches are probably a no. But if I do go, I promise pics. Of other people.
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I would say Amazon is your friend for one-day shopping. But you’re way too late to hit the 16th -unless you shop tonight and get everything over-nighted. My rule for last minute shopping: Everyone likes booze. No, for real. Who wouldn’t like a bottle of Maker’s Mark for Xmas? One stop shopping, right there. –Swervy
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