137-141 Catchup, with fruitcake, cheesesteak and mincemeat

137. Warm coats and scarves and mittens, sunlight, catching up with a friend, people who made me laugh, breakfast for dinner, good hard work.

138. The satisfaction of finishing a project. The feeling-known-ness of seeing the same doctor for years. The kindness of the man this morning who was actually next when the receptionist called me, and who insisted I go ahead, which made reminded me to do the same this afternoon when someone unwittingly stepped ahead of me. Solving a problem. Cheesesteak. The arrival in the mail of a homemade fruitcake, consumption of the first slice, and fourth annual live-tweeting of the whole thing — one of my favorite new Christmas traditions. 

139. Five loads of laundry washed and dried and folded. The way the cat curls up in front of the little space heater as if it's a hearth. A cleaned-out fridge. The arrival in the mail of a small soft hand. Baking tiny mincemeat turnovers. Getting lost in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader just like I did the first time. 

140. Waking to find the earth is not covered in icy rain! Walking into the wrong class and being glad I did. Seeing and hugging a gal who wouldn't have been there if the weather'd been better. Chipotle. An unnecessary but thoughtful apology from someone who is apparently as analytical as I am. 

141. An invitation to edit. And invitation to write. An invitation to — oh, too intriguingly much to tell. Baked potato in a stoneware bowl. A phone call from one of my elders. Joy.