Well, the term is basically over for both Chris and me.  Chris has been doing clean up of the labs all week, and has been successful.  He hasn't killed either of his minions, and comes home more relaxed for the most part.  I'm slowly getting to the point where all my grades (except the finals) are done.  I'm getting sick of students asking what they can do to "not fail" my class -- when I tell them that they should have done the work all term, they just look at me.  I think I'm going to tell them, "well I'd really like some blue diamonds set in platinum for Christmas" just to see what kind of response I'd get.  I think most of my students would laugh a lot, but there would be a few who took me seriously, and I'd probably get in trouble. 

The cafe is going well.  We're slowly picking up business.  We tend to have busy enough Thursdays that I've threatened to not go in until after 1 simply so I don't have to deal with the girls.  There are way too many females working at the cafe though, and life is hitting most of us hard.  It isn't too much fun, so I simply try to go, get my stuff done, and then leave. 

I joined the YMCA here last week so that I can start swimming.  Having been a graduate student I got to use the UIC pool during the winters, and realized that I really miss swimming when it is cold outside.  So I've now swam several times and like getting back in the water.  I think I'll do some more cross training though with riding stationary bikes and whatnot -- i'm just not brave enough to go bike riding when we've got snow on the ground. 

We did get snow this week -- twice! They've had to plow both times, so we've gotten at least 2 inches both times.  We're supposed to get about 6 inches this weekend depending on the lake effect snow that happens.  We made a snowman last Saturday -- Chris made the bottom, I made the middle and top.  So, its part Chris, part Carolyn & 100% a baby snowman.  It was small enough that I could carry it up and perch it on our balcony. 

Last Sunday we also went to the MSI for our yearly Christmas tree visit.  The Museum also has the Jim Henson muppets exhibit.  It was really neat because they also had a gingerbread MSI with all the Sesame Street characters outside it.  The main tree in the rotunda was also decorated with ornaments to look like different muppets.  We'll go back soon and see the special exhibit, we've just got a few friends who'd like to go, so we're waiting on them.  Not sure how much longer I'm willing to wait.  Here is a picture of Big Bird at the MSI and Chris with the Kenya tree.