the christmas list

with two finals left, and less than two weeks left in the crazy 'co', i will be making the trek home for christmas. i have been itching to go home since early november and with the home stretch (literally) in view, i am finalizing my list. not just any list, it is The Ultimate Christmas Vacation To-Do List. it is a work in progress, but at culmination it will be a true masterpiece. here's a hint of the good stuff:

1. make a snowman.
2. cook and bake some new things in the kitchen/make a mess & clean it up.
3. scope out the collection of movies at the library.
4. make my way through a few of the books on my list.
5. sign up for a short-term gym membership - definitely will not be braving my outdoor runs.
6. learn to swim properly for my first triathlon next may.
7. drive my mom's car/suv-ish vehicle.
8. drive my dad's truck (the pattern with a reliable car....).
9. drive my brother's truck... probably won't happen
10. go snowmobiling.
11. never leave the house for a whole 24 hours, while in some form of pajamas or sweats.
12. bundle up in twenty layers and venture into a blizzard to take pictures.
13. a trip to mankato.
14. a trip to sioux falls.
15. a trip to the twin cities.
16. go see this movie.
17. hit up the local wal-mart. (by local, i mean "closest": 20 minutes east on the interstate).
18. enjoy some warm coffee at the downtown spot: coffee choices.
19. drive around town looking at christmas lights with my dad.
20. see friends.

more to come...

what a discovery.

currently, I am without a tv. for the most part it has probably been for the best, as i find other things to do rather than just sit in front of the tv mindlessly. on the downside, it has made my sports viewing (particularly the MLB postseason and NFL sundays) and psych viewing (USA network - great show, check it out) quite difficult and a cause for crashing. these crash spots have consisted of friends' houses/apartments and the student union building or the slc, our rec center, both on campus and just down the street. all very nice tvs (especially the friend's 54" HD - its almost life-like), so no complaints. however, i am anxiously awaiting the day that i will buy my own, which should be in a month or two. until then... i will continue to crash and entertain myself mindlessly in other ways (my kitchen is spotless and my dancing skills are getting up to par), but sometimes these just won't do. my new found fix:

Storm Chasers on the Discovery Channel via discovery.com

you can watch it here if you like.

my heart starts to race from just watching on my couch. storm chasing is on my list (see left column) and honestly, i don't know what it is that keeps me so enthralled. it's the one thing (perhaps there were a few more) that used to scare me to death as a child. it would give me nightmares (i once dreamt that a tornado was driving a tractor around our farm... weird, i know. i was young.). i would move half of my bedroom to the basement every time a storm threat came close. they're marvelous and horrifying at the same time, i can't help but watch, anticipating the day that i might be out there. until then, i'm watching and learning. thank you discovery. for my amazing... discovery.