Cold and playing in the snow

All about reentry here. Goodness it's been cold. Deep in the minus for lows- 17-24 below. All the temp stations are different, so hard to be precise - really what difference does it make - just COLD! We have been cozy by the fire, going out for snowshoeing in the heat of the day and nice solar action. The coyote and fox have been in our tracks through the woods in the night, fun.

Had a rare badger sighting on the way to the mailbox (which is 2 miles from the house). They generally stay in tunnels underground, so must be quite hungry. Quite awkward lumbering down the road, hard to believe they're so ferocious.

busy up on Mt Crested Butte too

We went for a cross country ski lesson today. Thought we'd come out experts in the hour. Um, not so...  little matter of technique to be mastered. Great instructor, but it's quite different from downhill and even showshoeing. Think it will be great - just need to practice. The Nordic center in CB was crazy busy - it's got tons of groomed trails, ice rink, lessons on everything under the sun except downhill, and apparently lots of hockey going on. Exuberant group of quite young boys were gathering for the next game. Had lunch first at Ryce for energy, good thing, it was quite the workout.

"our " old miner's cabin - half of it anyway

Other news, my evolution and genetics online class has started. Very excited about it, and the initial lectures were fascinating and quite well done. Beware, I may be sharing new found knowledge with you down the road. Little nervous about the weekly problems (homework!) and the upcoming mid-term and final exams. Heavens, it's been a long bunch of years since I had any of this. 20,000 students ended up signing up for the class. Everyone had to sign an honor code and if you get on the discussion boards and talk about the exams, you're out.  Amazing isn't it, when there is no cost, and you do not get college credit for this, people will still try to find a way to cheat. WHY?

horses with their loafing shed ( new term I learned this past year)

Mark leaves Monday on a business trip (CES in Las Vegas) and I must report for possible jury duty. Could be weeks of trial if  I'm picked. I'll let you know...
And books read - Diane Keaton's memoir Then Again (really good) and The Richard Burton Diaries (really bad), and another one in the series The Accusers by Lindsey Davis (great as usual).