Is It Winter Break Yet?

So Thanksgiving here in Seattle was nice. Our whole family was over here, and it was a large and loud affair as usual, although somewhat unconventional in that the usual Halo tournament upstairs between my stepbrothers and I was abnormally short and I was abnormally sucky. Seriously, what happened to my mad skills?

The second abnormal event was that it snowed last night. Snow actually sticking to the ground in Seattle is rare; snow before January and February is even rarer. I woke up to a foggy, cold, and still-snowing morning, which I loved. I have really enjoyed the cold and rainy weather here over the past few days. I am sick to death of Phoenix's love affair with CONSTANT and UNENDING 80-degree cloudless days. Maybe some people can take monotonous weather like that 12 months out of the year, but I am not one of them. Having my first ever real 4-seasons year in Germany last year changed a few things, and I for one am no longer an Arizonaphile. I'm sorry, but it's NOT supposed to be sunny and warm at the end of November. If you don't need a jacket and/or scarf in November, you are not living in a normal part of the world. I need some rain now and then, hence the serious enjoyment in being home the past few days.

Unfortunately it's time to go back to Phoenix tomorrow already. I can't believe that 4 days went by so fast. I'm anxious to get back only so that we can get on with the ridiculous insanity that is final exams and promptly get the heck out of that horribly sunny state again for winter break, during which time I will be forming and refining my thesis topic, reading lots and lots of books, and spending lots and lots of time in coffee shops watching the rain outside and/or enjoying Seattle at Christmas. I love Seattle at Christmas.

Tomorrow I get to experience air travel on what is supposed to be one of the worst days of the year to fly. I hope it's not too bad. I plan on studying and iPodding all the way back to Phoenix.