Happy Valentine’s Day & Birthday Recap

Happy Valentines Day to all. May thoughts of Cupid reign supreme and the chocolate flow like water. In addition to being the lover’s day, it also turns out to be the school year’s first snow day, considering New England is being belted by a Nor’easter that has delivered snow, slush, and a great deal of ice. Thus, the driving conditions are such that those kids traveling to school would indeed be dangerous. Coasting into the February break, I can think of worse times to claim a free day, although this isn’t exactly a snow day fraught with fun and winter enjoyment. It is pretty nasty outside and only getting nastier.

Well, my efforts to keep things here more up to date is a never ending struggle of futility. The school year has definitely been taking a toll on me this year. Sometime in November things became a grind and I kept thinking that they would get better, but, alas, they have not. While I certainly enjoy my job, I have just been feeling like everything is a whole lot more work this year. Needless to say, I am looking forward to the vacation week with some serious anticipation. Hopefully, I can get some work related things done that can make the march to the end of the year a good one.

So, my birthday past a few weeks ago. As usual, my lovely wife shipped in the delicious Italian beef sandwiches from the native Chicago. It has become the birthday tradition, and one I think we anticipate highly. Keri might be the most eager of all, requesting frequent updates of when the goods will arrive and when we will be busting them open and devouring them. It was an easy going evening where the three of us inhaled some beefs and an exquisite coffee and mocha-chip ice cream cake.

Photo: Me preparing a beef Photo: Me with Beef

My wife is without question the most wonderful women in the world, making a last second adjustment on the cake and once again proving her keen insight into the workings of my mind.

Photo: My Birthday Cake

Even the family birthday at Ali’s parents, where her little brother and I share the party and treats was a low-key and enjoyable affair. Many thanks to all that were kind enough to phone, send cards, or generously give me a gift. It was a very pleasant time, considering that I just keep getting older and have recently begun to start feeling it.

Photo: The Birthday Boys

Tomorrow, will be my beloved’s birthday, for which I feel completely unprepared and inept. The trouble with her is that she is extremely thoughtful, sweet, and amazing at discerning what gifts give me, while I am a complete boob, unless the gift is some kind of jeweled bauble. Hopefully, some extra inspiration will come my way.

From MA to IL – Primary Destination Glen Ellyn

Delayed but nevertheless pressing on, here is the continuation of our trip out West, as the New England locals confusingly claim. I don’t know about the rest of you, but out West has the suggestion of California to me. We were just heading to Illinois. Also, apologies for the delay, as I was driven to finish class work for my last graduate class. As I write this, I am overjoyed to announce that I have completed all the requirements for my Master of Arts in Teaching degree, finally. As Stan Lee would say, “Excelsior!”

Picking up where I last left off, we arrived in Chicago for our first week, filled with family demands and some fun. I was a bit hamstrung trying to hammer out various writings for the aforementioned classes, but the girls were off and running straight away. Within days we were graced with the new Terwedow arrival, as Ali’s brother Henry and his wife Mona proudly displayed a three-week old Zoë, still fresh and pink from the womb. The viewing of the baby also coincided with Keri’s birthday, Chicago-style. The old girl took the additional year in stride, albeit with the help of heavy reliance on her compadre Sangria, as can be seen in the lower right corner of the frame below. Older brother Henry got into the birthday celebration act too, but no doubt to his satisfaction no documentation of his festivities were fit to print.

Photo: Baby Zoe Photo: Keri with Birthday Cake

It is always a joy to see the other two of the brood, the corn silk kids, Caitlin and Carl. The precocious tandems are always thoroughly entertaining to me. During the course of the evening, they were treated to a bat sighting in the backyard, as well as plenty of cake.

Photo: Caitlin and Carl

Of course with the appearance of new people, the customary retrieval of photo albums was performed. This family ritual proved to be most enlightening. An absolutely fascinating byproduct was the discovery that Zoë and her Aunt Ali proved to be infant doppelganger, as evidenced by the picture below. This was much to the chagrin and consternation of Ali’s brother and father of the newborn, Henry. But the picture speaks for itself!

Photo: Ali and Zoe

By the end of the week all three of us, Keri, Ali, and myself made preparations for yet another road trip deeper into the heart of the nation. We would be packing up and heading for Indian Territory, otherwise known as South Dakota. Stay tuned.

Super Bowl & Super Ali

Well, much has happened since I last posted any mental meanderings. Of course, the Patriots cinched another Super Bowl victory to their growing dynasty. I am officially the envy of my family and friends, having moved to a location that suddenly seems to be basking in the perpetual glow of athletic championships. My mother, of course claims that I am a traitor. Ironically, the charge came not because I in any way abandoned the Chicago teams. Rather, when I admitted I was pulling for my new local team in the Super Bowl, according to her, I abandoned the team of my birthplace. Having been born on the south side of Philadelphia should have sealed my allegiance. My hopes certainly rode on their ill-fated match-up with the Raiders in 1981. Even if they were playing someone other than New England, I may have hoped for their victory. However, there was never a doubt in my mind that the Patriots were going to continue their reign. Now that they did, it almost seems like just another parade through the city of Boston. It is becoming almost more of an expectation.

On a different football note, Patriot linebacker Teddy Bruschi was hospitalized this week after a stroke. All I can say is that I hope it is not too serious. Aside from the concern one might have for his fellow man, he quickly became one of my favorite, if not absolute favorite player, on the team. He is a model player; the kind of selfless team player you hope you have on your team. Now that he got out of the hospital, the information is pretty scant. My suspicion is that his time is done in the NFL.

On a more fun note, Ali celebrated a birthday this week. It took her a few weeks but she caught me in the age category, poor thing. Being that is right on the heels of Valentine’s Day, she makes it very clear that there should be no doubling-up on festivities and gifts. Well, this year she got three celebrations; a birthday with the family, Valentine’s loot, and another birthday celebration with me on the day. I think she made out well. Although I am not sure that she would agree considering that the revelry of the last two were cut short by fatigue. Here are some visuals.

Photo: Ali with Valentine's Day Bouquet
Photo: Ali Showing Gift

Photo: Ali with Birthday Cake

Also, here is a lovely representation of Ali by her younger brother Willie. As you can see, the resemblance is uncanny.

Photo: Willie's Drawing of Ali