Clocks, Prisons, Shedding Skin

Hello and Happy February!

Yes, we are really into February -- and that means we made it through January! YESSSS!

Internet groundhog

PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL. The groundhog in Pennsylvania who sees his shadow, or not, saw his shadow, so I guess that means 6 more weeks of winter.  But even if he does NOT see his shadow, isn't Spring Equinox (March 20) STILL six weeks away? I never really got that...

One of my students asked what Groundhog Day was, and I said it was kind of a made-up holiday. Because there are not many holidays in January, and Valentine's Day is still a ways away.

TICK TOCK. Still waiting on Teresa's mission call...I keep telling myself they did NOT lose it...ha! They say you'll know between 10 days and 3 weeks, and today it has been 18 days. We'll probably know within a week or so.

**Actually we Skyped with David and Teresa tonight, and Teresa got a text from the Stake President that her mission file online says "In Process." So they did NOT lose anything, for real. We are just learning patience :) :) :)

 (Here's a photo I took way back when (2006) of one of my very favorite clocks, to help me pass the time.)

Big Ben, London

These internet photos show the hotel today

FORMER PRISON. Last Thursday, Frank and I went to a University of Michigan meet-the-Dean night, at this really cool hotel in Boston.

center: those balconies overlooking the
atrium were guard lookouts to watch
prisoners during their exercise time

 Back in the 1800's, it used to be a prison. They did a remarkable job of renovating it, using the same architecture, into a nice hotel. It was called "The Charles Street Jail" in 1851, and now they call it "Liberty Hotel."

TENNIS. Kara has been practicing serves and playing tennis, to get her ready for the high school tennis season which starts in April.

PLANES, TRAINS and AUTOMOBILES. Frank travels to Atlanta this week, then Minneapolis, for meetings and various conferences.

FOOTBALL. Patriots and Falcons play today for the superbowl title. It's a pretty big deal around here, and it's probably too bad we're not die-hard football fans! We live in a very sports-fanatic region! Since we've been here, today is the 3rd time the New England Patriots made it to the Superbowl Championship.

SNAKESKIN. And lastly, Komodo shed his skin again and Frank measured it. He is now as tall as Frank! Yes, a family member has grown to matching Frank's height...our baby snake (sniff) has grown to be 6 feet long.

Here's Frank, a couple of years back, when Komodo was "only" 5 feet long...

...and a blast-from-the-past "cute kid picture" from a few years back...like almost 10. (May of 2017.)

Have a great week ahead!
Love, Kari