Keeping Calm and Carrying On...

It's a snow day here today...again. Staying home with Jackson is fun, but we always get to a point in the day where we look at each other like, "You again? Really?" He's just at an age now where he knows there is so much more he could be doing. My favorite times of these days together are when we snuggle up with books to read and nap time, naturally.

I have one month to finish up my grad school application. A number of tedious documents need to be compiled and submitted by March 1st and then I will be anxiously waiting to find to find out if I am accepted to start classes next Fall. It's hard to believe I graduate (finally) this Spring. It's sad, but I am just so ready to get started on the next chapter of my education.

My last class this semester is all about "preparing for the real world after graduation" and "how to live and work as an artist." This would be all well and good if I hadn't already been living in the "real world" for quite sometime and actually desired to become a working artist. I actually find this class a regression of sorts and a little insulting. For some reason it's the

last class an Art major has to take, but the instructor tends to treat the students like children with patronizing lectures and pointless writing exercises. Academia is such a Hoop Jumping System and frankly, I am a little tired of jumping through hoops. Sometimes I seriously question my sanity and the choice to embark on the journey of grad school. Goodness knows grad school is nothing but a series of boxes that need to be checked. I am excited, however, to start studying topics so much more relevant to my everyday "real world" life.

So, with the impending nature of the completion of my undergraduate degree, Robbie and I are seriously considering celebrating in a rather big way. I have never been to Europe and in the last 7 years I have spent countless hours studying the art, architecture and history of Europe. We've been thinking that maybe it's time I get to see some of this stuff in person. I love the notion of traveling to Paris, of walking through the doors of Notre Dame or the Musée Carnavalet, but I am really struggling with the notion of spend so much money on, what feels like an incredibly frivolous vacation - especially when there are student loans to repay and cars that have strange flashing lights on the dashboard. I suppose Practical Catie is quarreling with the lesser known Adventurous Catie. In fact, I had kind of forgotten that Adventurous Catie even existed. The battle will rage on, until I take the plunge and buy tickets. I've even considered a state-side vacation. There are so many wonderful places we could go, after all. The bottom line is hard to ignore and leaving Jackson will be the biggest challenge for me. However, I have often dreamt of seeing Paris and practicing my 5+ years of French training with others who speak English as their second language. For me the question is this: what's the cost of a dream and are they usually worth it? I would like to think my answer is, "oui."

The snow continues to fall and Jackson is playing quietly with his Little People Farm Animals. A couple of my more ambitious neighbors are already out shoveling their driveways, despite the fact that we are facing 20 more hours of snowfall. Their activity annoys me on many levels but especially my most lazy level and the one that just wants to sit and enjoy the snowfall and the warmth of my living room.

And in conclusion - a photo of the one and only (and his Nana & Bumpa of course)...