Random Bullets of Winter Break

• Lesson learned: I would make a horrible SAHM. After two days I made a schedule for LG and I to follow, including designated leave-the-house time. Basically, we're running errands in the morning and she's choosing something fun to do in the afternoon, after quiet time (which isn't exactly quiet when one is playing a xylophone, but I digress).
• Much watching of TV/movies for both LG and myself. We actually went to the theater and saw Alvin and the Chipmunks on Christmas Day. She didn't cry or need to sit in my lap, so that was a major accomplishment (usually we only make it 20 minutes into a film and need to leave because it's too loud or scary or...). I've been working my way through The Closer on DVD, which was a fairly arbitrary choice, but I'm enjoying it.
• Much game playing. Connect 4 is the current game of choice, followed by Bejeweled (on the computer), and Uno. She could play Connect 4 for hours, which is one of the major reasons I instituted the schedule, which also includes designated game time.
• Much decorating and eating of sugar cookies. We managed to eat about two dozen in a couple days. Now we're working on chocolate chip. Needless to say, I will be back on the diet come New Year's.
• Much reading. LG is working her way through the Magic Tree House series, among other things. I reread The Secret History for probably the 10th time. I also read Rapt, which is a nonfiction piece on attention, which I will probably write more about in a post soon. I'm going back to Ian McEwan until next week, at which point I need to read actual things to prep for my introductory lecture in my senior seminar.
• Minimal housework and taking care of random odds and ends that I have basically ignored for too long, like buying shoe laces so I can wear my brown boots and hanging a hook for LG's backpack in the entryway. Still need to replace smoke detector batteries, do major decluttering and such. That will happen when the girl is back in school, next week.
• I'd like to say I've completely forgotten about ttc, but I've ordered refills on drugs (Lovenox, Estrace, Femara, Ovidrel), purchased an OPK, and done the math to figure out I'll need to put myself on the pill if I want to cycle in early March, due to a badly timed professional conference. The LAST specimens of the other half of LG's DNA will be purchased this week. Then I'm done, done, done.
• Other activities include: trips to the library, ice skating, sledding, and the purchasing of a new fish, a Hanukkah present, aptly named Dreidel. He's a blue betta, and I hope he fares better than his predecessors.

Quiet time is over. Must put on new boots and shovel. More later.