A Condensed Version of the Past Month

Sorry blog fans - the excitement of Christmas has us vastly behind and indeed I am sure many of you have stopped checking. Never fear though - we're up and running again.

Mom and Dad Newton arrived safely and toured Chicago as much as is possible from the inside. Mall windows, car seats, and dining booths were our main avenue for exploring Chicago as the temperature never broke above freezing.. which is great for people who have lived in 70-110 degree weather for fourteen years. Brandon's news of a good first grade report were overshadowed the same day by Rachel's acceptance to Loyola... even if certain professors cannot get their letters of recommendation in on time. As Rachel worried over the necessary paperwork, her mom insisted it was pointless: "Listen, you just tell them that you are the smartest student they have had and you shouldn't have to fill out the forms. You are from Bangkok and have been given more shots than anyone else at the university." Rachel groaned and continued to track down every possible form they desired - no doubt more than any other student enrolled.

The trip home went fine as one foot of snow became 6 inches in Indiana, and by Kentucky there was hardly a flake to be found. We stayed busy at home, driving endlessly from one birthday party to another Christmas party - trying to fit in as much family time as possible. Pocky was great in the car, and slept most of the ride. When she did wake up however, she took turns driving (paws on the wheel) and sniffing the air conditioning vents. Though Grandmamma and Grandaddy's collie wasn't too hospitable to Pocky, who obviously looked like a white rat to her, Pocky enjoyed the freedom of a big house and chased everyone from one end to the other.

Driving back up, we met Frosty and Robby for New Year's Eve in Louisville Kentucky because they had a free downtown event. Though somewhat disappointing (it's not New York, after all) we still had a great time and enjoyed watching the not-too-sober people in our hotel try to make it their rooms. Frosty and Robby had the fastest tour of Chicago on record and then were on their way back South, counting MPGs in Robby's hybrid.

Classes for me are now two weeks underway, and Rachel has her first day tomorrow. Leah and her boyfriend Jonathan are here now touring museums since they are free many days during the winter. Luckily the jet stream has been our friend this month and is bringing nice warm weather this way... we've barely been below freezing for the last two weeks! I'm afraid we're getting spoiled as my professor warned temperatures sometimes don't break above 0 for over a week up here.

Thanks to all family and friends for a wondeful holiday filled with great gifts to keep us comfy [couch], warm [blankets, sweaters, gloves], and alive [money and multiple gift cards, etc.]. We'll try to withold most of it from the homeless population who daily asks for handouts up here :-0