For those of you who don't know, my dad is in Afghanistan for a project until the beginning of June. Just when my worry about him being there was abating somewhat, this happens. He's fine, though, and I read his blog which made me feel somewhat better. While I agree with his closing paragraph - that, as perverse as it sounds, it's good that he can experience this - I also remain incredibly glad that he (and everyone else I love) does not have to go through this everyday.

Ah, spring!

Did you know I live in a really cute house in a really great location? I do. Wood floors in the bedrooms, lots of storage space, plenty of windows and plenty of light, interesting little touches here and there like the glass doorknobs and the arch between the living room and dining room. We're five blocks from central Uptown and five blocks from Lake Calhoun. We live at the "quiet" end of Hennepin Ave., close to the cemetery, where traffic, both automotive and foot, thins out and the occasional passing of a city bus is the most disruptive thing. People walk past with dogs, going to Dunn Bros. or going to the lake, and smile and say "Good morning" the way people do in much smaller towns. It's a great place to live. I love it here.

And spring is finally here (fingers crossed - it better not snow again!) which means I can truly enjoy all these things right outside my door without slogging through mounds of wet and slush. It also means the price we pay for heating our adorable but very drafty house will be much less. We can even take the plastic off the windows! Don't get me wrong, I am a true Minnesotan and I stoically endure winter after impossibly long winter, but there is nothing like a quick dose of sunshine to cheer me up. I'm off to get me some vitamin D.