There are no pics this week.

This is a time of year when I can’t do much riding. Outdoor projects are not very enticing. And taxes have to be done. I don’t like doing taxes. I don’t like ithem so much that Danita forbids me from doing them while she’s home. I spent a couple of days this week fooling around with computer issues. Then I bought Turbo Tax. I put all my papers in order. And in general I played around until it was Friday afternoon. There was no sense to start when Danita would be home in just a few hours. Now I’m off the hook until Tuesday. (They are forecasting snow Sunday night / Monday morning. If UMBC opens, Danita will likely work from home to avoid the joy of skittering around the roads.)

The snow storm early this week that hit New England so hard left us largely untouched. We got less than 2″. We got another dusting mid-week, and we’re looking forward to 1 to 3″ Sunday. So far, we’ve been lucky with the snow. We’ve had just enough to have plenty of snow emergency evenings.

I went to see my dermatologist Tuesday, for a “full body scan”. Apparently I wasn’t good enough last year. I was back in the office Thursday for a blue light treatment for my arms. One has to avoid sun exposure for 2 days after a blue light treatment. That’s not very hard to do in this weather. Before going outside, I’m generally wearing a long sleeve shirt, a sweater, and a jacket — plus gloves and hat. I don’t think much sun gets through all that.

We saw the completion of a project this week. We have our powers of attorney signed, notarized, and witnessed. All papers are filed in the appropriate places. The financial transfers for my investments are all done. Danita has one financial transfer in process and one more yet to do. Our goal was to get all this stuff done before we went to China. It looks like we won’t have any problem meeting that goal.

Speaking of going to China, we’re starting to gear up for the trip. We paid the balance of the tour. We received our 40+ page brochure of instructions. I am starting to investigate how we will stay in communication during our trip. Our visa applications are in. We’re making a list of what we will take. This last point is going to take some effort. The travel company warns that there are places where baggage portage is not practical, and we should be prepared to tote our own luggage up and down hills and steps. In other words, we should travel light. The challenge isn’t figuring out what we want to take, so much as it is figuring out what we can leave home.

My class in Chinese Culture has started. I’ve completed the first two modules, getting an “A” on both. It’s fun but kind of strange taking an E-class, because I don’t have any idea what the other students are doing or thinking. The instructor has a nice array of supplemental material (videos, documents, and power point presentations), but there is no lecture. Doing the work is pretty easy so far, but there’s one assignment that’s giving me grief. I have to select “a topic” and lead a one day on-line discussion on that topic. How does one lead a topic on which no participants know anything? I can’t even imagine the objective of such an exercise. The instructor isn’t into doing any extra work. Her response to my query was most unsatisfactory.

The neighborhood activity this weekend is a Superbowl party. We won’t be attending. We have a theater room that will have the game on. It has seating for 20 (including folding chairs), with food and drink prohibited. We have a large, comfortable party room with seating for lots. But we don’t have a screen or projector for that room. So you can go, eat, drink, and talk. Or you can watch the game. (Or the commercials, if you prefer.) We want to do both at the same time, so we’ll be staying home. We’ve had so many snow emergencies that we’re thinking of a slightly more nutritious evening — sweet Italian sausages with grilled onions and peppers on rolls. Yummy.

Well, Danita’s home. I think I’ll wander down and see if the grocery store had shrimp salad. That would make a tasty lunch. I hope this finds everybody doing well.