Today

I have a less-than-roaring but more-than-satisfactory fire to keep me company.

It's cold.  I've finally worn my new down coat*  - several times in the past week.

We had snow yesterday, so I shoveled.

After work I sat up to watch the new episode of Justified making it a long Tuesday 

so I'm having trouble getting a brisk start to my Wednesday.

Good time to blog.

This, as you can see, is the main entrance to the public library at Clive.

I will be doing my 40 hour practicum with the fine folks who work here.

I was here for several hours Monday morning. 

 I have a name tag (magnetic!  just like theirs!) and a mailbox!

Friday night they are hosting an event for ESL students and their families to introduce them to the library.

A meal, presentations, tours, a library card and other goodies. 

They expect 30 families.  It's an ambitious plan.

I'll be there to help.

*Aside: it occurs to me that I haven't told the story of my coat.  Sometime in early November Younkers had all their coats at 50%.  The coat I've been wearing was fine for the short, occasional visits of the past but I knew it couldn't keep pace with the long siege of an Iowa winter.  It seemed that a good down coat would do the job so I went to to see what they had.  Tried on more than a few. Some just for fun. 

 I chose a black, knee length Calvin Klein.  

Even at 50% the price made me swallow hard.

While paying for it I told the clerk that with this purchase I had just guaranteed the warmest winter on record.

She laughed and said that I'd have *plenty* of opportunity to get my money's worth...

Here we are half way through January and its finally had its first outing.  Next week in Minneapolis...