dilemma

I am packing (er, taking a break from packing) to head to the Midwest for a long weekend visit. My sweet Dr. Hubby has been up there for almost two weeks. I miss him so much. That's not really my dilemma. I will be a happy lady to see him though :) I am going for a visit to see how I like it and if it's somewhere we might consider moving, Lord willing. But potentially moving to a faraway land isn't my dilemma.....
How in the heck am I supposed to dress cute in such frigid weather??? I have a few suits and a nice dress to wear to meetings. And a chunky gap sweater to wear with some skinny jeans. (Yes, I am quite certain I will regret the skinny jeans in ten years but for now it seems like the right thing to do.) I bought a new dressy coat. And of course my cowboy boots will be making the journey with me. Cowboy boots are warm and comfy for sight-seeing. I've never traveled this far north in my life. I feel like I am getting ready to make a trek to an alien planet. Do people just wear normal clothes with thermals underneath? Or do they wear toasty warm clothes AND thermals? Do you forgo cuteness to stay warm? And what if my hair doesn't like the cold weather??? I don't even like coats. Or jackets. Or layering. And another dilemma, it will be like 80ish when I leave Alabama, but 30ish when I arrive at my destination. I think I am going to wear a comfy dress with a cardigan and my boots, no leggings, and carry a casual coat on the plane with me. Chris said the wind is blowing around 40mph. No, it's not storming, it's just that windy. I mean, I have cute outfits, but I am just not sure how well they will fare in winter weather. I'm just having a hard time wrapping my head around it. I am telling myself the weather isn't that different from Alabama, but who am I kidding? I had the air conditioner on in my car on my way to work this morning! Hmm I guess what I have packed will be fine. Be on the lookout for pics and stories from my trip. Some good news, at least it's not snowing up north. Yet. And please comment if you have any cold-weather wardrobe advice for me!

decided

Remember a few weeks ago when I said I was going to write down all of the dumb things people say to grieving people and write them down? Well, there are TOO many to mention. Here are a few major no-nos. I don't think it is okay to contact your ex-spouse, or inquire about financial situations, or even say you know what that person is going through. Sure, we all know what it is like to lose a loved one, but every situation is different. I have decided that THE ONLY thing that is appropriate to say is, "I'm praying for you." Not, "She is in a better place," or ,"She is watching over us," or or anything like that. I know where my mother is, that would be heaven. I don't think she turned into an angel either. If you can find the scripture in the bible that talks about people turning into angels after death, please, post that on here. I would love to see it. It also weirds me out because people I have never talked to want to talk to me about this. I am not depressed. I would know if I was. Mental health classes even have a scale to help determine depression. And people in medical school are taught to recognize depression, too. In my sociology classes, we always talk about the importance of social networks. I even had to draw a diagram one time. I must say that I am very blessed and have a great social web.

I know people's intentions are good. If there weren't people that were concerned, I am sure I would be posting about how I don't have any friends and that no one loves me.