It's a foggy, warm Sunday morning here in Orono, Maine (just outside of Bangor, ME, which is about a 4 hour drive north of Boston, MA). I am knocking on wood as I say this, but I think we've made it through winter. We are still having a fair bit of rain, but the temps have been consistently above about 45F for the past 2 weeks. This week, it's supposed to get into the 70s for 2 days- crazy, right?- but I'll believe it when I see it. I have crocuses in bloom, although some have died out already, and 3 daffodils have opened their bright yellow flowers, so I'm going to remain optimistic about the weather! We've done our winter storm damage assessment and are waiting for the contractor's estimates before deciding whether to submit an insurance claim or just fix the damages ourselves. We lost the vinyl fence across the front of our property and some flashing from the edge of the roof, so we'll see. It's nice to get outside and do some raking, even though it's the worst thing in the world for my bad shoulder!
The local universities end soon... DH is full-time chemistry faculty at one, which graduates in less than a week, and is also an adjunct at the university where I work, and that graduation is in two weeks. It'll be nice to have him less stressed (WAY less stress, as his appointment as department chair ends at the end of May) and around the house more; the to-do list never gets shorter when you own a 120yr old house, LOL! I, unfortunately, have a year-round appointment so for the first time in 10 years, I WON"T have the summer off (I just left teaching in a public school system). Figures... DH finally has the summer off (no summer research, no chair appointment, etc) and I DON"T. OH well... the extra money from this new job (make more than 2X what I was earning in public ed) more than makes up for not having the summer off. I will have vacation time, though, and am busy planning that. DH is going to Germany for 2 weeks in June (week long conference in Dresden, with time in Berlin on either end) and although I can't go, I'm helping him plan where to stay when not at the conference. In July, he and I are meeting DD24 and her boyfriend in DC to see the Eagles/James Taylor and do some city touring. I'll come home after that (still gotta teach) but DD and DH will go to from DC Ohio to visit my MIL. We will have a blast in DC; two other couples are also going from here in Maine to the concert, so we have planned some fun stuff and an amazing dinner or two. One of the couples has a daughter in law school at GWU, so we'll use her apartment as a gathering spot (although we are all staying in different hotels/airbnbs). Also at the end of August, DD and I are going to Disney World! This started out as a "cheap" trip and I actually was able to get free dining for this (so Disney "cheap" was $2000 for 6 nights value hotel, 6 day park tickets, and the dining plan), but instead we have decided to stay 6 nights at Animal Kingdom Lodge. It was the same price for hotel and tickets as it was for free dining, but I have rewards points that'll pay for our food, so we are off to a Disney "deluxe" hotel. DH made the final decision for me, when he pointed out that DD will turn 25 within a month of the trip (and how did THAT happen???), so we could call this her birthday celebration! Don't ask me twice, don't twist my arm! DH and I stayed 2 nights at AKL last summer for my birthday and I LOVED it, so being able to take DD there for a "mommy-daughter" trip is the BEST!!
That's all I have from my end of the world. If anyone has suggestions of fun places for DH to stay in Berlin, let me know. He's doing 3 nights on his arrival in the Bergmannkiez area, which looks a little residential to me; I think he'd be happier in a location with more touristy things, cafes, bars, nightlife, etc., so if you have a suggestion, let me know. Hope everyone is happy and healthy (and I'm still waiting to see WillyJ again, even if it's just a nod to say he's doing fine...)