50.013698631

or, maybe I'm really only 50.0109589041, given that I was born in Connecticut, where it's still yesterday. In either case, I have survived, and enjoyed, my 50's so far, and, as Manford said, we did have a really nice trip to Wellington between anniversary and birthday, and a good gathering of friends at the pub on the day itself. We are approaching a year being here, and find it both hard to believe, and hard to believe we haven't lived here for a long time. I asked Joseph if he wanted to put anything on the blog, and he said, "no, just normal." So I guess we're getting normal. Not that we don't miss people, and some things about America. We do hear just about the right amount about American politics--probably much much less than you do. I'm starting a seminar on bicultural practice next week, in which one of the tasks is to think and write about your own culture. I'm looking forward to it--it's not something you think about when you're immersed in your familiar world.

I have found a writing group, of sorts--I've only been once; it meets every 6 weeks, at the university's continuing education department. There is a theme or assignment for each session...next time is on the Fourth of July (as we scheduled this, one of the participants said "isn't that American Thanksgiving?"), so the theme is independence, and we can also bring a favourite (or favorite) American poem. I did write a poem last month. but it's not on this computer. I will post it someday.

And Manford may be moving toward working a bit more...he had been doing occasional dizziness evaluations for a local ENT, but that is very unpredictable. Then he has been helping a friend of mine, who was getting a hearing aid from the DHB (the goverment health agency)--he went with her to her appointment last week, and got recruited, but he lost the person's card...perhaps a bit of ambivalence, but we'll see. I think he would enjoy a bit of work with patients--

Emily is taking a science class on Saturdays--she's there now--where they are studying light and vision this term. She seems to be enjoying it. Some of the information seems to us to be a bit dubious (e.g., they were told that babies see the world upside down at birth), but maybe that's her spin on it...and she enjoys it. She also has drama after school one day (as if she needs help with drama...) and violin, which is going through a somewhat painful stage...Manford says they all sound like that. He has the pleasure of attending the lessons. Luckily, he can turn off his hearing aid.

As it warms there, it is definitely cooling here--frost on the windshield some mornings, but that is really as cold as it gets. Many afternoons are sunny, so it's just getting out of bed in the cold that can be a bit challenging.

Emily's home, and we will hear what amusing factoids she has collected today--

Carrie