All right, winter, we GET IT.

I have not blogged in a week, and this is because all I can think about is contained in three words: I am cold.

No, wait, here are a few more: it is cold here. That's four words! And: I wish I had an extra sweater right now. 9 words! These are really adding up. I apologize for not writing all this sooner.

I have had just about enough of January. Really, January. You made your point. "I can make you cold," you said, and it's not like any of us disagreed with you. But then you had to go and freeze everything. You vindictive whore.

My skin is cracking from the cold. Every time I absentmindedly scratch my shin, my fingers come back all bloody. Which is really alarming when you're chatting with your therapist. Why is my leg bleeding, you ask? No, I'm not cutting myself with an Exacto knife for fun, it's just that winter is trying to kill me. Why are you looking at me like that? What are you writing in your little notepad?

So, as long as I'm here, let's see... doo dee doo. Oh yes! My son might be some kind of math genius. He's been mocking the kindergarten work they give him, and I gave him a first grade workbook and he blew right through it. I've been trying to come up with number sequences that he can fill in, see if I can't challenge him a bit, considering he's only in school for two hours fifty minutes and his homework takes approximately five minutes for him to complete. I couldn't come up with one that would stump him, until I gave him the ol' Fibonacci sequence and was all, FILL THAT IN, SMARTYPANTS. This also stumped my husband. Not that that's saying much, because Scott has math anxiety when it's time to compute a tip. But still! I predict that someday, my son will figure out tips with no problem. Maybe he can even do my taxes! I knew I wouldn't regret having children.

Comments

[joanna]

oh shit, I keep forgetting you send you a box of moisturizing yummies, so now you definitely have made your dry, cracking, bloody point ;). I'll send it out pronto!

Let me know if it helps.

joanna

[Sprite's Keeper]

I haven't seen the Fibonacci in years! Man, this brings me back to high school. This will officially give me some setbacks in therapy..

[a]

I have to look at it as an opportunity to wear those awesome thick wool sweaters that I've collected over the year. But the dryness...that sucks.

Congrats on the math genius. Will he do my taxes too?

[ameliorate me]

Oh you are a funny woman. And can your kid do my taxes too? If my genes are involved, there will be no sort of math whiz in my family.

[Miss Grace]

It's been in the high 70s all week in Santa Cruz, CA. Maybe you just need to relocate.

[Pretty Jane]

Um, and WHY are you surprised that he's a math genius? (Co?)Incidentally, the F. sequence is on the cover of the new issue of Seed magazine. Popping up all over=some kind of sign. Right?

[ChasingSanity.com]

We're all cold, home girl.

[Sher]

Congratulations on spawning a Mathalete. And you're so right - January is a vindictive whore.

[Megsie]

Just so you know...I am cold too. Very. Cold. Right now here in the wonderful world of Minnesota it is -21 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold doesn't begin to describe that.

[Carrie]

OK, aren't you near New York? And I heard that those wussy plane crash victims today were getting hypothermia just from getting wet when it was like, a balmy TWENTY-TWO DEGREES OUT. You're having double-digits out there! Above 0!

(Sorry, I'm a little cranky tonight due to the fact that school was friggin' cancelled today. Due to it being -12. -30 windchill.)

[Laura]

Before I read yours, I almost wrote a blog post with the exact same title. Probably because it's the only thought I've had in at least 48 hours. January, your point has been made. Now BACK OFF.

[Courtney]

Oh lordy, I think it's cold here. I think I'd DIE if it were any colder and we're at least above freezing. Today.

[Ms. Changes Pants While Drivin]

yeah. i know what you mean. it's freezing here. it might get to the low 70s in socal.

awful.

[suburbancorrespondent]

Cold, schmold - when I was young, freezing point was 20, not 32...(or something like that...)

[Cloud]

I have to delurk to ask- how freaked out would you have been if he had filled in the Fibonacci Sequence?

[Milo]

Would it be mean if I told you it's really hot here? That I live in the southern hemisphere, hence the almost insupportable heat? That it's 4:30 am right now and I've got the ceiling fan spinning out off its mind and I'm still hot?'Cause, really, I think it helps.Oh, Alice, I know you get this all the time, but I just recently started coming here more often and I'm reading all of your posts, since the very first one and you're just a genius! No wonder Henry inherited some of that funky genius of yours. Also, he's a cutie.(You too, don't cry)

[Milo]

And, yes, that would be of.

[Keri]

Pick up the book, The Number Devil. When your little genius is ready for it he will LOVE it. Much more fun than any stodgy old math text. :) Diggin' the January chill (in Wisconsin) right along with you. You might want to try Vanicream - ask for it at the pharmacy or order it online. No parabens or any other negatives but excellent for extremely dry and cracking skin. My dermatologist recommended. (Sorry. I'm full of help tonight, apparently.)

[jenB]

The Fibonacci sequence thing made me almost swallow my tongue because Mark and I mock it all the time. He has an undergrad in Pure Math (yes, that is a major), so math things are funny in our house. Send Henry over for some Abstract Algebra humour and Vector jokes, HILARIOUS!

[Robin Nowak]

ow owww oooowww owowowowowowow!!I clicked on the link and I tried, I really did try, to read what the Oh Great Wki had to share.But I couldn't.My eyes glazed over in mere seconds and my brain refused to comprehend what I was reading. Then things got all fuzzy and that whirlie vertigo thingie started before my glazed eyes and my stomach started to lurch.... not kind as it's not even 4:30am and I have to leave for work soon.Thanks Alice, for bringing math angst back in living color for me.Thanks a lot.

[Christina (Apronstrings)]

hmmmm....that's so neat re:the kiddo and his math. My husband was/is a math wiz. They call him the human calculator or the count at work. he somehow ended up figuring a new mathy something in the 7th grade which got him on the news. ANYWAY (sorry i ramble sometimes) his parents rocked when it came to giving their kids stuff to do to quell their oublic school boredom. if he comes up with anything, i'll let you know.

[Michelle]

How old do you have to be before you can retire to Florida? My bags are packed and ready to go! I'm sick of the cold and layering.

[TheresaG]

When it's cold out, I try to console myself by thinking of places that are colder than New York City. Like Greenland. I went there once and it was a "balmy" -41. It was spring so everyone who lived there was happy to see it getting warmer. Anything is warm after that. Of course, I still complain about being cold.I found Yu Be cream on Amazon that helps with cracked skin.

[Sharon Barrett]

I'm new to Finslippy, but you are exactly right. It's COLD. I live in Wisconsin, and my car thermometer read -22 this morning. My new neighbor - a polar bear!.

[Jennifer]

Hi Alice - I've been lurking for a little while now and really enjoy your blog.I'm in Toronto, last night, at 10pm, the power went out and it is still out, nearly 12 hours later. It is minus 20'ish out so that means my house is an ice box so thankfully I'm not worried about my food in the fridge, no, I'm worrying about my water pipes freezing. They are saying that the power could possibly come back later tonight, like perhaps 10pm. good times. On a humourous note, I had just finished watching a zombie film right when it happened. Talk about timing. And if you're wondering, yes, there is plenty to talk about at my therapy sessions...a 33 year old female watching zombie films is definitely on the list of topics that "we" engage and discuss about.Keep your fingers warm so that we'll be hearing from you again soon. Even if it is a poem about the freezing temperature.Enjoy the weekend with your whiz! Still laughing about your entry about the fireplace, I'm sure that will be happening again!