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So, we got some snow. Ok, maybe a lot of snow. Navead got a snow day from work and braved rather treacherous roads to come up and play some scrabble, take a nap, and make gingerbread cookies. We tried to play in the snow, but I got stuck in four foot drift and decided I had amassed the appropriate amount of snow in boots to call it a day. Apparently, the rest of the state felt similarly, because by 5pm nearly every big road on this side of Colorado was closed; only seven miles of I-25 remained open in the entire state. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled and an alarming number of holiday travels are stuck in the airport. The governor has actually asked people to stay home. This storm is certainly frustrating a lot of people's plans, but tucked in safe at home I'm really enjoying it. We've got food and hot cocoa, games, movies, and yoga mats for a little morning exercise. Yeah for the Holiday Blizzard!

Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing... I don't remember much of Chris after middle school. We were friends in those awkward years before either of us was particularly certain about where we meant to go with our lives. The Gulf War was over and there was no indication that twelve years later, on an ordinary day when I would go to work, study for class, and kiss my sweetie goodnight, he would die trying to save lives in an ill-advised war. ...where have all the flowers gone, long time ago... I didn't know that he had joined the Navy until I heard he'd been killed; I probably hadn't thought of him in years. But his death has stuck with me. It made the war personal in a way I hadn't felt before. Thousands of Americans and thousands more Iraqis have been killed for a purpose that is still not clear. Are we fighting for justice or vengeance or oil or democracy? Or are we fighting because we just don't know what else to do? Either way, I hate to think o...

A prayer for those who have taken the next step... O my God! O Thou forgiver of sins, bestower of gifts, dispeller of afflictions! Verily, I beseech thee to forgive the sins of such as have abandoned the physical garment and have ascended to the spiritual world. O my Lord! Purify them from trespasses, dispel their sorrows, and change their darkness into light. Cause them to enter the garden of happiness, cleanse them with the most pure water, and grant them to behold Thy splendors on the loftiest mount. -'Abdu'l-Baha

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays because it means good food and spending time with family and friends. You just can't go wrong. And this year was exceptional, even for such an awesome holiday, because my family and Navead's family celebrated together, complete with three year old nephew and two Persian aunts. Even better, it included Abra who came out from Seattle to be with us. It was fantastic! To make it even better, Navead's aunts Fari and Simin cooked a spectacular day-after-thanksgiving meal which included loobya-polow, fezenjan, qormeh-sabzi, ash, kotlet, and fresh pomegranate for dessert. It was spectacular, in spite of some hesitancy regarding the ash ( pronounced "osh" which is the noodley bean soup in the small bowls). And it was fun getting to spend time with his family. Most of his aunts and cousins live in other cities, so they were some of the first extended family members I got to meet. Of course, the week was doubly blesse...