Freeze!

One thing I gotta say for such frigid temps outside...when a girl wants a Bloody Mary (like I did last weekend) and has no ice in the house, the miserable cold becomes her friend.

Just fill up a tray with water, stick outside your front door...



...and voila! Instant ice cubes, Chicago-style.



Now if I can only find a way to stay WARM, especially inside my house, well, I'd be a happy camper.

In case you thought I was exaggerating about the cold...

An official reading from my car this morning. It originally said -16 when I first got in my car. This reading was taken after driving for over an hour. 

And isn't that gas mileage sad? I usually get 25 miles to the gallon during warmer weather (I have a CRV), but the mileage goes to hell during the winter with all the idling and such.

Yay, January!

Bitterly cold

Right now it's a balmy -2 degrees F, with the wind chills at -29 below here in Warrenville, and I feel like curling up in my robe and slippers and just hibernating. But I can't, since Pete and I have a wake to attend this afternoon, and Christmas shopping to do. But I think I prefer to just admire the sunny yet windy day through my front door, rather than actually go out into the elements. Brrr!

I'll be posting pix from last night's movie experience later this evening. My Internet is being slow and goofy, which is very frustrating when I'm trying to catch up on my favorite blogs. Maybe it's slow due to the icy weather?

The ice storm cometh

If we thought Tuesday's afternoon commute was bad, well, today's commute will make that one look like a romp through the park. Or so they're saying. I can only hope the storm holds off til later tonight, and that it's neatly wrapped up and the roads are cleaned by the time Pete and I leave for work tomorrow morning.



Um, yeah, right.

Photo of the Week: "A Chill In the Air"

I can sympathize with this lone bird sitting in a barren tree. Winter is coming, and even though fall is nature's way of easing the world into the dark and cold, it is sometimes like a sudden dip into icy waters. The gray and wind and silence is coming, and I must say I don't completely wish it wouldn't arrive. I find winter to be a somewhat cleansing season in a way. Smells disappear, color fades, and even the light dims, until all that remains is the wind and the endless sky. One is then left to scurry inside, where life and laughter and warmth resides, and burrow and hibernate and hide under blankets until March rolls around. Winter makes one feel grateful for the blush of spring flowers and the thrill of thunderstorms that are yet to be. If one does not experience suffering or being without, then one cannot truly appreciate when life is golden and good and blessed.

So I sympathize with this lone bird, yet I know that in its own way, it is thinking and feeling much the way I am right now. It's now time to rest, recoup, reflect, and wait for that warmer spring weather that's teasing us just around the corner. To wait for those wonderful endless summer days and warm star-kissed nights. To dream about puffy clouds in blue skies and grass tickling your bare feet. To experience life and love and excitement and fun.