baby it's cold outside

Yes, I know that it gets cold in Chicago. That Chicago is notorious for it's long and blustery winters. So really I am not surprised but this sudden dip in the thermometer. This truly was expected on some level.

I was born on the east coast, although try to deny it as much as possible, so I do have so recollection of "winter". Someone recently told me that getting through the winter is like riding a bike – it will come back to you. Yet part of me feels so unprepared.

As a little girl I remember having to make the annual trek to the Buster Brown to buy boots. I hated boots. They were U-G-L-Y. I didn't care that they would keep me warm and from falling flat on my face. Every year I threw a hissy fit at the store – I didn't want any boots!

It got so bad my Mom refused to take me and made my Dad go instead. To appease me one year my father let me get white boots (who knew what he was thinking). They were prettier than the black boots, but still ugly in terms of footwear. I wanted mary-janes or better yet a pair of red ruby slippers. Those were much more my style. Here I am almost 30 years later, and I still don't want to wear boots, and to date haven't even looked for a pair.

I have also put off buying a coat, although I know that I need to act sooner than later. I joke that my current coat, which is nearly a decade old, is a step above felt. It has gotten me through thus far, but I don't think it will make it through a Chicago winter. At this rate it seems like I may just freeze to death.

Fortunately I do tend to run warm, but still that will only get you so far. I do believe in wearing as many layers as I can stand, and that is probably what has saved me thus far.

I still don't understand the heat in this building. It just seems to go on on its own every once in a while. As such it wasn't until a few days ago that I actually turned it on myself. I think that was the night we hit about 18°F. Which reminds me I need to call ComEd. I have been putting that off too.

The word is still out on whether or not we will get a white Christmas. I am not sure that would put me more in the mood or not. I confess this year I haven't really been able to get into the holiday season. I am still not finished with my holiday cards, which is usually something I look forward to. But I think it is more than the weather that is on my mind this year.

background noise :: baby it's cold outside