Never Hide from the Shadows

I feel like the groundhog who saw his shadow last week.  But, instead of six more weeks of winter, I have five more weeks of only walking.  Bummer—I was expecting that the six week post-op appointment I would be released to do some heavier cardio like the elliptical or exercise bike.  But no, to avoid relapse I am to hold to my walking for another five weeks.  That, plus the upper body work out I created using the whopping 3-lb. weights and stretch band.

Is it a dirty secret that I LIKE to exercise?  I feel restless, bored, stress buildup, physically tight (and let’s face it, we ALL get fatter if we don’t move—that is NO secret) when I sit still too long.  So, this news depressed me for about a day.  I want to really sweat.  I want to get ready for my spring break beach trip!

But, as I walked the treadmill the next day—too icy to be outside, for risk of slipping—I realized those were selfish thoughts.  I vowed to banish them from my mind.  At least I CAN walk.  There are so many people unable to walk, others who choose to remain sedentary. To the latter, I ask why?

I realized that I have been actually eating better since restricted to walking, trying to  avoid gaining weight during my twelve week respite. I have really paid attention to what I am eating throughout the day, without the heavy exercising option.  I have planned healthier meals, snacked less, indulged in fewer sweets, and managed to even lose a couple pounds while walking around my neighborhood and on the treadmill.

So if you have to modify your routine,  break your step, let yourself wallow a moment, but don’t let that stop you.  Slow down a pace and think:  How can I change it up?  Improve what I can do?  Increase my knowledge about myself?  Stay happy?

Then surpass myself?

Six more weeks of winter?  Throw a snowball and smile, even if you can’t strap on those those beloved cross country skis, don’t hibernate.  What’s the fun in that?  C

 

Snow Stories

So many pictures are open for interpretation.  The captions are mine, on some photos I took today. Look for mystery up, down.  You never know that you will see! C

Just blown snow? Or white frog legs? Dead rabbit?

 

 

Snowflakes, frozen in time.

Chicago winter palm trees? (really grasses from my yard)

Yes, I have a dog track in my yard! Lots of racing, no animals ever hurt here:)

Spring Tease

We who live in the land of all-four-seasons have one day we look forward to all winter–the first day the air hints of spring, the sky egg shell blue, warming winds drying the winter-brown grass.  You can’t appreciate this day in the tropics, the dessert, the southwest.

On that day–today—we pull out our bikes and golf clubs and wash the car and walk the neighborhood and roller blade, anything, anything to soak up that smiling sun.  My kids pull out their capri pants and flip flops–who cares if it’s only in the low 50′s when they leave for school–because we are so tired of the same shirts and jeans and boots and gloves.

Birds abound, swarming the bird feeder and twittering away, the dogs lie on the porch and keep guard, the cat gets up from its lazy spot in the sunny window, stretches, and strolls to another.  (Do they do much more?)

Unless you spend the winter in freezing temperatures, snow days, icy roads, gray skies, you cannot truly enjoy the first day of springlike weather. Surely to be followed by another just-above -freezing day. But we can savor it until the next one, impatiently waiting for the next one to break through. C

Who lives here?

Where do I live? In a lovely home, in a neighborhood that still stuns me I live in it everytime I walk Zoe, surrounded by lakes (some manmade), wetlands part of my property and encroaching further onto the yard–err, football field,  soccer field, dog  training area, volleyball court, artist studio, calming edifice, bonfire home–whatever it happens to be at the moment.

Nature reclaiming its own.  I often wonder if we left for 10 years and no one touched my mostly native gardens or yard, what would my property look like?  What critters would make my house their own, first creeping in through crevices and someday open door, swinging in the elements?  I can take a guess, based on some of the animals have seen this winter.

The young buck, sauntering through our yard, pawing at the now-fallen apples in the yard, who acts as if he owns the place.  After several week’s disappearance, he will reappear, majestic and sure.  And if we don’t see him, his tracks are the first in the morning snow, looking like an early-morning skiier left them.

There is the tiny, dark grey field mouse that hunkers down under the bird feeder,gnawing and shivering, hiding under nearby evergreen branches as we approach.  We send the dogs to chase the fattened squirrels, who fight with the many birds for the seed and bread we daily leave.  Cardinals, robins (even in winter), finches, singing wrens abound, a woodpecker hammering at the eaves.

And in the darkness, the coyotes have made their plaintive nightly calls, sometimes a lonesome howl, sometimes the eerie party noises when they have made some kill in our yard.  Haunting, but beautiful, it runs chills through me everytime. 

I may own my home, but the animals own the area– though they change with the seasons. I hope it stays that way. C

Chicago Loves

Other than the weather, what’s not to love about Chicago?  I’m sitting in a coffee shop, after walking across the city  from the train station on a frigid below zero morning (with wind chill–like the ”lack of humidity” in the Arizona heat that keeps it cool, the winter wind makes it colder than seems possible.  Where are all the hot-aired politicians to warm it up?  Oh yeah, one was arrested by the feds last week).

People are bundled up like toddlers, shuffling along the city streets, bike messengers delivering packages, eyes watering, ipods playing, furs on men and women–can’t an ash from your cigarette catch that fur on fire?, cars stream along the city streets, the highways are bumper to bumper, the train windows fog as passengers fill the aisles.

So many reasons to love Chicago in all seasons.  Here are just a few of mine:

1. The Bears

2. Hour train rides to enjoy all the city has to explore–only $5 on the weekends!

3. FREE Lincoln Park Zoo

4. The Bean, Milennium Park, and Buckingham fountain

5. Theatre–so many great shows, too little time and cash.  And the inside of the glorious Chicago Theatre

6. Large venues and corner bars to watch up-and-coming or fading away bands

7. Cool graffiti

8.  A myriad of ethnic neighborhoods to embrace whatever culture you wish

9.  Lake Michigan on a sunny day–floating diamonds!

10.  Bike trails along the lake

11.  Hidden parks for kids to play

12.  Free ice skating in winter

13.  That we allow Disney to “sponsor” the lighting of Michigan Ave. for Christmas.  Talk about selling out!

14.  The White Sox–and northside/southside rivalries. Sorry, all my Cub friends

15.  In the Loop, gridlike steets that are numbered numerically, so it’s easy to find places.

16. FREE summer festivals, farmers markets and art shows

17.  Great shopping, if you like that type of thing

18.  Underground bars, and ones high above the city

19.  The Chicago skyline.  Best in the world, look north from by the Planetarium for a great photo op

20. Fab friends who share a city condo with their friends.

21. Natives who think this city rules over NYC.

22.  WXRT. 

This list could be endless.  Add what you like about Chicago in the comment section, if you wish.  May the clear blue skies and beaming sun warm your hearts, if not your cheeks.  C

Has spring sprung?

Will spring arrive by May?  I certainly hope so,  despite this funky snow/rain/cold weekend.  Here are  some  photos I shot in December, just to remind us that the weather truly was worse out there. (but

gave opportunities for beautiful pictures).

With the sun peeking through the billowing grey and white clouds, I can see two Mallards (nicknamed Chip and Dip) swimming in the water-filled culvert in the front yard.  We had a muskrat hanging around the backyard all day yesterday, fascinating us as he waddled about the yard, and an elegant heron flew overhead.  The frogs serenade us with their mating songs throughout the days and nights–do they ever sleep?–and the first crocus are searching for warmth, their purple and white heads turned towards the sun. 

Here are a couple pictures I took after writing this post today, of our yard and Freddie–the new nickname for the muskrat:

Yes, spring is coming–just slower than usual.  We who live in the Midwest can certainly appreciate the changing seasons, especially after a snow-filled winter.  C