Tag Archives: winter

Where Did March Go?

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It’s kind of ironic that I’m starting a blog post with a title saying March is over and we’re getting hit with a snowstorm today. Oh well.

The last time Cindy or I posted here, we were still freshly relaxed from our trip to Maui and busy getting into the spring feeling by doing some cleaning at home. Now, 4 weekends later, so much has gone on that it’s really too much to cover in detail.  In the last few weeks, we’ve:

  • Been to a few Hawks games,
  • printed out photos from our Maui trip,
  • ordered and received our vacation portraits (which we absolutely love),
  • another cavity-free trip to the dentist,
  • Cindy’s first visit to her new eye doctor,
  • celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with some grub at Hackney’s,
  • booked our next long weekend in Door County for my birthday in April,
  • rocked out (badly) at our second Rockband Nite party,
  • budgeted our next trip to Maui for September’s Maui Photo Festival (details soon),
  • made it back to Woodfield (aka Swarovski) for the first time since January so Cindy could get her annual member pieces,
  • and probably a dozen other things that I’m forgetting right now.

Hawks Games
Our 300 Level SeatsAs mentioned, we did manage to check out a few Hawks game this month. Two, to be exact, and both on the opposite sides of the spectrum. The first was a matinee game against the New York Islanders, a team which has the distinct honor of having the worst record in the league. And the Hawks played like garbage. There were actually people in the rows in front of us that decided to leave early, something we hadn’t seen in the handful of games we’ve been to this year.

The second game, however, was absolutely amazing. It was this past Wednesday against the Western Conference leading San Jose Sharks, and the rematch to the game we saw last year. Not only did we have incredible seats down in section 111, the Hawks played out of their you-know-whats to keep us on the edge of our seats the entire game. When the dust had settled, the Hawks were victorious by a score of 6-5 after needing a shootout to determine the outcome. 

Since we were setting closer for this game, I brought along some of my camera gear and took advantage of the view we had. I think I scored some pretty decent shots, and you can see them for yourself. We currently don’t have tickets for any more regular season games, but there’s always a chance we might grab some last minute. Potential playoff tickets go on sale Tuesday (they haven’t officially clinched anything yet), and we’re also planning on going to the upcoming Bud Light Hockey Night event at Buffalo Wild Wings the following week.

Door County
Well, seeing that it’s already been 4 weeks since our last vacation, we need to get away again. :)   Kidding aside, we’re going to spending my birthday up in Door County this year, as I celebrate turning 25 for the 4th time. This trip, we’re staying in Ephraim, which is just south of where we stayed in Sister Bay last December. We’re sticking with the 4 days weekend plan, leaving on Thursday (after a half-day at the office) and coming home Sunday night. Other than scouting out a few lighthouses, one of the state parks, and a spa day for Cindy, we’re planning to take it pretty slow and enjoy the peace and quiet.

It’s still a little bit chilly this time of year up in northern Wisconsin, but no where near the single digit temps and snow we encountered 4 months ago. From what we’ve been reading, we’re looking at mid-40’s during the day, which isn’t great, but still cool enough to switch on the fireplace and whip up the hot cocoa. May is supposed to be the time of year when everything starts blooming, so we’ll have to keep that in mind for next year.

Maui is Calling
As productive as March has been for everything else, I’m still pretty behind on my photos and website updates from our last trip to Maui. While I’m still working on getting caught up there, we’re already hoping to go back in September for the Maui Photo Festival and Workshops. It’s the first of what is shaping to be an annual event on the Valley Isle where novice and experienced photographers alike can attend workshops and hands-on instruction from professional photographers from around the world. Early registration ends on Tuesday, and I’m hoping to score the discount for that today or tomorrow and then start figuring out the rest of the details.

It’s a four day festival from Sept. 16th-20th, and we’re hoping to make a week out of it by leaving that Tuesday and ultimately arriving home the following Monday. While I’m off shooting and filling my brain (and my memory cards) with all new tips and skills, Cindy should have no problem finding things to do. It’s being held at the Hyatt Regency Maui, which has a HUGE spa and a quaint little stretch of sand along Ka’anapali Beach. It’s still walking distance from Whalers Village, where we always spend time during our annual trips, so it looks like a win-win for both of us. Plus, the 20th is our anniversary, and what better way to spend our anniversary than on Maui (again).

More Updates Soon
Seeing that it’s been almost four weeks in between this and our last post, we’re going to try and do a better job of keeping things updated here. March was such a busy month, but April doesn’t appear to be any less hectic, and once the weather (finally) starts warming up, we’ll be outdoors again and doing all sorts of fun things.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s time to head out and grab some lunch. Where’s my winter coat?

Some Weather We’re Having, Eh?

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I’m sitting here at Starbucks during lunch, like I have been doing for almost every workday since October. With the unseasonable, and possibly record-tying, warmth today, I switched up my drink order to a Passion Tea Lemonade, and started reflecting on how long it’s been since I’ve had one of these guys.

Of course, it will be my (non-alcoholic) drink of choice starting next week when we’re back on Maui. But wouldn’t you know it, we book a tropical vacation in the middle of winter to escape all this cold and snow, and the week before we leave, we get a heat wave and the snow all melts!  I guess my threat to not come back from Maui until all the snow is melted is pretty much useless now. :)
I also wanted to leave you with just one last image for when you get back inside from being outdoors enjoying weather.  This was taken back on December 1st, before all the major snow hit us.  Doesn’t that seem like it was soooo long ago?

Winter 007

The Cold Getting To Me

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Hard to believe it’s only the end of January and I’m already saying enough with this weather. Me, the one who grew up in a hockey rink 10 months out of the year. Me, the one that was rollerblading in 30 degree weather before Thanksgiving and ice skating outside with temps in the teens.  Me, of all people.

I don’t know whether it has anything to do with the record low temps, the fact that it was way cold, way early, or what. I’ve never felt this way about the cold. I don’t remember ever having a problem with it, after all these years.  I just remember toughing it out. I mean, in when I played hockey in high school, I was tough. It was my job to knock peoples’ teeth out. Okay, that only happened once, but like I told the suspension board, it was a clean hit. :)
Kidding aside, I’ve been having an unusually harder time this year. I think my fingernails are permanently blue, and I wake up each morning completely frozen from the back of my spine to the front of my chest. My entire core, bitter cold. Day in and day out for the past 4 weeks or so. It’s so odd, and no fun at all.  
But why this year? Why now? Cindy thinks it because I’ve lost so much weight and not as insulated as previous years.  I guess, but this was might weight in high school, when I had to walk home from school in this weather.  You know, barefoot and uphill, both ways. :)
Not that complaining about it is going to help, just needed to get it off my chest. In two weeks time, we be back on Maui and this cold will be a forgotten memory. And when we get back in March, I want all this snow gone, you hear me?

Difference a Week Makes

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Boy what a difference a week can make here in Chicago, at least as the weather’s concerned.

Today, it was a very pleasant 30° F for a good portion of the afternoon, something that I don’t think it has done much since Xmas. As we’re getting ready to back out to the United Center for the Hawks game tonight, I can’t help but think of how darn cold it was just 7 days ago when were at the UC last.

Contrast today’s 30° weather with last Wednesday’s -30° wind chills and 2 straight days below 0 air temps, and you get a good understanding of what I’m talking about. Tomorrow, in fact, we’re forecast to be above freezing as well, making it a great chance to get back out to the outdoor rink for a Thursday night skate (plans still pending).

But alas, these temps won’t last. Come Saturday, we’re back into the frigid cold and single digits for a high on Sunday. Sigh. There’s talk of snow on Monday, so that should be fun. Hopefully, there’s only a few more of these winter weather posts left before we leave for Maui next month. And then, after that, it will be March. Sweet.

Snow, Snow, Snow

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Yup, Snow, Snow, Snow. As sung to the tune of “Girls, Girls, Girls.”  Luckily, I don’t know any other parts of the song. :)

Anyway, I wasn’t being purposely underdramatic yesterday when I mentioned that the snow and frigid cold air was returning. I was just uninformed.  Turns out what I initially thought was just “a few snow showers” actually as the potential to leave us with 8″ of fresh snow in the matter of only 36 hours!  Our first dose was early this morning, leaving about 2 inches by the time it stopped, and the heavy stuff is going to be starting in a few hours, just in time to spoil my commute home.

This might also be retaliation for a note I left on my photography blog about not having enough snow left to take photos at Bunker Hill again. So if you believe in karma and looking for someone to blame all this recent snowfall on, I’ll take the heat (pardon the pun).

Skating Tonight?

Barring that I actually get home before midnight tonight with the evening rush hour, we’re still contemplating visiting the Niles ice rink for some public skating indoors tonight. The other part of yesterday’s post was still true, having evening temps only in the single digits next week, so if we want to keep up with our skating time, we’ll have to do it indoors.

That is until we go public skating on Maui next month.  You read that right, public skating on Maui!  It’s actually rollerblading out there, not ice skating, but it still looks to be fun.