mattyblog

Hello from the Midwest

It is -5° Fahrenheit outside in Chicago right now. Reading the weather from bed this morning I saw the weather app blurt out that it "feels like" -25° (-31.6° Celsius for any of you Celsius perverts out there). That's cold. That's so cold that I am unsure of what adjectives are even available to properly describe it. "Dangerous" is one that comes to mind - so is "uncomfortable". As a good citizen of the Midwestern United States, I've got a proper jacket for this kind of weather along with base layers, neck wear, footwear, hats, and gloves. This is the winter gear I spend all season hoping I never need to use very much. It doesn't get this variety of "cold" too often, but the heavy duty winter clothes are crucial to have if you're spending any time outside in "feels like" -25° kinds of conditions.

My dog Donut is part Husky and really enjoys the cold. He watches me read the weather from bed every morning while he patiently waits (sometimes impatiently) for me to get moving. On days like today, it's tough to get out of bed. I'm thinking about all the layers I have to put on before I can take the dog around the block and feel heavy and tired. I know I'll be doing it several more times during the day. It won't be getting any warmer for a day or so, and it won't be easy, but at least the sun is shining.

In a little while I'll go work up the nerve to see if I can get the car to start. I need to run it a little bit so things don't freeze. For now though, I'm warm inside.

Selfie of a mustached man looking into the camera wearing a large parka with a faux fur hood. A hooded sweatshirt is visible under the turned up hood of the jacket. He is wearing a neck gaiter, and an orange winter had on underneath the hood. A slight smile visible.
Selfie of a mustached man looking into the camera wearing a large parka with a faux fur hood. A hooded sweatshirt is visible under the turned up hood of the jacket. He is wearing a neck gaiter, and an orange winter had on underneath the hood. A slight smile visible.