Hoarfrost Monday

Hoarfrost: a deposit of needlelike crystals coating a surface. 

 Made for a pretty awesome drive to work this morning

Mile 8.5: Caught in the Rain

My goal of running took a serious hit when the weather chilled. But the weather actually feels nice again so I've been running (and procrastinating).

The other day I got caught in the rain while running and it was awesome. It's actually the first time that's ever happened to me, as I'm usually so against running that any sign of bad weather sends me back to the couch and my knitting.

Not only was it great to feel a little tough and get rained on, but I loved the smells of running in the rain! When Snelling was here a few weeks ago she said she was looking forward to running in Minneapolis instead of Chicago. I was intrigued, because Snelling runs in some pretty awesome places when she runs in Chicago, but she said that she was just really looking forward to the smells of running in Minneapolis, the fresh air, grass, rain, that remind you in the deepest sense that it is, in fact, spring.

So, as I conquered mile 8.5 (remember, this is a total mileage count not a per-run mileage count) I was glad for the cool down, the smells and I enjoyed being caught in the rain.

My Minnesota Mile Count: 8.5

Train-Riding-Weather

The weather has gotten nice enough that it's no longer justifiable to drive to school and walk through the skyways to work. It's time to take the train again!

It's actually been train-riding-weather for a few weeks now, but apparently Mother Nature didn't get that memo at the same time I did. A few Fridays ago when it was snowing, this was the scene at the station when I got off the train.

I am happy to report that the walk has been a lot more enjoyable lately! My spring green trench coat does the weather-protection job and my feet aren't wet when I get to work!

I've also really enjoyed taking the train lately because life has otherwise been so busy. You see, I'm a bit of a control freak and I have a very hard time just relaxing and taking life at a reasonable pace. For example, right now I am watching Friends on my computer, writing a paper and blogging. But when I'm riding the train, I have a guaranteed twenty minutes or so of doing nothing but sitting there and zoning out. I don't read on the train so it's not a good time to pack in a few more pages or reading and editing. I just have to sit there and wait to be wherever I'm going to be next!

I kinda like it, and I'm very glad that train-riding-weather is here to stay!

*I understand that lots of people take public transit every day all year, I'm clearly not that tough yet but I'm working on it!

It's All Relative

This spring's Minnesota weather has been a little insane. We've already had some high forty degree days and the snow has not stopped. This makes getting ready in the morning a challenging activity, as the clothing for noon is rarely heavy enough for leaving school in the evening.

The great news about this swing of the weather is that almost every day is better than the next. The other day I met a few friends for lunch, and even though it was just about 33 degrees and there was still a dangerously thin layer of ice on the sidewalk we talked about the beautiful, sunny weather as we walked through downtown.

The bad thing about the effects of the weather being all relative is that when the temperature does dip back down it's hard on the emotions and morale. In the depths of January, ten degrees feels warm and people start to shed the layers. But, the first ten degree day of the winter is bitter and the return to ten degrees after fifty feels like a personal affront.

While there are positives and negatives in all of this, I still love winter, the snow, weather and clothing. But, as this spring has set in I have come to really appreciate that warm, spring sun. I was wiping the snow off my car a few days ago was so happy to feel the sun beating down on me, warming me through my wool jacket. I guess that's the upside in all of this crazy weather. It is getting nicer, mostly warmer every day. Every day is sunnier than the last and we are inching our way towards full on Minnesota summer.

February Thaw Means a Stroll Through Downtown

These past few weeks have been very busy. I've been managing responsibilities at school, work and my late classes are feeling really late when they don't get out until 8 pm. The good thing about my busy schedule is that I can walk from school to work, so when I have a few hours I can run over there, put in some face time and get work done, then make it back to school.

Anyone who rushes through downtown skyways knows that, if your cruising inside for ten blocks, you get hot. Temperatures aren't regulated, some buildings or skyways are really warm and balmy and some feel like they're not insulated at all. I don't wear my coat to work during the winter because I can stay inside the whole time. But, staying inside means that I'm inside all day. And, as previously stated, my days are very long these days.

But today - today was beautiful! Temperatures in Minneapolis were in the low 50's and I was able to walk to work outside! No jacket. Just a suit coat, the sun, and me.