Old Man Winter

So, after waxing poetic about how Spring had sprung in early March, I was left wondering where it had gone after St. Patty's day - maybe the patron saint had not just driven out the snakes rom Chicago with our celebrations (still have yet to see one though I have seen a coyote in the park!), but also the good weather. While I was thinking of packing up all my sweaters and booties and thermals, all of a sudden the heat was back on, the temps were in the 30s, and to top it all off, it was snowing. Yes, snowing in late March/ Early April. In fact, around my birthday, there was enough snow for a bit of accmulation on the ground and Cam to have her last great hurrah, rolling around like a pig in mud!

And all this time, I kept cursing the cold, wondering why my plans for a roof top celebration (another one of the last great hurrahs) had been postponed, and thinking alot about Global Warming (possibly because Al Gore was suddenly my new hero; I loved his documentary!). See the funny thing about the weather pattern was that we would have these suddenly hot days that were in the seventies and then the next day, back down to the thirties. Not only does that kind of bum you out (like highs and lows tied to the weather's goodness) but it also makes it kind of hard to want to plan anything too far ahead. Plus, after a while, you just get used to hanging out at home, waiting for it to be nice enough to crawl to a bar or pub and hang out with friend you have not seen since the cold began. Not because you're home bound (since most of my friends I am running into are in the building or the doggie park) but because we're all bundled up so tighly against the cold.

But finally, we had a couple of really beautiful weekends - which presents its own problems since I am used to the park being filled with dogs and their owners; nothing else. Suddenly, you have to contend with sun-bathers and volleyball players and tree climbers! Smile! Though I can't complain; spring and summer are also the season of the topless guys and in Lincoln Park, they do tend to be very very good looking. So I am hoping this weather pattern holds and that finally, Chicago's spring has sprung. I am ready for outdoor bars and short skirts and not having to wear a coat and a hat and gloves everytime I want to run errands or walk Cam. So here's to the good weather and the good times; may there always be warmth! And here's to a final rooftop hurrah, hopefully soon.