Mary

I road my bike to work today for the first time this year.  I don't know what the temperature was at the time (except that I got too hot in my down jacket and neoprene mask), but it's like 35 degrees now, and supposed to get up to 41 later today.  Highs in the 40s tomorrow too.  We could go camping!  Except that we have plans for tomorrow night. 

Last Monday was Groundhogs Day/Candlemas/Imbolc.  It seemed like everyone was talking about it.  Probably many of them were talking about it since it was discussed on The Writers' Almanac.  I gave the radio a rasberry when they announced that it was sunny and therefore we'd have another 6 weeks of Winter.  Then I thought better of it and decided that only another 6 weeks of Winter sounded like fantastic news.  Later, my mom forwarded an email to me from my aunt in which she talked about their beautiful sunny Groundhogs Day in Bandon OR and how it felt like it was getting to be Spring, but it's actually just the cross quarter.  She observed that if the Groundhog see his shadow on February 2nd, then there will indeed be another 6 weeks of Winter, but this doesn't really have anything to do with the weather... there will be 6 more weeks of Winter because Winter is only half over and it will be another 6 weeks to the Spring Equinox.  She speculates that perhaps this is meant to keep us from getting our hopes up on beautiful sunny Winter's day.  Fair enough.  Though I'd put it this way: there are only 6 more weeks of Winter ahead.  I think I need to get my hopes up.  How else is one supposed to make it through the Winter? 

Last weekend, it was warm and the snow was almost gone, so Josh and I went out to Governor Dodge State Park for some hiking. It was okay, but disappointing as everything was gray and brown... dead looking, like the middle of Winter somewhere it doesn't snow much. It kept it from looking or feeling like Spring had arrived.

Well, last night we had a huge rain and thunderstorm. Fortunately the electric-works hadn't started yet when Josh and I biked home in it, because is was miserable enough as it was: 30 mile per hour headwind, 30 degrees, and pooring down rain. Josh faired a bit better than I as he was a little better dressed for it. My legs were so numb and cold by the time we got home!

But anyway, this morning when I got on my bike it was a whole different world outside. That fresh smell the world has after a good rain. Worms up from the ground looking for air. Robins down from the sky looking for worms. A redwinged black bird pirched above the wetlands looking at his reflection. A mallard swimming in the water. A little mist for good measure. The grass has all turned bright green, and even last year's dead cornstalks seem to have more color. It's like someone painted the world last night while I was sleeping, and it is a beautiful masterpiece.

Dear Livejournal,

For my birthday, I want the moon. I want it set on a chain so I can wear it around my neck.

Just thought you should know.

Love,
Me

Today is National Climate Change Day. I wish someone had told me before...

Yesterday was a really nice day. We made plans during the week to visit Pioneer Tree Farm up in McHenry, about an hour away from us. But I woke up in the morning inspired to move the furniture around in our apartment. The idea was sort of bumping around in my head before off and on, but at Ed and Mandy's Christmas party on Saturday, I was reminded a little more vividly how nice it would be to have a living room that didn't also have to double as the office and sewing area.

( Furniture stuff, and the saga of getting the couch into the living room )

( Adventures in trees )

Anyhow, it was a really lovely day. Practically a perfect day. It's the first day that Josh and I have spent all day doing stuff together off our computers in a long time... long enough I'd almost forgotten how much I missed it... and long enough I'd almost forgotten how little it matters to me WHAT we do together so long as we do it together. I feel rejuvenated and in love... in a way I haven't felt in far too long. It feels good.

We will be tackling the tasks of putting ornaments on the tree and moving furniture tonight, I think.

Happy Earth Day everybody!

(We should totally get Earth Day off...)