Did you know everything stays frozen, like, all year in Iowa? I’m pretty sure it does. No, don’t try to argue with me, I am certain. And that whole “feels like” phenomenon when it comes to temperature, it actually applies here in Iowa, too. Like this morning, it was -7F, but it “felt like” -23. Which translates to so far beyond cold you really do not care what it “feels like” at all, because your appendages are frozen .04 seconds upon open-air contact. I’ll tell you what “feels like” really means: don’t feel it at all.
But, oh, look, along with frozen parts, 2010 has also come here in Iowa and I’m lucky enough to have spent the turn of the year with friends, and in a nice, warm home. I fear I’ve overstayed my welcome, and yet, I cannot bring myself to go outside. So then I am staying until spring, or until I hire a driver and pilot to get me home. The End.
In the meantime, I do go around taking photos of old barns bearing iceicles and frozen tin roofs, and empty cornfields dotted with an occasional tough herd of cattle or snowmobile tracks. Because there are two things to do here in the cold, and apparently none of them involve running outside, for me.
My friends here are runners, and both more tough than I when it comes to cold, but even they think -23F in the morning is asking a bit much of muscles.
Instead, we move right along to board games and the Wii and movies and watching the dog try to find the warmest spot of sunshine on the carpet. Until then, my running shoes are on… and keeping warm by the fire until it’s reasonable to go outside.
And 2010 is here, and I haven’t yet run, and that is pretty much fine by me.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Ooh, nice new running shoes?? It wasn’t nearly as cold in NY but I couldn’t bring myself to put on the new shoes santa brought me and get out there either! (no excuses now that I’m back in Seattle though)
Looks lovely. I spent the new year with friends having a bbq and sipping on drinks to keep us cool… A top of 40 degrees – phew!
At midnight the skies were filled with flashes of lightening and an incredible thunderstorm. Pretty awesome way to see in the new year all in all.
Happy 2010 LG.
Happy New year. Stay warm and I’m sure you will run before me!
well it’s been like, 17 here, and i say that’s too cold to run for me.
happy 2010! i hereby declare THIS this year we finally meet and go for a long run (and then wine) together.
I wish I could use the 70°+ weather as an excuse for not running.
Board games by the fire are the way we all need to spend the entire winter.
It is cold here too and then I remember my last winter in Omaha and remember that it is probably really cold there and wow… somehow 35F seems kind of tropical! And layers of ice… for like three months… I will take VA and DC any day (and yet the tropical idea does sound really nice – or a desert – or maybe that boring San Diego weather???)