Holy Cold

    As I left my apartment this morning at about 8:30, the temperature was -2 with a windchill somewhere in the 20s.  "Why do I torture myself by living in the midwest in January and February," I thought, bracing myself against the wind that's inexplicably always blowing in my face.  With my glasses fogged up and frozen in that state, I seriously wondered how I would make a good, meaningful day out of this shaky beginning.  It didn't seem possible.  And yet, this has been one of the better days I can remember and here's why:
    1) Handel, Haydn, Mozart--god I love these guys. We sang these very high classical pieces at church today. The music is so brilliantly written, all you really have to do is show up and give it about an ounce of effort and the product is so stunning, you wonder how it's possible.  For me it doesn't get better than that.
    2) Meghan and JP were witness to it. Possibly surpassing the call of "friends," both showed up in the sub-zero temperatures to hear the repertoire this morning.  I pretty sure I wouldn't have...in fact I was thinking about not going myself (and I'm in the choir) so 10 extra credit points for them.  They even managed to survive through a homily that was shameful...even sinful it was so old-fashioned.  Snoozing...snoozing...snoozing.
    3) Brunch. The concept of this meal holds a dear place in my heart. Eating breakfast (and a lot of it) ranks up there with sports and music as seriously, devoted hobbies of mine.  So, when we went out on a limb and trekked to Nookie's Tree after church I was nervous.  Who knows what you're walking into with a restaurant you've never tried.  Well, turned out, we walked into good.  Huge breakfast, light dining room, no rush, excellent food...good times.
    4) The Nap Plan. I got about 4 hours of sleep last night (mostly because my electric blanket woke me up by burning me (another story but a little passive-aggressive I'd say).  So the minute I rolled out of bed today I knew a nap was in my future and, oh, it still is.  Just the thought of it makes me happy as I sit here, eyes slightly burning, feeling a little breathless.  Making it even sweeter, it is the gift to myself for really kicking it in at the gym this week.  It's my scheduled workout...for my soul. Couchy-couch here I come.
    5) Entertainment Weekly.  Usually arrives on Fridays.  Didn't this week and I was wondering where, exactly, it was (probably in the Rogers Park post office being enjoyed by all the postal workers as it seems to arrive later and later each week).  Anyway, I checked my main from yesterday and *pop* there it was in my mailbox.  This provides the means for kicking off the nap plan and ooh it feels so good.
    6) Furniture Rearrangement. After the nap, because TOMORROW'S A DAY OFF, I'm going to spend the evening rearranging my furniture.  It gives me a new lease on life, a new perspective, and allows me to play around with my new software that lets me record from my keyboard to my computer.  The inevitability of the fun seems nearly impossible to describe.
    So there it is.  I'm gonna go make some coffee, gather up my red down blanket and hunker down so that I can ready myself for the impending nap.  God.  That's a good day.