I Run These Towns

Michigan winters can be brutal. When I first moved here, in February of 2006, the temperatures did not rise above freezing the entire month of February. Harsh. In fairness with climate change our winters have generally become more mild, but this one has been tough. It's been cold and icy without any of the things that make winter fun (like snow one can actually play in).  Yesterday I got up to walk my dog at 6 am like I do every day. I checked the temperature, and it was 17 degrees. I hesitated because I had zero motivation to go outside in the dark with temps in the teens to walk the dog. But then I thought about the busy day I had ahead of me. I wouldn't have another good opportunity to walk her. She needs exercise and so do I. So I sighed and bundled up to walk the dog. You see the winter I've had ZERO motivation for any of the things. I don't feel like walking the dog. I don't feel like exercising. I basically don't feel like going outside. The winter blues ...

I love the holidays. December is always a blur of parties and events, and I love every single minute of it. I was hospitalized in early November, and one of my biggest fears was not being ready for all the holiday events I love so much. I shouldn't have worried.  I decorated for Christmas two weeks before Thanksgiving to be ready for the festivities. Starting the Friday before Thanksgiving we attended our community's holiday parade that kicks off the season and attended a cocktail party at a friend's house the next day. The day before Thanksgiving I put 225 Christmas cards in the mail. We had Thanksgiving with my in-laws and then flew to Arkansas where we enjoyed an annual weekend with amazing friends.  A weekend with friends in Hot Springs, Arkansas The first weekend in December we attended the inaugural Big Red Ball, a celebration of and fundraiser for our neighborhood organization Downtown Lansing, Inc. The following week was our son's 10th birthday and our 16th wedd...