Jen_Lada's Blog

We advise our viewers to limit their travel on days like Wednesday... but we TV people never take our own advice. Gotta get to work regardless, right? Unless the plows (should your street be so lucky) plow in your driveway... which is exactly what happened to me!

I'm showered and ready to head to the station Wednesday afternoon when I go out to get the mail and see a mountain of muck blocking my passage to the world. Time to grab the shovel, I suppose. But word is the husband's headed home from work anyway so I'd rather wait for a partner before tackling the un-DRIVE-able WAY. So that's exactly what I did.

We spent a huge chuck of the afternoon outside - it really wasn't that cold. Blustery yes but beautiful too. We shoveled... FOR A WHILE. Eventually, we took a break by taking a long and exhausting walk around the neighborhood. Found a lone open cafe and grabbed an early dinner before trekking back. Finished the shoveling and even made a few runs on the sleds! The backyard scene was really quite pretty.. til our dogs ruined it with their business. :)

The best news: we got a rockin' workout. Who needs the YMCA?

My husband and I just got back from a five day vacation in California. Hate away if you must. (wink, wink)

While it wasn't sweltering-hot, laying-out or ocean-dwelling weather, it was wonderful to be away during yet another Wisconsin blast from the skiies. The temperatures ranged between 40 at night to 68 during the day allowing me to walk and bike comfortably (though I did need a sweater at night.)

But man - you should have seen these California people shivering in their layers of sweaters, jeans, boots, jackets and hats! HA! Every single time (which was often) some local complained about how 'cold' it was I had to laugh... "I live in Wisconsin and there it's 12 degrees. 63 is not cold!" Buncha babies!

It made me realize - those of us in the Midwest are a lot tougher when it comes to brutal temperatures. I suppose we have Mother Nature to thank for that!

Give him credit for trying.

Our house is probably too large for my small family. After all, it's just my husband, me and the two dogs. Doesn't sound like too big a problem... unless you're trying to heat the darn thing in the winter. Which is why my husband made this rule: No heat til Thanksgiving. Boo.

So last night as the temperatures continued to plummet outside, I'm scooting around the place in sweat pants, two pair of wool socks, a turtleneck, a fleece and a huge sweatshirt with the hood up. I was this close to sporting a stocking cap and gloves. Instead I wrapped myself in a blanket on the couch while watching tv. He thought I was being ridiculous til I grabbed him with my ice cold hand. He jumped about a mile high before making his way over to the thermostat.

I'm not sure if it was the 'touch of death' OR the unappealing sight of his wife draped in layers and layers of sweats that pushed him over the edge... but the heat in our house is on. Though I gotta give him credit for trying to be economical!