A snow story

Lately, This American Life is one of my favorite free podcasts. Sometimes when I'm sick of running to music, I'll download an episode and listen to it while I run. The format goes like this: each week there is a theme. Then there are several stories based around that theme.

So for today, the theme of my life is freezing cold; stories from my life that revolve around frozen things.

Act 1: A frozen car. Poor little Cleo the Camry doesn't seem to want to start in the cold anymore. After replacing a battery, alternator, and starter, something is still on the fritz. I think Cleo just prefers warmer climates. Hawaii, California, or Florida perhaps. Most days we'll get lucky and she'll start right up. Other days, luck is not on our side and no matter how much coaxing, coddling, or pushing we do, she won't give in. I think she's sick of winter. She's also nearly 20 years old, so we could always blame the lack of starting on old age.

Act 2: Cool running: an equation. Broken treadmill + an upcoming race = running outside in the snow. Last Saturday was supposed to be my "long run" day. I have a 10K race this Saturday, so last Saturday was supposed to be a long run to get me prepared. The bad thing is, I had to run outside. The worse thing is, it was snowing outside. But because I'm stupid, I thought it would be fun to run in the snow. About a mile into the run and I realized running in the snow is not fun. Not really even a little bit. But I kept at it and finished. This is what I looked like when I came in the door. The snow and ice were sticking to me everywhere. I had to roll my pants up because they were so soaking wet, and the heat from my head had escaped out my hat and then had frozen on top of my head. After this experience I've decided that snow-running is not for me. Spring will be here soon, right?

Act 3: Frozen man. Remember a long time ago I posted about not attempting things I'm not good at? Well, I've decided snowman building is also one of those things. The kids have wanted to build a snowman all year. What that really means is they want mom to build the snowman for them. Well I'm no good at it! My snowballs always crumble or the snowman's head falls off, or I end up freezing cold. I just don't like it. But after Tuesday's snowstorm, the snow seemed like perfect snowman-building snow. So Parks and his friend E went outside to build a snowman. It turned out OK, if I do say so myself. But it will probably be the one and only snowman that is built at our house this year. Hope they enjoy it.

And now we've reached the end of our program. Tune in next week for more exciting adventures from the W household. Who knows, I may just pick up a sponsor. ;)