Outwitting the cold

I had a thought as I was standing on the platform for the L on Monday, shivering in places I didn't think could shiver. The cold weather puts a damper on most people's moods. Not only had the Bears lost the day before, but the train we were waiting for on the red line took 30 minutes to arrive. By the time I got on my train, the only appendage I could really feel was my thumb on my left hand - and just barely.

After I had thawed out enough to think clearly, I looked around at the people on the train with me. What I saw was almost as depressing as the lunch I had made for the day. It's not that people were sad physically - they looked sad because of the coats they were wearing. Let's face it - winter is drab, drab, drab in the Midwest.

It seems people spend more time being "sensible" by purchasing winter coats that are sturdy rather than fashionable. It seems like black, beige, army green and dreary navy blue are the it colors for winter. It makes sense because who wants to ruin a gorgeous cream colored coat in a gross Midwest winter? Don't get me wrong - there are some fabulous coats out there. They just lack character. I can only take so many black coats paired with a cream colored scarf.

The other day at work, I spotted a colleague with an amazing blue coat. It wasn't a dark blue or a baby blue... but it was a rich color. She looked fabulous. I've never thought red coats were all that practical or unique, but I spotted a girl on the train with one - and it looked good with what she was wearing (she was dressed down a bit with a green hoodie underneath which contrasted perfectly with the red of the coat).

So, luckily there are a few people in the city who dare to wear something a little different. At least they won't be depressed the next time the CTA takes a billion years to actually come.

A pretty meaningless post

Given that I generally have quite a bit of time to think about and ponder things, I often find that it is the simple things in life that generally give me the most pleasure and comfort.

I've notcied of late that I do silly things and make habits of others - almost to the point where it's ritual.

With the colder weather, I get a rush stepping on little scraps of ice on the ground - merely because of the satisfying "crunch" they make underfoot. That is perhaps my favorite part of snow - something I haven't really liked since I started driving.

I'll notice too when ads pop up on certain Web sites where you have to "beat the other guy" at something to win five free ring tones or some other ridiculous prize that requires you sign over half of your personal information, that I can't resist in participating. Maybe I'm easily amused or just plain bored - either way, it's a sick habit. I don't even need those ring tones!

Perhaps living alone has brought out the weird quirks in me. I do something every night when I get home that I never did before. I have to pull back the shower curtain and my bathroom to assure that no one is there to pop out at me. I haven't yet figured out what I would do if someone were actually there. Screaming is a good bet...

I suppose before I've always had some weird traits - perhaps these are just more noticable to me now that I live on my own and have to entertain myself the majority of the time. Oh well - I suppose it's all a part of figuring out what makes us happy to sustain ourselves. Whatever the reason you can bet that I can't wait for the next batch of snow to crunch through - even if it does mean temperatures in the negatives!

Purposely purposeful...

As I was walking (meandering mostly) to get to my train after work today, I was struck by a man, probably in his mid- to late-twenties. I wasn't struck for the usual reasons, although it is worth noting that he was dressed impeccably well, but rather because he was in such a hurry to get somewhere. Balancing some books and papers in his left hand and dangling a soft drink in his right, he moved quicker than most people on this cold night.

But perhaps what made me think the most was that he looked like he had a purpose... he was hurrying to get somewhere - someone, maybe - and nothing was going to stop him.

I think at one point in my life I used to be like that - everything I did was towards a greater purpose, something worth striving for.

Lately I haven't felt much of a purpose. More of a standstill. It makes me sad to think about. At one point, I was traveling through life, hanging on to things of importance. Somewhere along the way I let a brick wall stop me.

The question is - how do I climb that wall now?