Baby, it's cold outside!

When I woke up this morning it was 24° outside, right now it is 32°. Though it's not currently snowing, it was earlier. I happen to like the way the world looks when it's covered in snow, I think it's beautiful and sparkly. I also enjoy throwing snowballs at people, because I'm kind of a jerk, which I'm okay with. This will be my fourth winter in Chicago, and already I can tell it's going to be a cold one. I have my goose-down jacket and  mittens, new Uggs (all are courtesy of my mother), I have different colored scarves, and a lot of beanies. Cold will not touch me, except for my cheeks and lips, which if I need to I can wrap up with my scarves! I'm bundled up from head to toe!  I'm totally ready for the cold!

But... I'm not ready for the ice. The ice petrifies me. Today was the first day I've had to walk to work in the snow/ice. It took me twice as long, as I employ the "walk like a penguin" (or robot) technique. I walk slow, with my back straight (which is really good for my posture), and I take rather small steps. People who pass me while walking at a normal rate look like speed-racers in comparison. I am the tortoise with my slow and steady steps. I also think I look ridiculous, but my fear of falling wins out over my fear of embarrassment. 

My first winter here was one they called "Snowpocalypse", it was one of the worst winters Chicago has seen in 40 years. It was one hell of a hazing Chicago gave me to see if I wanted to join, but I made it through! But not without some bumps, bruises and a big ol' swollen knee. Sometime toward the beginning of winter I took I bad spill and landed on my right knee, it hurt something awful. And this was when I lived on the 3rd floor of a 3-story walk-up. So many steps! So after my fall I couldn't walk very well for a week or so, so I rarely left the apartment. And since then I've had this awful fear of walking in the snow. 

So now I have to figure out if I'm going to leave incredibly early to walk to work, or if I'm going to be the dork that takes the bus for less than 1/2 a mile, in order to catch another bus that will take me 1/4 of a mile. Ugh, option #1 scares me, and option #2 makes me feel like a lazy bum! 

Oh well, I chose this city, so I'll take whatever it throws at me (for now).