So in the last post...

...I said I didn't "get" twitter (among other things).  Well Mac does, he's been tweeting (he will not share with me his twitter ID), and he's been following people for a while (because he's always been way cooler than me, even when he was little).

Last night, Brad and I headed to the basement as the weather sirens wailed, and we were surfing cable channels looking for information when Brad's phone rang. It was Mac, calling from Baton Rouge--you know the one in Louisiana--to tell us a tornado had been cited at a nearby airport (Aurora) and stuff was "going on" near a local high school (Naperville/Aurora city borders). 

How did he know?  Twitter.  Yep tweets from his Illinois people caused him to call to see if we were safe.

So there you go, I guess you can say I twittered by proxy.  I can also say I still don't get it, but it sure is helpful that my boy does.

(Oh and an add on to yesterday's list?  Jack Nicholson as a sex symbol, not ever.)

A 70 Degree Weekend

     In effort to save some green and to be more green, Brad and I have been discussing thermostat control in the Seaman-Stewart-and-son household.  We're both susceptible to feeling chilled, and Brad often tinkers with the temperature to keep us both warm and cozy.

     If you don't live in the midwest, well, it tends to be cold here in January.  I believe the high temp today was 11.  That's before the wind chill.  If you don't live in the midwest, well, I can't begin to share the formula for wind chill.  It has something to do with the air temperature and the wind speed creating a "feeling" of cold(er) on one's skin.  Whenever wind chills are reported, it's never because it's balmy outside.  In the summer, even on blustery days, we don't hear, "Oh and today's wind chill is a lovely 78 degrees!"

     Anyway...

    We decided to stick to 70 degrees.  No fooling with the thermostat during daytime and evening hours. After 48 hours of 70 (cooler overnights) in our home, I'm trying to figure out why 70 feels so warm in the spring and fall when I'm outside, but it feels so chilly within our walls.  No Snuggie for me (not EVER), but I am wearing:  socks, slippers, jeans, a sweatshirt, a fleece and a scarf.  Inside.  And when I was downstairs knitting, I also had a throw across my lap.  Brad wears about the same, only instead of a scarf, he dons a hat.

     Seriously, I'm wondering if another coat of nail polish will actually warm me.

     Brad said something this morning about feeling a new kinship with people who endured winter hardships on the prairie back in the 1800s.

    We are cold.  (We are old?)

     The best news yet?  NICOR (our gas company) is said to be raising rates by 30 percent this month.  So,truthfully, even if our bill stays the same, I'll see it as a win.

Winter (?) Fun

Know this:

1) Because of a snow day our "winter" party was canceled the last day before Christmas, I mean winter, break (this occurred, obviously, back in December).

2) At noon:10 yesterday, Friday, ISATs (the state tests) ended for us after four days. Seven hours of kids testing done?

This called for a celebration.

3) Though it was still winter, it was 25 degrees warmer than usual yesterday--we hit a high of 65 here. A total fluke as today it's back in the 40's.

So, what did we do?

Winter crafts!

A room mom came in and helped the kids make these cute snowflake ornaments.

(I think our tables will have glitter glue on them until June...)

And, we made these banana snowmen, a healthy and sweet treat I found on another woman's blog. She got it from Family Fun magazine.

I thought the kids might think it was lame, but what I love about this class is they let themselves be kids (I know, you're thinking, "Well, they are kids."

But sometimes 5th graders think they're too cool for the school...) They were TOTALLY into it.

Here's Jordan's snowgirl buying candy from a vending machine, and Luke's snowman golfing. Okay, so they journeyed away from the winter theme.

The funniest thing was the mini-M & M's and the Skittles were melting (the kids said they were bleeding), just like a real snowperson would have outside...on a gorgeous 65 degree day.

Oh, the carnage!

Still, too cute!

The best I've ever looked?

Yesterday was Wacky Wednesday for January--mismatch day. Some of the kids looked great, but you know, we're supposed to be working all day, so I didn't get any snaps. So sad. I went for subtle, and the kids just loved my footwear. This blogging thing has me taking the weirdest pictures.

Cabin fever has struck big time. Yikes! I decided this week to fight it and I started walking at lunch, figuring if I get out at least three times a week, the fresh air and sometimes sunshine will help.

My friend Tina has started this "Winter Babes Club" on facebook, and one of the requirements is a picture of oneself outside enjoying winter. This is me, snapped by Kylee, at lunch time today. She said, "But I can't see your face!" Yep, that's my goal. Full on warmth. You must know, I was smiling; I'm actually enjoy these short breaks from room c-106.

By the way, we teachers call these lovely parkas, "recess coats." So fetching, eh?

I walk (trudge, slide, mince, try to keep from falling) about a mile, and it does me good. Can't go out tomorrow, and I'm a little bummed about that.

Take that cabin fever!

I keep telling myself...

...snow is pretty, snow is pretty, snow is pretty.

I'll let you know when it takes hold and I believe it wholeheartedly.

(Yep, it's snowing again.)

Thank God it's Friday

(You should be hearing, "Island in the Sun" by Weezer. Turn it up and feel, well, warm!)

When I posted this photo last weekend, the caption should have been,

"You ain't seen nothin' yet."

This week brought two blizzard warnings, but thankfully no blizzard. I drove to school in this Wednesday morning:Thankfully every driver around me drove carefully and safely--I didn't see one fool on the road. I was quite late for a faculty meeting, but I spent a lot of drive time meeting with God about a very personal matter. This was a blizzard warning day , and it certainly had the makings for an awful day, but the sun was shining by lunch time.

Saw this on my drive in too, winter can be pretty: Will someone remind me of that from time to time? I have a feeling you'll have plenty of opportunities.

Thursday, school was cancelled due to extreme cold. The high for the day was -3. This is how stir crazy I got, I played with my camera. Here's my snowman looking longingly out the window...

Classes today would have been cancelled too, but it was a scheduled teacher work day (we always work, but today we did so without kids), so I drove in (-14 degrees) and thanked God, administration, and the taxpayers for my new classroom heating unit until work was done and I drove home (-5)!

Now for a three day weekend that includes a baptism (stay tuned), small group, and daytime highs in the 20's. That's a decent hat trick!

Weather Watch 2009

Okay, so we're under a blizzard warning. I can't ever remember being warned of a blizzard specifically, so we'll just have to sit back and see how this all turns out...

Winter Treat

I heard on the news yesterday most winters Chicago sees 39" of snow. Winter is less than a month old, and the city of Chicago has already received 33". Now, we live about 35 miles from the city limits, and it snows a bit less here usually, but yesterday we got frosted by three more inches and overnight we're told we'll get three more.

So since it looks like this outside,

Brad (pictured here in his "Obama Hat") asked me to make hot chocolate this afternoon. One thing I do to mine (remember, I'm well over 21) is add a little butterscotch liqueur. It makes the drink into a hot, liquid butterscotch-caramel-tasting treat. A friend shared this with me over a decade ago, and I've shared it with many others since. Try it, you'll like it!

My friend Chris gifted me with these mugs, some sipping chocolate (I'm waiting until my Nesquik is gone to use it), and this bottle at our Christmas party. Attentive friend that she is, she knew to get extra large mugs...