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hibernation mode

February 8, 2010 | Chicago, why I hate winter

Every year come November, I start dreading the winter. When February hits, I wonder why in the world am I still living in Chicago. That’s where I am at right now. I’m dreaming of California. Even by late March birthday? Still a chance for snow. Come May, we should be all clear. Then summer hits and I fall in love with my city all over and decide I never want to leave. Until winter hits again.

Repeat. Year. After. Year.

Right now I’m in full on hibernation mode.

I hate leaving the house unless I absolutely have to because it’s way too cold to want to do anything. I’d much rather sit at home in comfy clothes watching Mad Men and wondering how exactly do I make an old fashioned. I have all the necessities for Project Waiting for Spring: a fridge full of wine. A puppy. A shelf full of books and tv shows on dvd. Gchat open for talks with friends. If I had a boy too, someone would probably have to physically drag me kick and screaming from here. I definitely wouldn’t emerge until late spring.

It takes a hell of a lot to get me out these days. Saturday it was lunch at DMK Burger Bar with some of my favorite Chicago girls and it was totally worth it. This coming weekend I have a movie! Valentine’s Day movie on Valentine’s Day weekend.Basically, I go out maybe once every two weeks, if that. I promise you’ll see more of me out and about when it gets nicer out.

Maybe I’m boring, lazy or lame but until you’ve been through a Chicago/Midwest winter, you have no idea. It sucks. A lot.

AND.

Rumor has it, we’re suppose to get hit with 10 inches of snow all in 24 hours.

So now you know where to find me.

Let’s cuddle.

39 Comments so far
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Maybe this is our last blizzard? When does spring start, anyway? I’m also getting reallllly sick of the cold and being stuck inside! On the upside, maybe you can teach the puppy to roll over?

Chicago in winter sounds similar to Glasgow in winter . . . only worse. And I HATE the cold. I can’t wait for the spring to hit although, like you, we could end up with more snow in March too – or a total heatwave.

I am secretly liking the excuse to stay in, curl up in my bed and do nothing but sit on the internet though…

I’d happily trade! We have NO snow here whatsoever and it’s depressing! The weather is freakishly warm (+3 Celsius, +37 Fahrenheit).

yeah that is way too much snow. we have some rain here but it should be gone soon. then you can come visit and we can do fun stuff together.

I’m exactly the same way. I would much rather stay home than do anything between Jan 1st and March 30th. February is the worst month to live in Chicago!

Um…Canadians sympathize.

Um, yeah. After hearing all about the huge snowfall the east coast got, I was actually a bit happy to be in Chicago in February, for once. But then I heard that forecast and am less than thrilled… guess it’s our turn.

I too go into hibernation mode in the winter (current pastime of choice: watching the Office on Netflix, starting from season 1), but finally got out of the house this past weekend (saturday AND sunday! must have been fooled by the sun). It was fun. I wish it was warm enough to do it more… California sounds pretty awesome right now!

I am the exact same way. I hibernate like its nobodies business. I have friends I havent seen in weeks because its too cold to go out. Actually the past weekend I was snowed in and loved every minute of it, but I am always happy to see Spring come.

I am right there with you, in spirit as I am actually in the frozen tundra that is Mid-Michigan. I HATE winter with a passion. There is nothing about cold and wet that appeals to me. Come on spring…we are waiting!

You know, for some reason, this winter has been hitting me really hard too. I’m just glad that in the past few days it’s not snowed and all the old snow melted, so while it is cold, it isn’t all wintery. But I cannot wait for summer either. And needless to say, I am definitely dreaming of moving to California or Hawaii or someplace that doesn’t have a crappy winter like we do.

I’m in full on hibernation mode myself! And it’s turning me into a bad housewife b/c if it’s too cold/snowy/rainy for me to go out during the day, sometimes I have Boo pick up some necessities on his way home from work. I know! I know! I’m terrible, but he passes the grocery store!

In other words, I spend all day logged into gmail and we could totally chat.

I was in Chicago in March almost 2 years ago and I don’t know how you do it. I complain about winters here and Chicago makes this place seem tropical in comparison.

You have my deepest sympathies and upmost respect.

I certainly do not envy you. Fortunately, Washington is located on the Pacific coast, so we have mild winters and my area hasn’t seen any snow!

Am I crazy for planning a move to Boston when it was in the 60s today here? Probably, but I am dying for some snow. Give me a couple years–I’ll be empathizing and begging for more cocoa.

I hate winter too. And for some strange reason I decided touring Europe in their winter was A Good Idea.
Clearly, I am not normal.

Ugh, I am THE SAME way. I love Philadelphia. I love wandering the city and playing in Rittenhouse Square, but in the winter, you can find my in my house in the suburbs all cozy and warm. I seriously DID not go outside during winter break.

Chicago summers more than make up for the craptastic winters.

It’s ironic, I lived in the Midwest for 18 years, but this winter in DC is the worst I have ever seen (20+ inches in Dec., 30 inches last weekend, and 10-20 more tonight and tomorrow). Good luck surviving it!

This is why you need to come visit me in AZ, where it’s in the 70s. You can either drink in your cold house or come drink by the pool with me.

If I could sleep from November to March and wake up just in time for spring, I would do so in a heartbeat. There’s two feet here with another 6-12 on the way and I’m about to cry from it all.

I do the same thing. In Cleveland, we always get hit with tons of snow and this weekend is no different.

Seriously, it feels like winter will never end. And having a birthday in February (the 18th) blows monkey turds. It’s so depressing. I don’t feel like doing anything except watching tv and consuming freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Oh, and snuggling with Cookie of course!

I’m part of the Midwest Winter Hibernation Olympic Team. I’d like to think I have a gold medal.

Also – THIS SNOW?!? WTFBBQLMAO!

Like Ben said, we Canadians sympathize.

When I moved to Chicago everyone told me to reserve judgment for the summer because people hibernate in the winter. On days like today, I can understand why!

Jamie Reply:
February 9th, 2010 at 8:03 pm

@maris, definitely. You’ll fall in love with Chicago when summer hits

yeah, I don’t do snow nor winter so hibernating is obviously the best (and smartest) choice even though there isn’t much snow seen around Charlotte, NC – the principle of winter just pisses me off.

I feel your pain…I’ve lived in the Chi for 32 long years..Every year I hate winter more and more. At least I can work from home on days like this though Spring is almost here!

I love Chicago in the summmer! Enjoy you valentines day outing.
I live in Florida, and Im usually onthe beach by now, but it’s still cold and rainy – by weekend you will have to drag me out of bed,too.

After your snow hits, its coming for us. Thanks a lot for your sloppy seconds JAMIE.

There is SO MUCH about the midwest I miss and I’ve only been gone a month. Subzero temps are not one of them. Lucky for us out here though, Colorado gets dumped on bigtime when it snows like any midwestern blizzard. The bonus though is that it doesn’t last more than a couple of days because the temps get back up in the 40s-50s relatively quickly.

Don’t hate. Come visit. (And cuddle)

Ever consider actually leaving? Though I left Pennsylvania, we’re still getting hit here in NC this year, so I doubt there’s any escaping it in 2010, but maybe you should think about a big move to a warmer climate.

Doni’s right. We get dumped on but its always gone in like, 2 days.

when are you buying your ticket to Denver?

We’ve received more snow this winter than we have in a really, really long time. The first snow was, eh, OK. It was pretty you know. But then we were stuck at home for too long. The subsequent snow storms were just annoying. I’m so over winter. And ready for the summer!!!

I’m right there with you. I grew up on Lake Erie with lake effect snow, not fun. Although the extra snow days we always got as a kid were fun! I wish they had snow days for grown ups

I’d hibernate from January to June if I could. After the holidays the cold gets old, then it’s followed by gray days and mud. I think I’m going to fight winter head on and have a beach party in house. We’ll wear tropical shirts over our long johns! Take that winter!

I feel the exact same way. I cannot wait for the moment I fall in love with Pittsburgh again. Right now, as I watch the snow fall, for the what seems like the eight millionth day in a row, all I can feel is anger.

2010 better get it together.

Hibernation mode here too…I feel the same way living in NJ. Always wondering why I’m still living her in the Winter, but then totally ok in the summer…lather, rinse, repeat…

[...] number two: Despite all my winter hate, I’ve always wanted to learn how to snowboard. And not just because of hot [...]

I’m so counting down the days for the next Mad Men to come out on DVD. Because not much longer after that, we get the real deal. I totally know how you feel about this whole winter deal too. I just moved back to the Midwest right before winter started and I questioned myself every snowy step of the way. It’s almost over though! Thank the lord! Or old man winter. Or whoever it is that brings the spring. Let’s. Go.

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