Polar Plunge

 

• We are in the midst of a harsh arctic blast that has resulted in a region wide Cold Weather Advisor through Saturday at least.   Our current temperature is 0 degrees (F) (~ -17 C) with wind chill reading being at the moment -22 degrees (F) (~ -30 C).   Tonight's actual low temperatures are expected to drop to -11 degrees (F) (~ - 24C) and if the winds remain as predicted tonight, we would end up having a wind chill reading of -45 degrees (F) (roughly the same in C).
• My wife and I have tickets for a play tonight, however.  And, we had plans to eat dinner at a somewhat fancier, very pleasant Indian restaurant before the play, both of which are in a city perhaps a 45 minute drive from our location.   I am not sure what our plans are currently, nor if either the playhouse and/or the restaurant will be open.  Every K-12 school has closed in our vicinity and so has our U and the three other colleges nearby due to the risks for walkers getting frostbite. 
• My "illustrious" department decided to trudge on and had the Department Meeting via Zoom (sigh).  So, in addition to preparing lectures and things for next week (in my home office), I had to Zoom around at this meeting (which turned out to be as dull as dry toast at a fancy 5-Star restaurant).  
• It was already getting rather biting yesterday afternoon when I did meander my way to the nearby town to go to the Retiree's Cigar Group.  I was late as is usual this semester of the year.... but there were THREE of the fellows still hanging about, so it was a very nice time.  They eventually left after about an hour (because they had been there a LOT longer than me already).  I stayed about one additional hour after they left and spent the time reading.  
• The frigidity of today actually also caused the cigar shop itself to remain closed today.
• In determining IF we go out to eat and go to the play, I will be making that decision when I can speak with my wife a bit later.  She herself is Zooming as well.  But after she is finished Zooming, we are set to figure things out.  
• I did NOT run today.  I felt quite guilty about that, and much of the morning I was hemming and hawing about getting my beast of burden out of the garage (my vehicle) and going to the track to run.  It was not until late morning that I REMEMBERED that when the local K-12 schools are closed.... the township's indoor track ALSO CLOSES.  That had me feeling less guilty.  
• I had not posted here the last few days as I was feverishly working with several of my research groups to get some abstracts up-to-snuff for submission (which is due this weekend). It usurped any free time I had the last few days.  
• When I started to work in my home office around 7 am this morning, I decided to treat myself by opening five different pouches of my pipe tobacco and have them about me so I could capture each of their beautiful, different essences as I moved about working.  But, that was not a good idea, I think..... and I ended up sealing each pouch closed and tucking them away in their original drawers.... as I began experiencing some particularly strong yearnings from them.... vividly strong in fact.  And, the temptation to pack a bowl and bring it to life was much more robust than I had experienced in a long while.  
• If we DO go to the Indian restaurant, the dinner service does not offer a buffet where I can get small amounts of several items,, so I need to commit to one dinner focus.  I am debating three different choices at the moment.  Top on my list would be to order chana masala , but I also am thinking about palak paneer, or my third option that sounds good is aloo gohbi.
• The image above is about the "Polar Plunge" event associated with fundraising for the Special Olympics.  It usually occurs around this time of the year, and in our region a hole is cut into the ice of a small lake nearby and people pay and collect donations..... to wear a swimsuit and to hop off the ice to plunge into the near freezing water.  One year, several years ago, I was gearing myself up to actually PARTICIPATE in this event.  But, unfortunately it was cancelled the day before the event.... due to some issue I cannot recall at the moment.  In the intervening years, I have not been able to ratchet up enough courage (or foolishness) to try one more time to do this.   

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