A blustery weekend in Chicago

Well, it is mid-May and our temperatures this past week have been extreme. It was 88 degrees Wednesday and 85 degrees Tuesday—and our house was about 83 degrees inside. Not comfortable to sleep in! So we turned on the AC, and assumed that we’d finally turned the corner towards spring weather.

Then our good friends, Ben and Karen, arrived late Thursday night and stayed with us for the day on Friday. We had tickets to the Cubs game, and thought it was supposed to be around 72 degrees. We knew it might rain, but thought it would be warm so we dressed for warm weather. And it seemed as soon as we sat down at the game, the wind started howling and the temperature dropped 20 degrees. And we could literally see clouds being swept through the stadium by the wind – BRRR!!!

Ben heroically tracked down a starbucks not far from the stadium and brought back Hot Cocoas, which kept me going until about the fifth inning. Karen and I stuck it out until the 6^th inning, and then we took off to warm up in the Starbucks. But we had fun nonetheless, and the Cubs won! Thanks for coming to stay with us B & K – way too short, but sweet!

Then today James had his half marathon in Chicago on the waterfront. Well, let’s just say that after two minutes out of the parking garage and walking through the rain and wind, we were both ready to turn around and go back home. But James persevered, and so did 3500 other runners. It really could not have been worse weather for a run this time of year – about 45 degrees, fierce wind, pelting rain…miserable. Most of the run went right along the Lake Michigan seawall, and James said that the waves crashing into the walls were being drawn up by the wind to douse the already soaked runners. I cheered him on at the start, and then took my numb body to a coffee shop to wait it out until the end. I caught him at the finish line, and was so proud of him for finishing. James has done two full marathons, but I think this half-marathon was just as much a challenge because of the nasty weather. So well done James!

And can I just say that I am not impressed with Chicago weather yet? After a freezing, long winter I was hoping for a lovely spring. Well, that hasn’t happened yet. Hopefully the Chicago summer can win me over!