Hello Hello

It's Thursday night, which means that another weekend looms just ahead. This is always good news.

I've already worked like 50 hours this week, so I get to take a half-day tomorrow - so my weekend will be extra long. And for the first time since I've started having weekends off, I actually have no plans. Nothing I'm committed to, nothing that I have to do. And it feels fabulous. 

I'm enjoying my new job more and more every day. For the first couple of weeks, I really thought, "if this is what people do for forty plus years of their life, you can count me out." It was such an adjustment getting up so early, and being gone for the better part of the day, and settling into a completely new environment, but now I'm finding that it's easier and easier to get up early, and the job is really fun. It's exciting and challenging and different every day. Yup, I've decided that you can count me back in.

Anyway, I'm not yet sure what I'll be doing this weekend that I can share with you... The plan was to run the Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis at the zoo on Sunday morning, but I didn't sign us up in time. I think we might head to the zoo anyway since I've wanted to go for some time now. But we'll see.

Another thing looming just ahead is a long Wisconsin winter. This is not such good news.

I enjoy winter for the first couple of months each year, but six months is a bit ridiculous. And I'm a little bit worried about finding enough outdoor activities to fill this blog during all those cold months. I mean, I'm psyched about the things I'll be doing - skiing, sledding, ice skating, ice fishing, the Polar Bear plunge, various Christmas activities, etc. - but they are certainly not enough.

While this blog is meant to showcase the outdoor recreation scene in Milwaukee, it has quickly become more than that. It encompasses the many things I appreciate in my city - the restaurants, the theaters, the museums - and I'm sure it will become even more of that in the coming months. But don't worry - I'll definitely be spending much of my winter outdoors, trying things I've never tried before, and of course coming on here to share.

My winter activity list just isn't quite long enough, though. What are some of the Wisconsin winter activities that I should partake in? Any thoughts?

Comments

[Derek]

Glad to hear you're enjoying your job!

Let's see, you can check out ice skating at Red Arrow Park or all the Christmas lights in the park (can't think of the name) that is on the opposite side of the river as Red Arrow.

[Kevin]

Ice Skating at Stormouth (sp?)school in Fox Point....more 'old school' than Red Arrow, and the best park ice rink in town.

[kelly]

I agree it takes some getting used to working full time. I felt the same way. Realizing there was no more summer vacations and all that was a huge adjustment and I also couldn't fathom how people did it for the rest of their lives.. You get used to it though.

As for things to do in winter...I just found a brochure at work about the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival and there are great things in it. An Ice Sculpting Competition on Jan 20-21st, Holiday Night Lights at the Zoo. Check out these sites for more stuff:

www.milwaukeeholidaylights.com
www.historicthirdward.org

[kelly]

ha! I just realized you have almost all that info on your little "to do" list already. my bad.

[Jennifer]

Hi Erin,
We'd love for you to join us at the Jingle Bell Run! If you'd like, you can still sign up on the day of the race starting at 7:15 a.m. It is a great event where people don holiday costumes and jingle bells to race through the zoo to help support the Arthritis Foundation find a cure! Plus, the honoree this year is 3 1/2 year-old, Abby, who will just steal your heart.

Please join us and bring friends (and Dave). You'll all have a great time jingling through the zoo.

[Christi]

ooohhh sounds fun! Count me in if you do it Erin =)