First snow...

today was the first snow. this morning, i dropped andrew off at the
airport at 7:30 and headed home- planning on setting out for a ride
and then starting the rest of my day. it started to snow pretty hard
and i was worried about riding in the first snow of the year--- the
worst driving is 1 inch of snow on the road, unplowed and unsalted.
you slide around like on skates. i did not want to be caught out in
that, so i waited. it did not accumulate, since it was still warm
enough outside and i headed out at around 3.

just got back- i was out for about 1.5-2 hours. not sure how long.
i am not use to the winter riding... winter shoes, wool socks, winter
tights, amfib tights over the top, chamois, mock turtle neck
baselayer, jersey, windbreaker, balaclava, ski mittens, cycling
cap... it takes me about a half an hour to get dressed! i also mix
up hot water to drink before i leave and then tuck the bottles under
my jersey until i warm up. i am going to have to get out my
thermoses soon- i could not drink the water after about an hour or so
becuase it was too cold. it didn't freeze today- but the water was
freezing.

it was not that bad. it was a "balmy" 40-45*F out. it gets much
colder... then i will have to use chemical foot warmer inserts to
keep my feet from going numb. they got pretty cold today, but it was
bearable.

i am not sure how i feel about the winter coming. part of me is a
bit excited. i really do love the crisp cold air. but i get SO cold
SO easily... in winter, i basically have to stop eating or drinking
anything cold. jamaba juice will freeze me for a day! and it is
hard to warm up. being californian's... we are stingy with the
heater. so- the heat is set for 60*F, meaning that compared to
outside, it is warm inside, but we don't prescribe to the
midwesterner's philosophy of heating the snot out of all indoor
spaces. that means that i am usually bundled up and often cold. my
hands are a bit frosty right now as i type. BUT... i can't see my
breath in my own living room! so i have got that going for me...
that use to happen when i lived in berkeley and we were too cheap to
run the heaters... it got really quite cold in that old house with no
insulation...

anyway, so andrew is gone until sunday. i am supposed to go on that
camping trip- but i have not heard from anyone. i am bummed andrew
is gone. i am happy for him- he is getting to do something that he
loves... but i miss him. it is hard to settle back into a life with
him when i have been gone for so long. it has been so great to get
to spend so much time with him. i don't want him to be gone. but it
will be good. i know that.

that is all for today. nothing too exciting. just going to take a
super hot shower to defrost, roast some veggies and watch a movie.