January sky

Unsurprisingly, the days have been so cold since Christmas.

So why, since in the grand scheme of things winter is cold and snowy, do we have newspapers and television urging us to panic at the first sighting of a snowflake? Wouldn't it be nice if they just told us to have a nice day?

This Sunday morning was lovely; a slight drifting of snow under a pale grey sky brushed through the air. Twist and I walked through the park at around 11 a.m. and the sun broke through as we strolled; the snow on the ground seemed almost blue in the brightness, but so very lovely.

My friend Sharon and I caught up to "Black Swan" today, after weeks of dueling date suggestions. As I've had time to think about it, except for the fabulous scene in which Nina becomes the black swan at the end, too dreary of a film. I did love Nina's shrugs, grey sweaters and especially her pink coat. My coarse taste may be showing here, but I have to say I was totally spoiled by the Jim Carrey skit/riff on the movie a couple of weeks ago on Saturday Night Live. The movie felt like too much of Natalie Portman looking frightened and breathing in nervous gasps, with no explanation of why she was such a mess.

I remember my first pair of toe shoes when I was a ballet student. I wish I had kept them, it was such a huge step to go up from slippers to "en pointe." I sometimes wonder what it would have been like to be a dancer. At this stage of my life, I'm glad I didn't go in that direction. Still, some nights I walk past the Point Park dance studio along Boulevard of the Allies on my way to the light rail and see the students practicing. So pretty and so graceful. And so young.

We went for coffee after. On our way from the theater to the Caribou coffee shop at South Side works, we saw this courtyard fountain, iced over and running in the early dusk.

So opposite of what should be in January. And so pretty in a young year.