When the Arctic invades the Midwest and our temperatures regionally fall below zero, the cold weather insanity sets in. That's when we start freezing bowls of noodles mid-bite, watching frozen-stiff jeans stick a landing in the snow, and tossing pots of boiling water into the air.
Since I was a kid the coldest winter days have always driven me to go out and physically experience the elements in weird ways. At 13 years old I'd bet my friends I could run around the block in my swimming trunks, and at 37 years old I like to slip out to the back driveway and shoot some barefoot hoops. Can you really say you experienced -5 degrees if you didn't sink your toes into the snow and let the Arctic wind rip through your leg hair? I guess I'll never know!
Here's my entry for the January 2025 Arctic Outbreak...
-5 degrees with some barefoot basketball in the backyard: