Iowans are bracing for their first major winter storm of 2009. Thanks for nothing, Kansas City. Your current troubles will soon be ours, with 6-12 inches of white “stuff” predicted for tomorrow. I had another “s” word in mind to describe it, but this is a family friendly post. Oddly enough, as I sit at home grumbling many Iowans seem delighted. They’re polishing their skis and snowboards and watching the forecast. I know this because I’m getting their Tweets. Suddenly, I’m seeing snow in a new light. My former office mates will be digging out and heading to work tomorrow morning. Me? I’ll be snug and warm in my new flannel sheets. There aren’t a lot of perks that come with being unemployed, but this is definitely one of them.
The unemployed spend most of our days looking for jobs. There are hours spent on the computer; we read up on companies and update resumes. We send emails, make contacts, and network. Some of the networking gets us out of the house but chances are, most of us aren’t having enough fun; we’re too busy trying to find that needle in the haystack. And worrying. Most of us worry. However, the simple fact that I can stay in bed while many Iowans are brushing snow off their cars and inching to the office feels kind of nice. It’s a small gift during a rough time that I appreciate.
The snow is courtesy of our neighbors to the southwest, but what about fun? Fun doesn’t have to come at a steep price. I’ll enjoy snowy days when I can hibernate, but I have to get out of the house. So, for the (hopefully brief) duration of my unemployment, I’m going to find one fun thing each week to experience. Experiences will have to meet some criteria:
- Costs no more than $20; free is even better
- Good for the body, the mind, or the spirit
- Unique to Des Moines
I’ll be looking around the Des Moines area and posting on my findings once a week. If there are any Des Moines readers with recommendations, please comment here and I’ll check them out. In between postings, it’ll just be me. No worries; I’ll be generous with tags to make it easy for you to decide whether you want to read or pass on my ramblings.
It’s time to start making some lemonade with those lemons. Or in this case, let it snow.
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