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Health & Fitness

Walking in a Winter Blogger Land

As winter approaches, here's several heartwarming Patch blogs from across the Chicago area. Have something to say about life in your town, just hit "Want to blog on Patch?" and we'll help you say it.

 

As the trees dip their balding branches into early winter, mothers bundle their youngsters into the likes of waddling cotton balls and lakeside residents brace for whirling, Lake Michigan winds, I can't help but think one sizzling thought, common to all Midwesterners.

This is nuts. I'm friggin' freezing.

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Yep, from late October until Chicagoland's arctic eternity comes to a close sometime in June, we're sprinting to our cars like Huskies just to defrost our windshields as well as our appendages. (Public transit, you're cool — just keep the heat pumping).

So why deal with it — year in, year out? What keeps us here and not in So-Cal, totes magotes?

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I'll tell you, it's our towns, the warmth they give off. From Oak Park, to Des Plaines, to Evanston, we fight the cold with morning joe, loyal neighbors, great food and cultural venues that beat surfing and Lohan-spotting any day.

And as Patch's new community outreach manager, tasked with finding bloggers from your villes, I'm certain of one thing. Your towns are one-of-a-kind, and here are several of my favorite blogs from "Local Voices" sections across Patchland to prove it:

Oak Park-River Forest Patch

Building is symbolic of the public confidence in the future, being such a long term commitment. Someone sees prospect in a location, value in the purchase of the dirt and available financing...

Skokie Patch

What is the best predictor of a student’s academic achievement? If you think it’s grades, IQ, or standardized test scores, think again. It’s the child’s zip code...

Morton Grove Patch

With sharp eyes and patience you can discover many birds in Morton Grove, even if you don't venture into the forest preserves...

Des Plaines Patch — r

You're the voice for your pet, so choose their doctor just 
as you would choose one for yourself, and they will get the quality care that
 they deserve...

Winnetka-Glencoe Patch

While it's a heavy book to pick up, it's also very hard to put down. You feel as if you're there in the Russian courts...

Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch

When you walk down Main Street USA at Walt Disney World, you are met with the smells of freshly baked goods. The notes of vanilla, butter, and chocolate conjure still-warm from the oven chocolate chip cookies...

Highland Park Patch

We arrived when the cherry blossoms were in bloom, and it was a floral paradise. Our hosts were anxious to provide us with as many experiences as they could in the short time we were visiting...

Evanston Patch

Before he became a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, Mike 'Mick' Royko was a young airman hoping to win the love and affection of his childhood sweetheart, Carol Duckman...

Northbrook Patch

Mid-morning Sunday, something amazing passed right through our town.  If you were not fortunate enough to stumble upon it, let me try and set the stage for you...

Glenview Patch

What you need:1 head of ice berg lettuce; 2 lb ground beef or turkey; 1 cup of shredded mild cheddar cheese...

Niles Patch

In a March 2011 report, the Inspector General for Health and Human Services found nearly half of nursing homes hired five or more individuals with criminal backgrounds...

Deerfield Patch

It happens to the best of us: It's two hours until Thanksgiving dinner, you have a bird in the oven, veggies simmering on the stove, and suddenly you realize that important ingredient you desperately need is nowhere to be found...

Have something to blog, just click "Want to blog on Patch?" under the "Local Voices" section (below the events tab). Your local editor will help you with the rest.

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