Skate Date

Not to be forced into indoor exile due to Chicago's cold weather, we went ice skating last night. I think this was the first time I'd ever gone ice skating in a completely outdoor rink, while it was snowing too, which added to the mood. And with only a handful of other neighbors on the rink with us we had lots of space on the rink (for me to fall down, for Jason to practice his hockey stops.)
It was a cheap date, $11 for the two of us ($4 each to get onto the rink, and $3 for my skate rental.)

I was hoping for the pretty white skates that I'd pined for as a little girl, but understood that the Chicago Park District wasn't going to invest in full sets of girl's skates and boy's skates, when one set of unisex black skates would work. But the youthful enjoyment of skating was restored by the rink's sound system which played Michael Jackson and Pink Floyd; it was just like a fifth grade birthday party.

I fell just once, and we painted a comical picture while Jason tried to pull me up, but was simultaneously pinning me down with his skate blade on the cuff of my jeans. The rink is just a five minute drive from our house, so maybe they'll be more chances to practice (skating, falling, and the team sport of picking the fallen up.)

We finally called it quits when the wind was kicking up little snowflake tornadoes on the ice surface and both of our noses were red and runny.