This month's not starting out so good for a nature loving Chicagoan. Here is a list of my laments:

- The thermometer is broken! It hasn't been above 10 F in over a week and for a stretch of 3 days it was all negative!

- Bear down Bears beat down! In there first Superbowl in over two decades the Bears scored 3 points after the first quarter. Our quarterback resembled a double agent, who actually was working for the Colts.

- Some crazy people recently passed a law requiring passports to fly to Canada. The process of obtaining one quickly is expensive and has been a logistical nightmare

- Crunk Leroy didn't try out again for American Idol. I miss his hilarious tomfoolery.

- According to an NPR report, the Inuit (incorrectly called eskimos) lifestyle is threatened by climate change. They have to drag canoes behind their snowmobiles in case the ice is too thin. There is open water even in winter. New plants, bumblebees, and birds are arriving. They have wasps for the first time. Asphalt roads built on permafrost become spongy and pitted with holes in summer. If this continues, the culture of big game hunters on the edge of the ice will completely change. Who knows they could be an agrarian society in 50 years.

- And worst of all, my little niece didn't even send me a Valentine's Day card, because in her words "Valentine's aren't for boys!"

But as I'm writing this I realize there are alot of blessings. The February good news includes:

+ Prince threw down during halftime

+ Amaryllis buds are sprouting

+ The Chicago Passport office has wonderfully pleasant employees

+ Ottawa, home of the world's largest skating rink, is having a festival this weekend

+ The Sun is shining longer and stronger everyday

+ And the dracena has two flower stalks loaded with buds that should open their sweet smelling flowers any evening now.