10 ways for Bears fans to fight winter blues
Yes, snowy days and Mondays always get you down, but didn't this Monday seem especially depressing?
Another cold, gloomy day. (How long has it been below freezing? Seems like forever. Everyone was complaining about their driveways as impenetrable sheets of salt-resistant ice.) Then there's the depression of the Bears' painful loss. Admit it, aside from those Packers fans in our midst, who's looking forward to the Super Bowl now?
So, a bunch of us chipped in some ideas on how to fight our collective winter doldrums. Here's our top 10:
1. Have a tropical night out in the suburbs. Tropical-themed bars and restaurants abound in the suburbs with beach decor, island music and piña coladas. Flip Flops TikiBar in Carol Stream and Tiki Terrace in Des Plaines are a couple of our faves.
2. Hold a barbecue. Invite friends over, turn up the thermostat and encourage guests to wear shorts, maybe even sunbathing attire. Have summertime picnic food — burgers, brats, ribs — cooked on the grill. And yes, you the host will have to man up and go outside to grill. Play bags or beer pong in the basement.
3. Join a gym. Yeah, the places are overrun with New Year's resolutioners, but working out makes you feel better. As long as we're on the health kick, time to quash the holiday overeating. Overuse of sugars and white flour can add to your feeling of being slow and mopey.
4. Speaking of working out, at least get off your duffs, baby boomers. DuPage Boomers just announced the formation of a 50-and-older softball league. The eight-week season begins May 17, and games will be played on Tuesdays in Carol Stream, Warrenville and Wheaton. Teams may register at their home park districts (Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Glen Ellyn, Naperville, Roselle, Warrenville, West Chicago, Wheaton and Winfield) or individuals may call (630) 681-0962.
5. Check out the new wine tastings just added at the Grand Stations in Arlington Heights. The first tasting is at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, 101 W. Campbell St. More info at grandstationrestaurant.com.
6. Play a sport that combines the thrills of bumper cars, basketball, lacrosse and hockey. Try CyberSport at 301 Hastings Drive in Buffalo Grove and 2381 W. Army Trail Road in Addison. There's also WhirlyBall at 800 E. Roosevelt Road in Lombard and 285 Center Drive in Vernon Hills.
7. Make a Beach Boys mix and play it on your iPod, computer, stereo, Pandora, etc. And don't worry, baby.
8. Pull out the board games of your youth and challenge your family to a game of Risk! Simulated global domination always puts you in a better frame of mind.
9. Shovel your elderly neighbor's driveway, or take him or her to the store or a movie. Seriously, do-gooder-ism raises the endorphins. And that's a good thing.
10. Grow bulbs — amaryllis, paperwhites and such — in pots in rooms with good light. They grow fast, and their color and cheerfulness are a good reminder of spring, They really take the edge off the gloom.
Bonus suggestion: Think spring! Buy a couple tickets to see your favorite Chicago baseball team. Oh, wait a minute, we're trying to avoid the blahs, aren't we?