A Happy Medium by Erin Murtaugh

Every year, around this time, Minnesotans are reminded just how brutal winters can be. I personally am not a huge fan of cold and snow. One of the big struggles of winter is finding things to do to keep busy since it is less than nice outside. I came up with some ideas on how you can be entertained this winter.

Join a gym. Since you can’t go outside to walk the lake or get other forms of exercise, join a gym. There’s lots of options in town. I have a membership to Planet Fitness in Rochester because it is most convenient for me while attending Rochester Community and Technical College.

Go see a movie. Going to movies in theaters can be kind of spendy now a days, but the theater in Albert Lea has $5 movies on Tuesdays, and you could always venture to a smaller town and take in a motion picture at one of their historical theaters, such as Lake Mills, Northwood, Wells or Kiester.

Bake and cook. Why not try some new recipes during the colder months? Make some soup or hot dish and some nice dessert to go along with it. I’m sure whoever you share your culinary confections with will be appreciative.

Read. Light a fire in the fireplace, make yourself some hot cocoa, curl up on the couch and grab a good book or magazine. Reading is good for the mind and a good form of entertainment.

Have a movie or television show marathon. If you have Netflix, go ahead and binge watch a season or two of your favorite show. I won’t tell anyone you did it.

Embrace the cold. Maybe cold and snowy weather is your thing. Great. Go out and enjoy it. Ice fish, skate, snowboard, ski or snowmobile, whatever it may be, have fun.

Stay warm, and happy winter, friends.

 

Albert Lea High School graduate Erin Murtaugh is a first-year student at Rochester Community and Technical College. She can be reached at murtaugh.erin@gmail.com.