Ice skating, sledding, and snowball fights are three perfect reminders that winter is more than just chasing someone around your topiary maze with an axe. You could bring an axe to any of those things too. It could be worse. It could be snowing or sleeting or maybe even a wintry mix. Like when it is cold out and your nose is running, and someone else’s nose is running, and you kiss. It is days like this that make me wish that I had had the foresight and initiative to plan a Florida vacation. Go somewhere warm and then bring something back home to remind me of that warm place, like a bottle of beach sand or Mickey Mouse tied up in the basement. The last thing I need today is an inauguration.

This throwback photo is from last January. Round Lake is a manmade body of water in Forest Park that actually predates the park. Last year the parks department finished its renovation, complete with an updated fountain in its center. This new fountain was supposed to be able to run all winter long. Enter a weekend cold snap and then an iceberg dead ahead was sighted on Monday. By then it was too late to shut it off. Normally three-fourths of an iceberg is underwater, but in this shallow pool that ratio is reversed. It was a local sensation. Something to see on a cold January day.