Anyone who knows me knows that winter is, by far, my least favorite season. I get cold easily, I hate gray days, and I've had some bad experiences traveling in wintry weather (like doing unintentional 360s down the highway until I ended up in a ditch). Even a normal winter here in the South has me layering up in fleece and watching for the earliest sign of spring -- my daffodils popping out of the ground. Of course, lately my daffodils, which popped up a few weeks ago, have been shivering. It's been a cold, gray winter with more snowfalls than we typically have. In fact, we have another covering the ground this morning, one that came overnight. There's a bit of iciness to it because it crunches on our street when people drive by. It's been so cold (down to single digits at some points) that I nearly had a stroke when I saw my last natural gas bill.
But this year, I don't think I'm the only one experiencing winter fatigue. People on the East Coast of the U.S. have been buried by one giant snowstorm after another. Residents of Texas and the Deep South even got a taste of winter -- a foot of snow in Dallas and snowfalls in atypical states such as Louisiana and Mississippi. I was supposed to go to Ohio today for a romance program at a library, but I just found out that it's been moved to March because of bad weather.At times like this, I try to look for consolations and things to look forward to in order to get through the winter blues. For instance, I tell myself that it can snow and be cold now because I have to be inside doing revisions and reading RITA entries anyway. Maybe by the time I turn them in, the weather will have improved enough that I can start walking outside again instead of on the treadmill.
I think about where I'll be a month from today -- Disney World! I LOVE Disney World, and it'll be a nice treat in between two deadlines and a board meeting. And at the end of next month, I'll get to enjoy a visit with my sister and nieces when they fly in for a week. Yes, my entire March is full to the brim, but there's a lot to enjoy in there. And hopefully, it won't be cold and there won't be a snowflake in sight and the daffodils will be in full bloom.So, how has winter been where you are? Are you looking forward to spring? What do you do to get yourself through winter? Or are you a winter lover? And for our friends in the southern hemisphere, what is the weather like where you are now? It's odd for me to think that Christmas and Valentine's Day fall during your summer.
49 comments:
Me?
PJ, you are lightning fast at nabbing the bird!
Do you have snow this morning?
Woo Hoo! I can use him today. It's house cleaning Monday. :)
No snow this morning, Trish. We had a couple inches Friday (our first of the winter) but it was gone by Sunday morning. Today it's a cold rain. Much harder on the joints than the snow.
It's been a crazy winter where I live - bouncing from 20's to 60's and back again - but mostly colder than our norm. The dogs love the cold temps so I bundle up like Nanook of the North and off we go for long walks. Keeps them happy and keeps me moving when I'd rather spend the cold, gray days cuddled on the couch with a good romance!
Yeah, I've had enough of winter. A blizzard in December and two in February, I'm done! I've always liked a touch of winter but this has been more than a touch. The kids have missed 9 days this year because of snow.
So bring on spring!
I can't feel my fingers.
I can't feel my toes.
Louisville woke up to about 4 more inches on top of 7 and more coming.
I've come to know the nuances of my driveway WAY more than I should.
I have recycling and garbage from 2 weeks stuck in a snowbank at the curb.
I. Want. Spring. Now!
Hey - Congrats PJ! Here I thought I was going to snatch the Golden One - but he might be hesitant to leave warm Australia to come to snowy cold Ohio.
Love that bright yellow photo of the daffodil, Trish. It's a nice reminder that this won't last. Bummer that your library presentation was cancelled.
I'm not a winter person. Every year about this time I wonder why we live in Ohio (grin). My favorite season is early autumn, followed by late spring. Guess I'm a moderate temperature sort of girl. Favorite winter activities are reading, writing, and going to the movies.
Stay safe, everyone!
PJ, I hear you. I went to bed earlier than normal last night, curled under three covers and read.
Christie, I heard on the news last night that one of the area school systems has already used all their snow days.
Granted, all this is annoying, but does anyone remember the winter of 1977-1978? I was in first grade, and we missed almost the entire month of January because of one giant snowfall after another. I think we went to school 2-3 days that entire month.
Joan, we don't have that much, but my sentiments are the same as yours. Even though March is my worst allergy month, I still want it to get here.
Donna, I think the same thing about Tennessee at times. I eyeball southern Florida and think, "Hey, hurricanes give you enough time to run away, right?" :) I could so get used to decorating palm trees for Christmas.
Beginning with a rain-drenched October, these past months have been filled with more gloomy, gray days than I ever remember. We had enough snow Friday for the grands to build snowmen/snowwomen and have snowball fights, and it was lovely except for the icy roads and the concerns about losing power. But I love sweater weather; I'm not big on bundling up with coat, hat, gloves. We've had too little of the former and too much of the latter this year.
The first daffodils are usually enough to lift my spirits, but I'm suspicious this year. I'm longing to see tulips and azaleas and dogwood. Then I'll believe in spring again.
The first daffodils are usually enough to lift my spirits, but I'm suspicious this year. I'm longing to see tulips and azaleas and dogwood. Then I'll believe in spring again.
I feel the same, Janga. I have this fear that Spring is going to tease us with daffodils then slam us with a late season freeze like we had a few years ago. That one took out more than 20 of my azaleas. I was not a happy camper!
For some reason, the GR isn't buying my assurance that feather dusting the bookcases and being chased through the house by the dogs are fun games. He keeps muttering under his breath as he avoids what I'm sure I heard him call the "drooling jaws of death." They really don't mean any harm. Honestly! If he'd just stop with the squawky noises I'm sure they wouldn't think he was a new chew toy!
Uh oh, there he goes again. I can't make out everything he's saying (and I'm sure I don't want to) but I keep picking out words like "fruity drinks", "swimming pool" and "oz."
You think he's trying to tell me something?
Trish, most of the area school systems have already used their days. Our county schedules 4 snow days. We had used three of them with the first blizzard in December.
I'm really just hoping for trash pickup tomorrow. We had none last week and only 3 days of mail. Thankfully, we're now only supposed to get a little snow 1-2 inches this afternoon, instead of the original 6+ forecasted.
Janga, I totally understand about the azaleas and dogwoods. That'll be April and truly spring. March is odd in that it can be really warm and spring-like, or it can bring a blizzard. Several years ago, we drove through some awful snow with my in-laws to go to the SEC basketball tournament at Rupp Arena in Lexington in March.
PJ, I remember that freeze. The only good thing about it was that it killed all the mosquitoes that year. It was the only summer I could go outside late in the day and not get eaten alive by them.
PJ, you can always threaten to send the GR to Joanie's or Jeanne's or Christie's or Donna's where he'll have to shovel snow. :)
Christie, that's just so wild that there's so much snow that there's no trash pickup or mail delivery. My street is clearing off, but it must be evaporating because it's not warm enough to melt -- only 27 with a 15-degree wind chill. Brrrr.
Trish, you must be reading my mind! This is, according to our local weather guru, the snowiest winter on record! And it's still going. Of course, spring in the mountains can bring big snow---I'm hoping that's not the case this year. Enough is enough!
I used to love winter and snow, but I believe I've had my fill this year. Fall is actually my favorite season. Cold enough for a sweater, but not a coat. Right now, I'm missing the weather in sunny, warm San Diego where we used to live. *sigh*
PJ, I could use the GR for a little house cleaning myself, but he may not appreciate my dogs either. *g*
Gannon, I loved San Diego when I visited last March. Lovely weather and beautiful area.
I am sooo ready for spring! We got up to more snow this morning with more on the way! I want some warming temps and to see the grass again. I am sick of snow! I want to be able to walk out and get in the car and not have to clean snow off of it first. So sick of winter. All we are doing is eating and looking out the window and wishing for a nice spring day!
You know, it's kind of funny that I post about how much I'm tired of winter but I'm loving the Winter Olympics. I'm a huge Olympics fan, and I'll watch any of the sports. I love the stories behind how the athletes get there, the stories of overcoming adversity. I think if I could ski and snowboard, I might like winter a little more.
Anyone else been watching?
Yay, PJ!! Congrats! She's more than lightning fast, isn't she, Trish?
Northern California winters are usually wet and chilly. Lots and lots of rain, unless we're headed for a drought. But this week we have chilly, but sunny days which are my favorite.
When it rains, though, I simply burrow -- fire in the fireplace, hot chocolate, a book and a quilt wrapped around me. Yep, burrowing, that's what I do.
Trish, I'm not a winter person either so I understand how you feel! So far, our winter hasn't been too bad - especially compared to last year. But I'm anxiously awaiting spring *g*
I get through winter by spending lots of time indoors :-) And I love my treadmill as it gives me a chance to catch up on all the movies I missed during the warmer months!
Trish, I do like winter and snow even though I am not an outdoors kind of person. We had another 1 1/2 inches yesterday and another inch over night on top of the 40+ inches we already have. (Or is it more?)
Two winters ago, Iowa had a record snowfall of 54 inches and last year we had 52 inches.
Congrats on the GR, PJ.
Hi Trish,
It's been a pretty eventful winter here. The snow hasn't even melted from the streets from last weeks big storm and it looks like we getting some more flurries this week. I'm ready for Spring and the balmy weather.
Virginia, ugh on having to clean off the cars. I told my husband that when we bought our house, it was almost worth the price just to have a garage and never have to scrap ice and snow off the windows.
Jo, that burrowing sounds really good right now. We've had a really gray, gloomy winter, and I am physically and emotionally needing some major sunshine.
Beth, I'm a fan of multitasking on the treadmill too, though I tend to read while walking.
Deb, those are some monster snowfall amounts. Ugh.
My sister lives in the Pacific Northwest and last year they had more than 100 inches of snow. This winter, it's warmer there than here and they're already concerned about the lack of a snowpack this winter, meaning they'll likely be in drought and subject to wildfires this summer.
It's nice here. I think you lot in the U.S. stole our snow. I'd be okay with Winter hanging around awhile long. I love Winter. Watching lots of hockey helps. :)
Jane, it just doesn't stop, does it? I'm watching flurries flying around outside now.
The winter we are having now is really the worst in about 10 years so I am not complaining. It is nasty but livable. I woke up to a cold wet rain then had to go to a funeral, stopped to get gas on my back and the wind just about knocked me down! Then the snow came, I am now holed up at home wondering if I should turn up the thermostat another few degrees.
I can really handle the cold a whole lot better than the heat myself.
Hey, PJ, it's a while since the rooster visited you! Whoo-hooo! He was a bit morose yesterday. I hope you can cheer him up.
Trish, I have to laugh. I'm having exactly the same feeling but for the opposite season. I think February is NEVER going to end. I'm sick of being hot all the time (snort, not in a cabana boy sense of hot!). I'm sick of trying to sleep when it hasn't cooled down at all. I'm sick of just feeling tired with all the humidity. Roll on autumn, I say!
Girls in snow, stay safe! You've had buckets of the stuff this year.
PJ, that faker! He pretended he was so miserable all day so I ran after him giving him everything he asked for just to cheer him up! And now I discover it was all an act! He's a wily little rooster!
Dianna, the wind makes the cold so much worse. There are winter days, even ones with snow on the ground, that are manageable as long as the wind doesn't blow.
Anna, want to swap places? :)
Driving in today on snow-covered roads, YES, YES, I am tired of winter. I just keep thinking, "FOUR MORE WEEKS." Okay, it's technically like 5 more weeks until March 21st, but whatever. FOUR weeks is close enough for no snow covered roads. (Or unlikely to have snow covered roads.)
Daffodils are my favorite spring thing. Also, my friend and I usually get besieged by spring fever...and in April, we'll pick a nice day, take a picnic, and go to the St. Louis Art Museum. Just to enjoy a perfectly nice day that isn't too hot and isn't too cold...but is jussssttttt right.
Congrats PJ I hope he gets to work for you
Trish
I love the colder months but when I say that we don't get snow here. I gotta say though I am so over summer here in Oz this year it has been so hot and humid and we have had so much rain in the last 2 weeks.
I am looking forward to the days getting shorter and watching the leaves start to fall from the trees and being able to snuggle up in bed with some great books and being able to sleep.
Have Fun
Helen
I missed a superbowl party because we got 30" of snow and pretty much everything else is being postponed or canceled. We got another storm after that of 10" and now we have 2 or 3 days of 1" to 3". Oh, I live in PA and I'm sick of winter too!!!!!
MsHellion, your picnic day sounds lovely.
Helen, I enjoy fall too until it starts getting too cold.
catslady, PA has been hit hard. I saw video the other day of people downhill skiing on the steps of the Philadelphia art museum.
Hi Trish! The weather here was utterly foul yesterday. The humidity must have been close to 100%. It was my 7yo's birthday and it's always stinking hot that day. Stormed last night and now it's grey but still humid. I was hoping the rain would wash the ickiness away. Thank God for air-conditioning! However, I don't want to complain too much. I'd rather be here than knee deep in snow for days on end. Hugs to all of you freezing up there! Come down to Oz for a visit!
Christine, yesterday was my nephew's 7th birthday. Wild, he and your youngest were born on the same day.
But by contrast, the day my nephew was born there was an ice storm and the hospital lost their main power and had to run on generators.
Hi, Trish,
I'm so tired of being cold...and
I live in Houston, semitropical
Houston, Texas! We've actually had
two snowfalls this winter, minor
yes, but snowfalls nevertheless!
I can't begin to imagine how it
feels for the East Coast folks!
God bless them, hope it lessens
for them soon... and for us!
Pat Cochran
PJ, congrats on the rooster! I see you're keeping him busy. Excellent. When he's busy, he can't cause trouble. You just have to ignore his whining.
Trish, I get through winter by drinking hot tea and reading. The winter has been unusually cold for unusually long stretches this year, and I'm really over that!
When you go to Disneyland, are you planning to check out the new Harry Potter theme park at Universal Orlando?
i live in the DEEP south about 35 miles north of Tallahassee, FL in Georgia. WE haven't seen snow in 20 years and it snowed last Friday for about 2 hours.
It has been just friggin cold this winter.
My electric bill last month was the highest it had ever been in 12 years. That includes all the high summer AC bills.
IT is just do dreary. We are supposed to lave lows in the 20's and highs by Friday are to be in the low 60's. I am looking forward to Friday.
Pat, I was in Houston and San Antonio a few weeks back, and while it was nice in Houston, later in the week in San Antonio, it got below freezing. Anytime I can see my breath when I exhale outside is too cold.
Nancy, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter won't be open until later in the spring -- probably late April or May. I'm really, really looking forward to visiting it at some point though. I've been following the progress since it was announced on PotterCast, a podcast I listen to.
Gigi, those 60s sound wonderful. We're supposed to be in the high 40s at the end of the week. It's weird that I'm actually looking forward to that.
Post a Comment