Cold Snap!

Every winter, especially after a heavy snowfall or extremely cold temperatures, I will complain and stomp my feet about how Wisconsin is just too cold and the winters are too hard.  I will then dream of moving to some place consistently warm or mild, like California.  I won’t have to get up an hour early to shovel my driveway, which has suddenly becomes longer and wider than my previous recollection.  I won’t have to kick and quietly shout profanities at my ancient snowblower that won't not start again. I can walk around my house barefoot instead of looking for my lost slipper, which my dog stole from my bedroom and hid behind a plant or in his crate.  Finally, I won’t have to bundle up with thermal underwear, down coats and two layers of gloves just to protect myself from the wind that burns my skin numb.

Eventually, my complaining the reminds me of some of the best things about winter:

-       walking into a warm house from the chilling cold outdoors. 

-       the fact that my dog likes to sleep under the covers, becoming a little heater that sometimes snores.

-       Snow-crusted trees after a fresh snowfall

-       Finally, the smell of fresh baked bread once it comes out of the oven. 

On Saturday, the temperature hit a high of 44°, which is unseasonably warm at this time of year.  Fear not, though, on Sunday, the temperature fell to 6° with a wind chill factor of -13°.  These are the types of days that I would like to stay in bed all day, snuggled with the dog and a good book.  Finally, Monday came.  No excuses, I need to get up and venture outside to get to work.

Fortunately, my car started.

So as layered up each morning, I have to keep saying to myself “This is only temporary.”  This is my motto that helps me get through the cold months, even though I hear the California sun whispering my name. 

Stay warm and try to ignore the fact that it was 80° in Los Angeles today.

This is what -3 looks like with a wind chill of -13.  It is always sunny when it is really cold.