Not Everyone Hates Winter
by Dave on Dec.05, 2008, under Minutiae
I really must have a bad case of S.A.D.
Days like today – really cold, down around 20 degrees, but with sunshine – don’t get me down. I actually feel pretty good. But on days when there’s nothing up there but a steel grey sky about 1,500 feet up? Yeah, I’m about an inch and a half away from wanting to draw a warm bath and…well, you know. Maybe I should look into one of those special lights or something.
But there are those who love the hell out of winter. I call them “maniacs”. Or maybe they’re like this dog, just making the best of the situation.
It was during a blizzard in the late 1990′s where 54 inches of snow fell in 48 hours near Ward, Colorado. And this dog loved every moment of it. No snow hill was too deep for him to run around in.
December 5th, 2008 on 6:01 pm
I’m with you on that but worse. I don’t like the cold or snow. It’s better with the kids because now there is a “use” for the snow; snowboarding and things like that, but I really enjoy being outside a lot when it’s warm out and going into hibernation in the winter sucks. I can kinda understand why Jack went nutty in “The Shining”.
December 5th, 2008 on 9:34 pm
I used to think I suffered from S.A.D., but I am actually bummed from the moment we close the pool until it is opened again in late spring. Or, from when school begins, until it ends. They pretty much coincide.
Playing good music helps (lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Earth Wind and Fire). Reading a good book also helps. It takes me away from the cold and snow, in my mind, anyway.
December 6th, 2008 on 11:28 am
Now that I’ve seen the video I have 2 more comments:
A) Wow, that dog is beautiful.
B) I wish I could get that excited about anything. He sure was having a blast!
December 7th, 2008 on 9:47 am
Growing up in Y-town and working there in TV news we joked about filming outdoors by “available gloom.” Indeed, the winter sky in Northern Ohio can be foreboding. I never minded snow, but always dreaded the slate gray gloom.
Living for 25 years in North Carolina, where we see nearly 300 days of blue or partly cloudy sky reminds me of how much I enjoy sunshine.
But, down here, it’s an absolute blast when we get socked in by snow. Socked in here is defined by light flurries falling in the mountain counties forcing every school district to close in anticipation of frozen precip in the Piedmont region. The grocery and liquor stores do a land office business, selling out of all bread, milk, beer and booze.
I’ve learned to stay at home because the native southerners think that if there is frozen water on the ground, that means drive faster and slam on the breaks, triggering magnificent spinning moves on the pavement, a danger to all life within reach.
We now enjoy sitting in-front of the fireplace, drinking hot coffee with a shot of Baily’s, curled up with the cat, a good book or a Netflix selection.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
December 7th, 2008 on 9:49 am
sorry about the “wrong word”…I meant BRAKES instead of BREAKS.
December 7th, 2008 on 10:11 am
300 days of sunshine or partly cloudy skies? Any homes for sale in the neighborhood?It’s 4 degrees and gloomy here in Chicago, I could go for a change.
December 7th, 2008 on 10:56 am
It’s 20 degrees here today, but plenty of sunshine.
Feel better today Dave?
December 7th, 2008 on 8:00 pm
Larry, my parents grew up in Duluth, MN, and had a barely bemused tolerance when school was closed for 4 inches on the ground in St. Louis growing up. Here in Cincy, most winter idiots still follow the age-old “acceleration=traction” fallacy. I’ve heard them referred to as “hill shiners”, as they spin their tires in place on slippery hills, hoping for purchase, but usually end up just buffing up the pavement instead. We have the usual run on groceries, but I’ve learned it doesn’t matter how bad it actually is outside, dammit, people will drive their ass to Blockbuster.
December 7th, 2008 on 8:01 pm
Jim 12.07.08 at 10:11 am
300 days of sunshine or partly cloudy skies? Any homes for sale in the neighborhood?>>>
A few nice buys just around the corner from me. I left Ohio 25 years ago.
December 7th, 2008 on 8:57 pm
hmmm. Ohio. No hurricanes, earthquakes, fire ants, FLYING COCKROACHES, not many tornados in our area, tsunamis.
Beautiful lush green landscape and seasons.
Seven months of good weather, 5 months of bad.
I think I’ll stay.
:)
December 8th, 2008 on 6:17 am
Merno 12.07.08 at 8:00 pm
Larry, my parents grew up in Duluth, MN, and had a barely bemused tolerance when school was closed for 4 inches on the ground in St. Louis growing up. Here in Cincy, most winter idiots still follow the age-old “acceleration=traction†fallacy.>>>
I remember one terrible winter storm in Cincinnati in the late 70s when I lived there. It was the worst ice/snow combo I’ve ever seen. It was 70 degrees on the morning the storm rolled in. By midnight it was below zero. I covered a Cincinnati Stingers hockey game that night for channel 5 and made my way home through blizzard conditions up I-75 to my condo in Westchester. The next morning, all activity in Southern Ohio was at a standstill, the Ohio River began to freeze and barge traffic started to get caught in ice floes. Cincinnati is a tough place to live in winter and summer. It’s too cold and wet in the winter, too hot and humid in the summer. Octoberfest is good though.
December 8th, 2008 on 11:22 am
i’m going to be that dog in my next life. WINTER ROCKS!!!!! Hockey out on the pond, sledding, tubing, skiing. What’s not to like???? My winter memories as a child were all about fun, my summer memories are tinted yellow (because they occured in the 1970′s or because of the unbearable heat, or some combination of both).
I’ll go over to the Morton Arboretum this weekend for a hike through the woods. PRIVACY!!!!! That’s always a good thing, nobody goes there in the winter. I’ll see the squirrels frantically searching for the last of the supplies, a few birds here and there (haven’t taken up bird watching just yet, but that’s coming), and the deer will be out and about midday instead of in hiding. Haunting beauty, tranquility, peace, all those kinds of adjectives to describe a moment standing among the giant snow covered spruces in silence.
One last great thing about winter, you cannot listen to George Winston’s “December” at any other time of year.
December 8th, 2008 on 9:21 pm
Hey Larry…….we live in West Chester. It’s, well, um, different now probably. We have our own 75 exit with one of them there new fangled street-scape outdoor mall thingys, 2 Irish bars, a hospital,our own IKEA, our own Graeter’s, and a new hotel each week. We still have the farms, but you have to look for them. Most have caved in to the too sweet to pass up land deals.
I never quite get used to the winter news reports here, which basically break down like “It’s not snowing out here yet, Bob…back to you in the studio”. And you know that same ass clown has a ruler in his back pocket, ready to show the folks at home without windows just how much white death fell.
December 9th, 2008 on 10:14 am
Other Jim: I’ve driven by West Chester recently. You’re right, it has changed. Suburbanlandarama. I lived at the Tylersville Rd. Exit. It used to be a Kroger store, a Knights Inn, a chili parlor or two and my condo complex.
December 9th, 2008 on 5:27 pm
I just love when you old folks talk about the good ole days.
December 9th, 2008 on 7:50 pm
Says the pot to the kettle.
Tylersville…..back when it was a flashing red at the exit off the highway. Yeah, not so much anymore. Lowes AND Home Depot, thank you.
December 10th, 2008 on 5:37 pm
Other Cookie doesn’t care for the snow so much.
However Other Yukon used to absolutely love it. We used to play “Where’s Other Yukon” because he blended into the snow so well.
Other Jackie
December 12th, 2008 on 11:58 am
Jackie, now that was funny.