I Used To Hate This Time Of Year

I guess I still do really, but this has been the most pleasant January I've seen in half a decade or more. Typically this time of year is full of slushy grey roadside snow, fog filled days with sub zero temperatures. All the gloom of winter occurs in January and February with no holiday cheer and festive lights to convice us its really great to "let it snow." 

But this year has been quite different.  The temperature is still cold, yes, but the sun has been shining, we've been more inversion free and I feel less like we're slowly sliding into a pit of snow and salt. I haven't used the snow plow for a couple weeks and the driveway has cleansed it's self of it's icy buildup.  Yesterday I went for a walk at lunchtime in short sleeves!  Seriously, If winter weather were like this regularly I could call off my campaign for the forced evacuation of Utah for three months every December.

You Skiers and Boarders: I think I'm starting to understand you too. In the past I questioned the sanity of allowing gravity to pull you down an icy hill for fun. I always understood the rush, now I see that downhilling can be just as much about escaping the cloud cover and enjoying a day outdoors. I wonder if I can find a way to survive the doldrums of winter that doesn't involve re-breaking my back? (I solicit your suggestions.)

We still have a ways to go till the seasons change in earnest, of course.   In the mean time however we have football playoffs, a Supper Bowl and even Olympic Games to keep us going till the thaw. If the weather continues to cooperate, this might turn out to be the best winter ever!