Sunday, February 6, 2011

Waiting for Spring

At least my dogs like the snow...

Last winter I moved from Idaho to Maine. Everyone warned me about winter so when I came to New England, I was prepared. Then last winter, nothing happened out here. There was a tiny snow storm, just enough to have wind, drop three inches, and lose power but everything was back to normal by the next afternoon.

I literally laughed at the idea of New England winters being harsh. Idaho is no stranger to -10 or -15 weather, before windchill which where I'm from it is very windy. Then there is the constant ice that starts in October and doesn't seem to fully melt until late March. Maine is much warmer and during most of November and December anything that fell or froze was thawed and gone by the next day. Then January came and what I hadn't planned on was all of this snow.

Now I understand that this is a bit of an abnormal year with more snow than they are used to. Well, that really doesn't make any of this snow easier to navigate. I can't wait for the spring!

How is the weather holding up in your area? Are you optimistic that the groundhog didn't screw up this year and that an early spring is on the way? What is your favorite method of enjoying or escaping the cold winter weather?

10 comments:

  1. I handle massive snow better than massive wind chill. Granted snow can be much more difficult to navigate, but there's something about wind and ice that makes you think the world is going to end. The one winter I spent in Iowa was the worst I ever had.

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  2. DL-I thought that I would be the same but I work overnights and it is so hard to get in and out of my driveway. Also I can't stand when the two feet of snow melts and re-hardens into four inches of ice! I'm guessing that your time in Iowa is more what I'm used to from Idaho.

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  3. There's a cartoon floating around the Internet of "heads" walking through several feet of snow. The caption says, "At least we don't have tornadoes." Another one has a bunch of mittens sticking out of the snow with the caption that says, "Who's ready for spring." I think the last one captures everyone's mood - we're already for a break. Our snow and cold weather arrived before Thanksgiving. Thank goodness we got the trip to Hawaii in January or the winter wouldn't have had any break at all.

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  4. Steve-I've never been a huge fan of escaping winter for places like Hawaii but this year I'm just not feeling it and I was so jealous of you when you got to go on that trip. Usually I love each of the seasons but this year I just want spring. The worst part of it is that after everything finally thaws out next month, we won't enter Spring. Mainers like to claim that they have 5 season and the next one...is mud. Ugg.

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  5. In Alaska -- and North Dakota for that matter -- the season after winter is called "breakup" because of the severe freeze/thaw cycle that we go through in the spring. The paved roads are filled with potholes and whatever they put in the potholes soon gets lose and pops out again.

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  6. Yeah I remember some horrible pot holes back home too. Not sure that I'll really see that out here but I have been warned that when all of this snow melts there could be some serious flooding.

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  7. We got a taste of the spring potholes last week when it finally got warm enough to melt some things. I haven't found anyone who isn't tired of the snow and cold this season. I have to admit it was nice removing snow this weekend without my fingers feeling like they would fall off.

    Lindsay did ask how we escape the Winter blues. I wrap up with the double-fleece blanket my wife lovingly made for me. Drink copious amounts of hot liquids and continue to break in our Wii racing Mario go-karts.

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  8. Randy-I can't wait for the thaw! I agree with your love of hot beverages! Coffee, tea, or hot cocoa is always on hand!

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  9. lindsay...i learned to ski and now i love the snow! it's expensive though, so i can't go very often. i used to HATE snow...now i'm either excited or indifferent (if i can't go). spring will come, as it has to! xo jessica quick

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  10. Hi Jessica! Haven't heard from you in forever! Happy to hear that learning to ski has helped you so much. I used to ski when I was a kid but now I only like cross country and I don't have the equipment for either. You're right, it is very expensive!

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