I have several friends who are going on long vacations over the next couple weeks and it struck me as strange that so many people are vacationing at the same time. Then I realized, "Oh, it's almost Thanksgiving." You know, that holiday when people tend to, oh, I don't know, travel.
You see, it's still summer here. It's sunny every day, people run around in shorts and tank tops, and it's hot. Granted, it's a little cooler than it was three months ago, but it most definitely is not fall. And it most certainly is not approaching winter.
Now, I swear I'm not saying all this to make you jealous or brag or whatever. I'm not. If you look next to my picture there on the right it says I'm a Midwest girl. As in, i need four seasons like my dad needs a new big-boy toy every three months. I just DO.
So aside from it being almost Thanksgiving and I somehow didn't realize it, I've been bombarded with reminders that winter is upon us. I spend a lot of time on Facebook and people can write a little blurb - called their status - that says how they are at any given moment. Right now I have friends with the following:
xxx thinks it's a terrible shame it's not still snowing
xxx is feeling the chill in the air. Brrrr..
xxx is watching the snow fly.
xxx is going to rake leaves tonight! BRRR!!!!
xxxis wishing for snow!!!
xxx it is officailly winter, the snow plows are out.
I GET it! It's fall/almost winter. You have crisp air and swirling leaves and get to cuddle in cozy sweaters. Stop teasing me!
So now I have a favor to ask. Since I can't frolic in my own pile of leaves or stick out my tongue and catch snowflakes, will you share a story with me? I'd be most grateful. :)
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It was 27 degrees here this morning. My old-fashioned, true divided lite windows have that beautiful, yet cold, valley of frost and cradling the bottom panes. There is a thin layer of frost on all the roofs I can see. The grass resembles the back of a green and icy porcupine. But the house is warm. I am snuggled in an oversized sweatshirt, yoga pants and flannel lined slippers. Later I will put on a chunky, cable-knit, turtle neck sweater, my favorite jeans, and some warm and cozy socks to get through the cold day.
You can't possibly miss this ;).
Ugh, Jenna, that sounds like heaven right now. :) I really wanted to ask people to take pictures for me, but I couldn't think of a practical way to share them. Ooh! Unless everyone emails me their pictures and I can post them! There's an idea!
I love that it's cold enough to warrant flicking on our (propane) fireplace in the basement, by where we can sprawl with a book, or watch a movie.
On the flip side... Mike brought home a roll of carpet (and padding) for our living room last night, the last four feet of which stuck out the back door of his Suburban. It was 22 degrees during his journey home, and he had a nice, frigid breeze to keep him company. :D He'd have probably enjoyed some Mexican heat. ;)
Janna, my parents have two gas fireplaces and I love curling up in front of them. So cozy.
How exciting about the carpet! I know that wasn't your point, but still. I hope he's fully defrosted now. :)
This morning , I scraped ice for the third day in a row, but we've had no snow yet.
Travis, you sound very excited. ;) Thanks for sharing. If it make you feel better, I often burn my back and the back of my legs when I get into the car. And sometimes I can't touch the steering wheel for more than a few seconds at a time because it's so hot.
Got up this morning to sweep the dusting of snow from the windshields of the cars. My wife, all 4' 11" of her, bundled up in a coat and headed out the door. My son, in his winter-weight shorts and tee-shirt with the Seven Excuses You Can't Use In College on it, said, "Thanks Dad. Can I have $20?"
I drove to work wondering what happened to the Virginia I used to know, warm till Christmas and money for lunch.
The horror! The horror!
When we get a snowfall, the kind that sticks to the trees and looks like a scene from a Christmas card, I'll take a picture and email it to you :).
Allen, you're such a good husband. I remember that from Virginia - it'd be pretty tolerable for awhile then BAM! Winter.
Thanks Jenna. :)
(He Robin) 28 degrees here this morning in the upstate of SC. Wind gusts at 30 mph so no frost but there was yesterday. Highs supposed to be in the mid forties today. Went to breakfast at my grandson's school this morning for grandparents day and like to have froze my a** off. Praying that we get a good snow this year. For the last several years we only got ice storms, yuk!!!!
Robin, when it's cold like that I want snow, otherwise it's just miserable. Even when it's freezing and my nose is dripping (I'm thinking of when I had to stand on a bridge on Halsted Ave and wait for the bus) I try to appreciate the beauty of it.
I missed the seasons when I lived in LA, but now in NYC we have this:
WINTERWINTERWINTERWINTERWINTERWINTERWINTERspringSUMMERSUMMERfallWINTERWINTERWINTER
It's actually kind of nice today, sunny and brisk.
This morning as I got ready for work I was listening to the radio. The traffic & weather repeats every 10 minutes, so I was alerted multiple times of the snowy and icy road conditions in nearby Northwest Indiana, and the huge traffic delays it was causing. You know how it is, people forget how to drive as soon as any kind of inclement weather hits. So the next time you are taking a drive and the metal on the seat belt buckle singes your skin, picture being stuck in a huge traffic backup in a snow storm and maybe that will help you miss the winter a little less :) By the way I smiled when I saw your mention of waiting for that slowwwwww Halsted bus... that took me back!
Wendy, LOL! That sounds like the Midwest too.
Janet, I've been caught in the snow in that stretch of Indiana quite a few times, so I suppose that makes me miss is a little less. Just a little.
And yes, that stupid bus. It took forever and then it would be too full and you'd have to wait for the next one.
I will never forget that time you and I got sprayed with a puddle on that corner (opposite side) when we were going to dinner afterwards. YUCK!
Sorry Mel!
We went hiking on Saturday, everything was damp, but the day was sunny. There were mushrooms and vibrant green moss covering the trees. We tried not to slip on the soggy leaves on our path, and the air smelled wet and woody. The leaves are practically gone, leaving bare branches that stretch out like bony arms. Right now, I can see fog covering the valley and the cities below. A thick layer of gray is above us. Rain is expected. We only get snow two or three times/year and it is only a few inches. Mostly it is rain, sleet and hail..... for 150 days each year. (that's the sacrifice for so much green)
Oh.. I should add... It is pitch black by 4:45pm and the sun doesn't appear (well... the clouds aren't backlit) until 7:15. Now is the time of year when the lights are on almost all day long.
Mmmmm, Turkey, you describe it well. It helps that I can pop over to your blog and see it. :)
I forgot about it being dark so early. Hmm. Can I have snow but sunlight until 6 or 7?
If I could have the beach right now, and warm sunny days, I would take it. I NEED to sprawl out in the sun. OMG, I might buy one of those SAD lamps, so I can have FAKE sun until Spring.
The leaves are beautiful, but they fall too quickly, then all we have is ugly dead winter for months.
We have about 5 inches of snow at home. A new term I've heard on the TV and radio this year regarding driving is "winter rules." Hopefully drivers will remember what that means!
Zoe, while I wish we had a cloudy day now and then, I don't miss my SAD.
Mom, I feel like people in Western Michigan at least remember how to drive in snow, year after year. Some of the big cities, I'm not so sure.
Wow they got snow on the coast? We just got cold and damp here in GR, Michigan, go figure.
I woke up this morning, kicked up the furnace. Got ready, walked the vast distance(100 feet) in the freezing cold(20 degrees) to get into work, I guess I should have worn a jacket.
That is about as literate as I can get.
I would love to be where it is warm right now. We have our first snow flurries today in Richmond, Virginia. It takes a little longer to get cold in the south, but I dread when the cold comes
Penguin, I can picture you doing all that, so you're plenty literate enough. :)
Welcome Diamond! I lived in Virgina for years so I remember that it still gets pretty cold there.
Ding, ding! You have new email! (Just laughing at your "Leave your comment" comment.)
Well, no stories, but I am at the Fireplace Borders, sitting in front of the fireplace. And it's pouring down snow. We've got maybe 4 or 5 inches on the grass at home, so that's nice!
I love writing in this weather. The studio has really kept me from writing. I just got done with the stupid busywork for the studio, so after two and a half days, I can finally write!
PS: While I was bringing up the Christmas decorations from the basement, I looked down at my shirt and noticed there was a HUGE SPIDER crawling up my front. I FREAKED! And screamed!
And then I thought of you. :-)
Spy, see! That's what I miss. I need a few gloomy days to get in my proper writing mode. As it is I close all the curtains as soon as I get up, but it's still really bright.
And Oh. My. God. I completely busted out laughing at your PS. I don't think I'll ever be able to control the girly scream!
Wow! Everyone has snow! We're just cold and dreary here in PA. I looked out my office window with a kid today and there were snow flurries. The kid said, "You think I'll be able to make snowballs?", and I said, "Nah. It's not going to stick." Then the kid looked at me and said, "You're depressing."
No lie. How's that for a snow story? I didn't even realize it was funny until I just wrote it!
Robin, I love that you manage to find the humor in everything. :)
my story: i'm anemic and always cold in the winter. I shiver when the house is at a warm temp. But it's better than summer, since I'm very sensitive to the sun and don't go out when the sun is shining.
I'm a Florida girl at heart still so I'd happily trade places with you this time of year! It was in the 20s when I woke up. I had to wrestle the bag of hats, gloves, and scarves from the top shelf of the closet. I'm wearing wool socks that go to my knees. The wind is painful. I watched it snow a bit yesterday but it didn't stick. Next month I'll go home to FL to celebrate Xmas under the palm trees like God intended!
AC, you need to live someplace that stays the same temp year round!
Rachel, see I miss wearing scarves and gloves. Hats not so much, but I do wear those too. Keep your face covered!
It's warm here so I don't have any stories to share, but I loved reading everyone's comments!
I wore my coat this morning and I've got the sleeves on my sweater pushed up this afternoon. What can I say? I live in South Carolina. We often get all four seasons in one day!
I had to wear a sweater last night :)
jesxxx
Jealous. :)
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