Spring Can't Be Far Away

Holy cow! Seventy degree weather, running in shorts in mid-February and sunshine, beautiful sunshine. Now, that's my kind of winter. I guess the good Lord knew I needed a sign that spring is just around the corner. I've tied a knot in my winter rope and am hanging onto to that notion. And feeling very alive today. I hope you are too.

If The Flip-Flop Fits...

“In the depths of winter I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer”--Albert Camus

Indeed, Albert. Indeed.

You didn't hear it from me, but.....

It snowed here again today. Just an inch or so. But in this part of the country that’s enough to start the looting of bread and milk at the grocery store in a manner fitting Sherman’s army. Fortunately, we’re not big milk drinkers in our house and I bought three loaves of wheat berry bread last Friday for Hubby’s poker night sandwiches with the boys, so the Hula-gen’s should survive this little winter blast just fine. AND get plenty of fiber.

My distaste for winter weather is well documented on these pages, so I shall refrain from typing anything that makes my brothers and sisters in the north roll their eyes. Nothin’ makes a Yankee more annoyed than someone south of Indiana whining about a few centimeters of snow. Sorry, we have a weak constitution when it comes to freezing weather and snow. Now a good old fashioned tornado? That’s something we can sink our three teeth into.

I have been very consistent in my running in the last few weeks, so I really wanted to run today. All morning I watched the snow fall and dreaded the idea of running in the cold, wet weather. In between all of the phone calls and memos my head was all, “Run, skip it. Run, skip it.” I finally decided I should just suck it up and give it a whirl. I figured if it was really horrible I’d circle a few blocks and head back to work. By the time I reached the locker room that voice in my head was, “Skip it, skip it, SKIP IT!” And finally, a big, “Are you CRAZY?” That voice in my head is a noisy wench. And lazy, too. I thought the best way to shut her up would be to layer up and then just hit the door in a run before I had time to weenie out of running. I threw on two layers of running pants, two shirts, my gloves and then tucked my hair into a hat and ear warmers to keep my head dry. I was wishing I had my trail shoes ‘cause as Lt. Dan says, you need to keep your feet dry and don’t get killed, which oddly enough is good advice for running on the streets of this town amid soggy weather and a host of stupid drivers.

I burst out the door and hit the street, and tried to remind myself that folks in Minnesota run in this kind of weather every day. Except I’m not from Minnesota. It was cold. And windy. And wet. I concentrated on staying focused on my pace and not the weather. I also kept looking down to keep from splashing into a puddle because of the whole wet feet thing. The tap, tap of my feet sounded in my head as I found a comfortable pace and put block after block behind me. I turned a corner and the wind hit me in the face at full force. I looked at my shirt and saw that it was speckled with snow. I kept moving and told myself to soak it in. Savor the moment, Hula. Enjoy the miracle that is snow. Isn’t it beautiful? But my head was whining, “But it’s COLD.” And then something clicked. I’m not sure why or how, but the voice in my head shut up, and I noticed how quiet my surroundings were. The traffic was less than usual, and the streets had a nice silence to them. The snow had covered enough ground and scattered little sparkles along fence tops and lawn decorations to make it really pretty. Instead of looking at the snow, I really began to SEE it. And enjoy it as it drifted from the sky and onto my shoulders. I rounded Fountain Avenue, and the chimes on the Methodist Church began ringing a hymn to mark the stroke of noon. And it was one of those moments when I felt very in touch with nature and very spiritual. And I didn’t notice the cold anymore. In fact, I felt inspired to run well. I did the four miles I had time for within my lunch hour and finished quicker than usual. It was a good run. A beautiful run. I didn’t mind all of the stares I got from drivers thinking I was crazy. And I really didn’t mind the snow. I truly enjoyed it.

Just don’t tell anyone. A Hula Girl has a reputation to uphold.

Game On, Phil! Game On!

Once again, we awoke to another big fat snow. Well, maybe not big and fat to people in Michigan or North Dakota, but big and fat to us. Another three inches of El Nino’s wet, gloppy sense of humor. It was beautiful, I’ll give it that, but I’m over the snow now. It can stop any time. It may be pretty, but one of the reasons I live in this part of the country, aside from family and my job, is because our winters are somewhat mild. We’re used to Snow Light around here. One good snow of about two or three inches a season, just enough to boost the bread and milk industries, and we’re done until the next year. We like it that way.

Jiminy Cricket! We’ve had three really good snows in the last couple of weeks, and we may not be done. While I’m not superstitious, I have found that the Farmer’s Almanac is usually pretty good at predicting our weather. Hubby’s been telling me for weeks that the Almanac is forecasting snow for us throughout February and March. I let it go in one ear and out the other until Sunday night when I saw the local meteorologists predicting snow AGAIN and finally ran to the bathroom to dig out the Almanac and read it for myself (because I’m stubborn that way). There it was in black and white, just as plain as could be. Snow, snow, snow for the next several weeks. And to add insult to injury, that stinkin’ groundhog, whose name I refuse to say, saw his shadow. Now, why didn’t they just leave him in his hole and give a little hope to all of us summer babies? After all, ignorance is comfortable.

I’ve always thought he was cute, but not any more. I’m done with that groundhog. If six more weeks of winter weather is the best he can do, I’m all for takin’ him out. It’s over dude. We’re breakin' up, and I’m keepin’ the ring. Don’t come to Kentucky unless you’re willin’ to run. Not only do we not do snow around here, we all pack heat. We like it that way.

Snow, Beautiful Snow (Yes, I Really Said That)

Well, it did snow. It took it's sweet time, falling about eighteen hours later than anticipated, but when it came, it gave us quite a show. We got about five inches at our house Friday afternoon and night, which isn't much compared to other parts of the country, but around here that's pretty good. It was the big fluffy stuff that covered everything in a lovely ivory blanket. It fell with fury Friday afternoon.

And lasted into the night. The wind was something else. As we snuggled in front of the fireplace and watched TV, it huffed and puffed but didn't blow the house in. It did blow the snow around, creating beautiful little drifts again the house. Yesterday morning, the neighborhood kids did their best to wear out their sleds, reminding me of some rides in washtubs I made down slick hills many years ago.

In the past I would have whined and moaned about it, but this time I tried to enjoy the beauty of the snow. I managed a few pictures before the roads got too slick, and I spent about three hours today at area lakes snapping photos underneath a cold, bright sun. Thanks to the camera, I'm weathering winter better than usual. Don't go thinking I'm losing my dislike for cold weather. I'm still counting down the days until spring, but I made it through this little spat of Old Man Winter with a cheery attitude. And I didn't even have to buy any bread or milk.

I may Actually Have to buy Bread and Milk This Time

From the National Weather Service this morning:

*THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO MIDNIGHT CST FRIDAY NIGHT.


* TRAVEL CONDITIONS MAY DETERIORATE RAPIDLY TONIGHT AND COULD REMAIN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS INTO THE DAY FRIDAY. VISIBILITY MAY BE POOR WITH GUSTY NORTH WINDS. TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE 20S.



A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL... KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT... FOOD... AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.



Seriously??? All I can say is come on Spring!

Phil Is A Marked Man

Our weather the last couple of days can be summed up in three words: gray, gray and gray. I hate a day that looks the same after the sun comes up as it does before it rises. It’s all rain, rain, rain and gloom, gloom and gloom here. It rained yesterday and even harder today. The clouds really opened up about noon today and drenched everything in site, filling up ditches and making rivers in unexpected places.
Yesterday, I put off a task that required multiple stops around the county because I didn’t want to get wet. Big mistake. I had to get it done today, so there I was, dashing in between downpours, all day long. In and out of the car, stepping into Lake Erie every time I got out. It was the kind of day that reminds me of why I hate winter in western Kentucky. And it’s not over yet. I am headed out the door in a few minutes in heels, hose and a formal dress for a black tie event. I’m sure to step in a few puddles and spend the evening hoping no one can smell the Frito like aroma of wet hose wrapped around feet.

January, February and March are long months for me because of the weather. As mama says, I gripe, piss and moan about the weather from January 1st to March 30th. The gloominess just brings me down. Not in a “can’t get out of bed need some Cymbalta” kind of way, but more of a “somebody kick me for not taking a job in Miami” way. I love the sun. I need some sun. Every day. I guess I could get one of those little lights they prescribe for seasonal disorder, but I don’t think sitting under one of those every day would be enough. I want the whole enchilada; sun, heat and sweat. There will be none of that in the next ten weeks. Just more of the same wet gloominess. (And right here is where people in Haiti are goin’ shut the heck up Hula, and the people in REALLY cold states are rolling their eyes.) I will endure, but if anyone out there in a sunny, warm place wants to ship me a bottle of sunshine, go right ahead. And if that fat little groundhog sees his shadow in a couple of weeks, I’m gonna kick him so hard he’ll be wearin’ his butt for a hat all year long.

Great Googly Moogly! These 8 Degree Wind Chills are Freezing my Coconuts

The ONLY thing I like about a butt freezing week like this, and I mean the ONLY thing, is the opportunity to wear a sassy wool hat.I did run today at lunch and aside from the lack of feeling in my face and the constant trail of snot streaming out of my left nostril it wasn't horrible.

Ice, Ice Baby

See this? This is the little symbol sitting beside every segment of our hour-by-hour forecast for the next two days. The National Weather Service says it could be the worst ice storm we’ve had in ten years. Did I mention I work in utilities? Yeah. Exactly. In just a few hours I should have a pretty good idea of just how pissed at us Mother Nature is. And what the rest of my week is going to be like.

Dude, I’m am SOOOOO over winter.