It's not even winter, and I'm sick of it already...

[Jester]

You really want your brain broken? Your freezer is warmer than it is outdoors.

Actually, that didn't phase me at all, since I already knew that. Hell, I have often told my tourist customers when they comment on the temperature back home, "Hell, my freezer doesn't get that cold!"

And I also knew that many people keep stuff outside this time of year if they run out of freezer space. I have some friends who have been known to keep their beer outside in their yard, or in a snowbank....frees up room in their fridge, after all, and gets their beers icy cold! And the beer drinker in me does appreciate that!

[McGoddess09]

We are due for 4-8 inches tomorrow.....although more southern parts of Wisconsin are forecasted 8-12 inches!

About 13 inches here. My professors want to cancel their classes, since the university refuses to officially close, no matter how bad it is. So I will most likely be chilling in my dorm room, doing all sorts of studying and homework.

ETA: Jester, I hate you and my dad right now. He complains about how it gets to be 70 degrees in FL and how he is at the beach on Christmas. lol

[Jester]

Jester, I hate you and my dad right now.

I can't speak for your dad, but I wouldn't be surprised if he, like me, basks in your hatred.

I have to tell you, though, I do love doing stuff like going sailing on Christmas, or laying out by the pool on New Year's Day, etc., etc. And you people can feel free to hate me for it. I don't mind. And I won't mind it even more as I sip on a margarita at a pool bar in shorts and sandals, enjoying the view of girls in bikinis.

Yeah, I can live with the hatred thing. Bring it on!

[Cat]

There is something to be said about the cold, though.

Its an excuse to snuggle under the covers. And if its esp cold, you might have to strip down...to use each other body heat. Just sayin;

[AdminAssistant]

since the university refuses to officially close, no matter how bad it is.

Yeah, my university is the same way. They won't close campus, but they also won't make sure the sidewalks and stairs are properly salted. Considering that my university is pretty hilly, it's a huge problem. According to one of my friends, one year a set concrete stairs up the hill was so icy students were literally crawling on hands and knees to get up.

[Jester]

There is something to be said about the cold, though.

Yes. Yes there is. And I've said quite a bit about it.

[AdminAssistant]

There is something to be said about the cold, though.

Its an excuse to snuggle under the covers. And if its esp cold, you might have to strip down...to use each other body heat. Just sayin;

Seeing as I don't haven anyone to snuggle with....can't say much good about the cold. Or snow. Or ice. Blah.

Is it May yet?

[lordlundar]

Yes. Yes there is. And I've said quite a bit about it.

No no, Cat said there's something to be said about the cold, not against it.

[Jester]

No no, Cat said there's something to be said about the cold, not against it.

Point of order, Your Honor. But I submit the simple fact that, by speaking against something, one is by definition speaking about it.

Seeing as I don't haven anyone to snuggle with....can't say much good about the cold.

There are some things one can enjoy about a cold winter beyond just the snuggle factor.

"Whoa! Wait minute! Did Jester just say something positive about cold weather? Is he going to actually say that there are good things about it?"

Yes, yes I did. Yes, yes I am. Shocking, I know. But far be it from me to be predictable.

So, here we go...Mr. Anti-Winter's List of Good Things in Winter:

--Snowball fights.
--Sledding.
--The adult versions of sledding, i.e., snowmobiling, skiing, snowboarding, etc. I have never done any of these, but they look like an utter blast.
--Ice-skating. Believe it or not, I love ice-skating. I have never done it outside, only in a rink, but it really is fun....as long as I dress warmly enough.
--Soups, stews, chilis, and other warm comfort food. There were times when I was a youngster that my family lived in actual cold areas. And one of the greatest experiences of that, and one of my fondest memories, was coming home from school or work, and walking into my house to smell something awesome cooking. Now, my mom was working, but she had this awesome thing called a Crock Pot. She was cooking while she was out at work! And even better than the smell was, while I was shaking off that horrible cold that I had just come in from, lifting the lid of the Crock Pot and getting the full smell of the deliciousness brewing there in smack me in the face, along with a cloud of steam that helped thaw my face and warm my bones, not to mention my soul.
--Building snowmen and snow forts. I know without question that if I lived in a cold place, even as an adult I would be partaking in these activies.
--Breaking icicles off of buildings, for precisely no reason but you could. Great way to be destructive and break stuff without getting in trouble for it!
--Writing your name in the snow without using your hands. (This one of course is for the guys--or the really, really talented girls out there!)
--Great weather for certain drinks, including mulled cider, rum, mulled cider with rum, egg nog, Guinness, other dark beers (Sam Adams Black Lager, anyone?), red wine, and hot chocolate. There was a time in that cold place where I was working on a major research paper for school. And to get there and back, I had to take the bus, since my parents were working. And while I hated waiting for the bus on my way home, I loved getting a hot chocolate from a local business by the library and sipping on it while waiting for said bus.
--Hot food is so much better. When heading to work pre-driver's license, I did the same thing as with the hot chocolate, but I did it with fresh hot bagels and pizza bagels....I would buy them and then wait for the bus, with the warm box inside my coat, warming me...then ate it on the bus, warming myself up further. Did the same thing with zeppoles (Italian donuts) when coming home from the mall. Mmmm....zeppoles.

There ya go. Out of character, the positives about winter from a guy on a tropical island. So yes, Virginia, there are good things to say about the cold.

That being said, I prefer to say those things from a very warm place!

[AdminAssistant]

I will agree with you about hot food and certain alcoholic beverages. But sledding, snowball fights, etc actually involves going outside in all that nastiness, and I'd just rather not. Now, when I was back in AR, and we would get one snow a year, which would always result in a snow day, then yeah, it was fun. But here it's just snow and ice, snow and ice, NEVER a snow day, salty slush all over shoes, pants, and car. Really cold, plust that nice sharp wind to remind you, "Hey, this IS Kansas!"

It's really not fun. Not even remotely. All I can think when I look outside is spending 5 minutes getting my car cleaned off before inching to school, then walking up the hill and down the hill and up the hill and down the hill.

Bah. Humbug!

[Jester]

Oh, I'll agree that the cold sucks (hello? It's ME!), and that that biting wind blows (pun intended), and that while snow can be fun, slush is lame, and black slush is nasty. And driving in that shit really sucks.

Hey, I was just pointing out some good things about the cold weather. In the end, though, you may notice I still make a point of living in a place where I don't have to deal with it at all!

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I hope you have a safe and short drive, Irv.

It's five minutes on three streets, so I have no excuse not to show up. My street will be the worst one.

And then tomorrow I work 10:30 to 7. Which means I will probably be called on to clear away all the snow from the emergency exits outside. Yay. Not. That shit will be frozen tight. I think I'd be better off getting some cherry bombs and setting them off to blast all the snow away.

[Cat]

Well, the shoreline just got it first dusting (looks like maybe 2" out) Nothing at all, yet my commute's gonna suck

[blas]

I take my original 4-8 and raise it 8-12....

So far, we have 11 inches here, and it's still not done.

And I was plowed in this morning at work. Grand.

Fuck you, Frosty.

[Mr. Rager!]

This winter is going to piss me off. Not because of the snow, but because of an ankle injury I sustained 7 months ago!

It was so severe, I've had 2 surgeries on it. I have my doctors debating on a 3rd surgery I don't want. Tomorrow I have to visit a spinal cord injury specialist because of something my physical therapist and his department head noticed in me. (My regular therapist and then he got concerned and called the department head.)

What this boils down to... I won't be able to snowboard at all this winter. I already sat out golf, I was told yesterday to "sit this season out." So right now, my heart is a bit broken.

And we're in the midst of one of the biggest snow-storms in years. It started yesterday. The same day I was told to sit this season out. Pisses me off.