Obligatory 'I Hate Winter' Post

Most of the time...

I suppose it's that time of year again...time for my usual 'I-can't-stand-another-month-of-this-godawful-beyond-freezing-never-going-to-stop-snowing-winter' post. 

So far I've managed to resist the urge, although I documented my area's epic November snowstorm, which dropped approximately 88 inches over a three-day span (Changed Plans). You know, I don't like to complain...about anything...ever. In my mind, marinating in negativity only makes a bad experience worse. I also hate the idea of being predictable (like, late January = insert I-hate-winter post here), especially now that I'm striving for increased spontaneity.

Of course I realize that living in upstate New York is a choice that I've made, so I'm hardly a victim. I've thought about that a lot lately, as I always do at this time of year, but especially now as I formulate a response to my Florida-resident sister's comment of "I don't know how anyone makes it through winter there." My initial reaction was "I don't either!" (And just to place this conversation in its proper context, I'll note that it took place a few hours after I'd seriously feared for my life while driving to work in a whiteout blizzard that required me to pull over on the side of the road for 30 minutes with my flashers on.) I mean, I have a love-hate relationship with my hometown. I love where I live...seven months a year. It's the other five months that make me question my intelligence and sanity.

Desert wonderlands await

What's helping me maintain my sanity this year is the rainbow at the end of the downpour. You see, I've booked a hiker's dream trip this summer to Grand Canyon National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Zion National Park (with one night in Las Vegas before I come home to reality!), so desert daydreams will sustain me through the next few months of wintry woes. It might still be snowing here when I leave, but it's a sure bet (no Vegas pun intended) that it won't be in Arizona!