Here in the midwest we just have to face it. It is called winter. There are different ways people deal with it. The "Complain About It" people which is self explanatory and you know who you are. This just doesn't do anyone any good.
Then we have the "Deal With It" people. They begrudgingly wear the necessary winter coat and shovel only because they can't drive through the drifts blocking the front of your garage or concealing the end of your driveway. This group also includes the non-shoveller because.... Their all-wheel-drive vehicles plow through the drifts and the annoying ruts they create melt in time with everything else. They spend alot of time indoors during this season.
Another group is the "Make The Best Of It" crowd. This is the group I fall into. We like our driveways and sidewalks nice and clear because our homes look "lived in" and it appears as if we are home. We build the occasional snowperson (thus being politically correct) and toss a mischievous snowball now and again just because the snow is there and we can. Oh, and we buy a $5.00 "snow tube" which have now replaced the toboggan and sleds of my day and the saucers my kids used. These are blow up inner tubes with handles much like the ones pulled behind boats in the summer (for those of you who have not participated in wintry athletics lately). Yes, they are fast and fun.... and no I did NOT hurt myself. Even the driveway ditch or sloping terrain of the average backyard provides a toboggan run to satisfy the sledding adventures. This group might even sport skates and take a spin around the ice rink a time or two.
The final group are the people who "Embrace It". They have every snow toy available. Skis, snowmobiles, skates, snowshoes, ski pants that match their jackets, stylish hats, scarves and gloves all color coordinated. They look good. I applaud them. However, also in this group I include "Ice Fisherpeople" (again being politically correct). Now that's just cold. I cannot fathom trudging out onto a frozen lake dragging what looks like enough equipment needed to stay for a week, which includes something to drill a hole in the ice, and then sitting (on an upside down bucket because there was no room for a stool much less a couch) for long periods of time. Then there is still cleaning and cooking your catch, which I'm sure you know, doesn't come with coleslaw and waffle fries.
Personally, if we didn't get snow for Christmas in December, I really don't care if we have it at all. Visiting a warmer climate January through April gets more and more appealing. Quite frankly, when temperatures dip below the freezing 32 degrees.... well that's just cold.
