australia day

[tielan]

Hot and sunny. Back from beach.

One more time for all the Northern Hemisphere types shivering under their blankets:

BEEEEEEEEEAAAAAACH.

Comments

[thothmes]

I'll see your beach, and raise you a bracing ski under crystal clear skies in gleaming white powder, followed by standing a moment by the woodstove and luxuriating in the heat, and later on consuming coffee-laced cocoa while snuggling under a warm comforter with my 6'1" personal hot water bottle.

But beach is nice too, in season. I wouldn't want to harsh your squee. ;)

[tielan]

Hmm. Snow...

Nah.

BEEEEEEAAAAAAAACH!

[thothmes]

LOL.

But I'm one of those nutty people who likes snow.

[tielan]

Maybe I just haven't seen the right kind of snow. It looks pretty, but it's cold! And wet! And cold! And wet! In the cold!

Brrr...

[thothmes]

My middle daughter feels exactly that way. She was asking me the other day why anyone would live here voluntarily. It's cold. She hates the cold. She plans to move to Florida as soon as she is old enough, and never have to deal with cold and snow again.

I pointed out to her that I was living here totally voluntarily, I liked the climate, and I'd wilt in the heat.

She may change her mind when she finds out how much less common ice rinks are down there, and therefore how much more expensive ice time is. She's a figure skater.

I'm a swimmer too, and I've taught swimming for... well, it will be 38 years this summer, so I also love the summer. And the fall, and the spring...

I guess snow is probably an acquired taste, although I must point out that snow is not wet until it thaws, so with the right equipment on, that isn't really a factor until you come indoors. I guess the way I'd explain it is this: You know that feeling you get when you are hot, and dive swiftly and without preamble into cool water? For a moment your body tenses, and you fight the cold, but then after a moment you adjust and you are envigorated and so very alive. That's what I experience when I go out into the cold weather to be active.

I have so many lovely childhood memories of playing in the snow, sledding with my dad, or even having him stand by the windows looking out at the blowing, swirling flakes and muttering "Six feet! I want six feet!" Every time it snows there is a part of me that is still eight and still hoping that we really will get six feet this time!

Of course, if we did, now I'd have to be the one shoveling it off the driveway, so I probably shouldn't wish too hard, but the habit of a lifetime is hard to break.

[beatrice_otter]

... you're a sadist, aren't you.

[tielan]

...and you love me that way! :D