See-saw Va. weather

Well, after the deep freeze last week, mother nature took a detour--a 30+ degree detour. Last week the temperatures barely got out of the teens  Yesterday, January 29 the thermometer in my garage nearly popped it's top as temperature soared to 75 degrees!

I remember reading once that there is a phenomenon called the "January thaw", which acts as a sort of reprieve from cold weather in order to give everyone time to gear up for the next cold snap. Well, I don't know about the "thaw" but in a few days Mr. groundhog Phil will make his prediction.

Personally I think that the mother we call nature is sleeping on the job.  Maybe she needs new glasses.  Maybe she needs a 2013 calendar.  Whatever the case may be, 75 degrees in January (except in Florida) shouldn't occur. 

75 degrees again today.  I toss my coat in the back of the closet. All those warm weather lovers (and I am beginning to think they are in the majority) can't stop jumping up and down as they unpack their swim suits.  All I can say is hold your horses....I think mother is waking up and dialing down the temps.  Tomorrow is going to be in the 30's.  And I hear she has been in conference with Phil. 

2013 Virginia snowman

So the forecasters blew it again.  They predicted a couple of inches of snow on Friday night and all we got was a dusting. Alas, not enough to build a normal sized snowman, but hey it's Virginia and snowman around here are usually pigmy sized.

So I present for your viewing pleasure my 2013 Virginia snowman.  

No go Snow

After one full week of rain-- the weatherman predicted SNOW. 

Now I’ll admit I’m not a fan of rain.  It’s gray and dreary, messy and dark.  Snow on the other hand gives the world an ethereal quality, a white purity that brightens the dead of winter.  I mean, we’ve all heard of snow blindness, but whoever heard of rain blindness?  And besides, snow is fun, ask any kid.

I don’t know anyone who wants a blizzard, but the 4 inches promised (at 100% mind you) would be just super.  We could build snowmen, have snow ball fights and go sledding.  We could watch movies on television and play video games without guilt.  We could use that shovel we bought two years ago-- and after we shovel the driveways of every senior within a three-mile radius, we could come inside and drink hot cocoa, satisfied.  And then we can get on each other’s nerves.  We can wonder, since the roads in our line of vision are clear, when school will resume. We can long for pizza delivery--anything delivered and eaten on paper plates. And if we are lucky enough to get out we can go to the store and discover that there is no milk or bread, like-- um, anywhere.

I am a bit bummed to report that the weatherman (he’s not batting too high these days) was wrong again.  When I awoke this morning instead of a blanket of white, I just saw wet pavement.  But wait, can it be?  Yes it can… it’s been so long I almost didn’t recognize it.  Here comes THE SUN!

The sun is a kind of consolation prize but I was so looking forward to playing in the white stuff. It looks like the only snowman I will be building will be two inches high and created with ice cubes ground up in a blender.  

Happy (positive) New Year

I don’t usually believe is making New Year’s resolutions.  I mean we should resolve to do something positive every day of our lives not once a year while recovering from a hangover.

Anyway this year I decided that I would actually make a group of resolutions, simply because January 1 is the first day of the year and I can’t think of a better time to start.  And what you may ask are these monumental changes I want to implement?

I resolve to wake up happy every day.  I resolve to be positive.  I resolve to look at the negative things and find positive hidden inside.  I resolve to bring joy and comfort wherever it is most needed.  I resolve to make this tiny piece of earth that I inhabit a better place because I was there.

When I was little my mother’s favorite book, the one she kept beside her bed, was “The power of positive thinking.” By Dr. Norman Vincent Peale.  At the time I just thought it was some lame and boring piece of literature. 

I’m not saying that one little book made the difference in my mother’s life, but I know that my mother never gave up on anything.  She always kept a positive attitude even during the most trying time in her life.

So to the start the year off right, I have compiled a group of quotations by Norman Vincent Peale so that you too, can resolve to be positive this year and every year to come.

“When you get up in the morning, you have two choices - either to be happy or to be unhappy. Just choose to be happy”

― Norman Vincent Peale

“It's always to soon to quit!”

― Norman Vincent Peale

“Remember that "Help us grow this grass" is a far more effective sign than "Keep off the grass".”

― Norman Vincent Peale

“Live your life and forget your age.”

― Norman Vincent Peale

“Imagination is the true magic carpet.”

― Norman Vincent Peale

“People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success.”

― Norman Vincent Peale

“Our happiness depends on the habit of mind we cultivate. So practice happy thinking every day. Cultivate the merry heart, develop the happiness habit, and life will become a continual feast." ~”

― Norman Vincent Peale

Happy, Positive, New Year