Sunday, February 17, 2008

don't ask me in february...

As the title says... don't ask me in February if I want to leave New England because the answer will always be a resounding YES! It is dark, it is bleak, it is frigid, and usually involves some bone chilling combination of rain, ice, and/or snow. Don't get me wrong I like snow, I like to cozy up under a blanket and drink hot chocolate, but after Christmas it looses it's charm. Winter in New England is like a bad houseguest that way overstays its welcome. I also find it interesting that schools in New England have 2 spring breaks one in Febraury and one in April (neither of those times are even remotely warm!) so your options are 1 spend a fortune trying to get out of town with every other seasonal affective disorder crazed family or enjoy a week of crazy cooped up kids- usually the later prevails. (to make matters worse smart daddy-o and I spent feb break in puerto rico last year, which left us feeling quite disenchanted with our home state. Now as feb break rolls around I'd give anything for warm sunshine!

The other day as I pushed my cart loaded with groceries and my boys out of the warm grocery store into the 7 degree weather I thought about what a better mood I'd be in right then if I was in California, Florida, Arizona- (okay basically anywhere) and I could saunter out of hte store- take my time unloading the bags and strapping in my kids. Instead I lift the rear latch throw the bags in as quickly as possible and harangue my kids- "faster, faster!! strap in!! its freezing!!!"

I know it is a case of the grass is always greener- when we lived in California the lack of true seasons made me a bit crazy- although wearing cute sandals all year long did not. This is probably why I have been painting and eating like a fiend- trying escape the february doldrums!

But truth be told-- the grass IS always greener (basically anywhere on the planet) than in New England in February.

(Yes that is my back yard the other week!)

7 comments:

LL said...

beautiful picture of the FREEZING COLD!
I couldn't agree with you more, winter here really does overstay it's welcome!!!
Let's get the kids together this week, maybe that will help us endure.

Company EIGHT said...

Oh boy can I relate! I'm ready to move-on already!!

Gabriela said...

We could do a house swap if you wanted-it's in the 90's here and I am missing the cold!

smart mama said...

oh please yes gabriela- i could totally do with an out of country jaunt right now-

Anonymous said...

I just got my daughter on the bus in Fargo and it's -9 (with wind chills of -25) Hopefully that makes you feel a little bit better.

smart mama said...

oh that reminds me of my days in SD as a child- that was truly bitter cold

Andy said...

Amen. There is just something depressing and downright weird about so much rain in February.

A fellow summer loving New Englander!