January 18th, 2018

Okay, before I start, let's all keep perspective in mind.  I live in Florida not Wisconsin and yet this is how I am dressed to walk on the beach. Beautiful sunshiney day and I'm wearing a fleece AND a jacket.  This is just wrong. We did not anticipate this to be the situation ever when we moved to Florida.

​Yes I know, we are still getting out of this winter lucky. There is no snow. Absolutely true.  But compared to what we have become accustomed to, this is, well, it's not very Florida-like.  The temperature dipped to below freezing last night. There are reports of black ice in the Tampa area (about an hour north of us)  The good people of Florida have no idea what to do with black ice or any ice that isn't in a drink for that matter.  The news guys actually had to explain to their viewers exactly what black ice is and how it impacts drivers.  (insert much shaking of my head here)

​The same thing happened when we lived in Texas.  One time, in the entire...what? four years?... that we lived in Texas there was a snow over night.  It was completely melted by noon but the entire state had come to a screeching halt by then.  People were urged to Stay Home unless absolutely necessary to go out.  Accidents by the score.  Power outages and of course the DOT has no equipment to deal with actual winter weather conditions.  It was a mess.

​I'm sure the orange and strawberry growers are concerned this morning as are the orange and strawberry eaters!~  If the crop is ruined we will be strawberry-less!  And Orange-less.  Which is very sad to contemplate.  

​I actually pulled out our down comforter last night.  Hey!  It was 40 degrees in the house, that's a little chilly even for Tim!  I almost  got rid of the down comforters before we moved here certain that we would never need them (as I got rid of most of my sweaters, heavy socks, and longjohns) but for some reason I held on to the comforter.  Probably because down comforters are damned expensive and we all know how cheap I am.  Boy am I glad I held on to that!  Even if we only need it a couple of nights a year, I have no problem hauling it out and then shoving it back into the giant zippy bag that it lives in the rest of the time. All for the sake of warmth.  

​I will say that there is something luscious about snuggling down under a comforter on a cold night.  The sheets start out so cold but before long, the body heat trapped underneath makes for a cozy sleep in a chilly room. It does make it hard to get up in the morning though.  "No, I do not WANT to get out of my warm little nest. No Thank You Very Much Please!!"

​Obviously I did get up, against my better judgement.  And lest you think I am exaggerating the unusually brisk temperatures here and that I am just a big baby, (which by the way is true, I AM a big baby)  I offer this photo.  Total strangers also walking on the beach: (and one surfer dude, but frankly they are crazy and are not to be taken into account)

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Please note that they are also wearing long pants and coats. See, it's not just me.  I did take a little peek at the projected temperatures for next week and things will soon be getting back to normal which is 60's and 70's.  

​I know winter is far from over in other parts of the country and if you are not a happy cold weather/snow person I am sorry to hear that.  But I'm just a pleased as I can be that the cold part of our winter amounts to perhaps an entire week's worth of days spread out over a month or two. Yeah, I can live with that.

​Stay warm, stay safe!  I understand that Spring is just around the corner