Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for December 12, 2018

You could get all your exercise just staying in one spot. Breathing against that icy wind is what shuts me down. Really appreciate that hot chocolate.

The day is dark and grimy,/ the dawn came in a hearse/ and yesterday was slimy/ and tomorrow will be worse.

The laws are cataleptic,/ our gods live in garages,/ society’s gone septic/ and the muses give massages.

Our powder’s getting wetter,/ yet optimists recite:/ “This life could not be better!”/ And I fear the bums are right. —-Victor Buono

I live in the Great Pacific Northwest. It’s that time of year again when it’s gloomy, wet, breezy, and cold. Its a damp cold that cuts to your bones. If it’s 10 below and dry is does not feel as cold as 38 degrees and damp a windy.

Now is the winter of our discontent…

The days get shorter and shorter, and it gets darker and darker, and more and more depressing — then just when the day is shortest and darkest and most depressing, that’s the first day of Winter. Nature hates us.

I think she’s achieved lift-off!

The wet and dark has us immured/ and social obligations deferred/ The cat and I will rest in grace / with a glowing fireplace.

I’ve always believed you must experience seasons to keep your balance; only after winter can you appreciate spring.

But at home, there’s the hot bath, the candles and the worshiper to bring an offering of wine, asking nothing but a brief ogle. (And ogle alone, even a brief one, is warming in itself.)

Actually, winter is my favorite season. I’m one of the few who retired up north.

I was born and bred (and live) in California. My Cleveland-born hubby always said that I couldn’t make it through a mid-west winter. As soon as the snow got dirty and icy I would probably die from depression. I hate it when it gets down into the 50’s at night.

Once you get used to it, the cold snowy weather is manageable.

Oddly enough, the winter solstice was considered mid-winter not too long ago. Still true in Portland, OR.

Dare I say…baby it’s cold outside?

Why Phil Harris said and that’s what I like about the south

There is a common theme in Taoist painting called the Vinegar Tasters; it depicts 3 old men around a vat of vinegar, (wait for it) tasting it it. Of course, being Taoist painting, it’s not just 3 old men tasting vinegar, they are Masters who represent the 3 great Eastern thought systems; the Buddha, Kung Fu-tse (who gringos call “Confucius”) and Lao-tze, author of the oldest book of Taoism. Kung Fu-tse is puckering, because, like his view of life, the vinegar is sour. The Buddha is grimacing because, like his view if life, the vinegar is bitter. Lao-tze is smiling – because it’s good vinegar.

Go out and enjoy a beautiful winter day for what it is! I know that I, for one, will long for them in the hell (there, for you Christians) of August.

John Greenleaf Whittier:

SNOWBOUNDThe sun that brief December dayRose cheerless over hills of gray,And, darkly circled, gave at noonA sadder light than waning moon.Slow tracing down the thickening skyIts mute and ominous prophecy,A portent seeming less than threat,It sank from sight before it set.A chill no coat, however stout,Of homespun stuff could quite shut out,A hard, dull bitterness of cold,That checked, mid-vein, the circling race Of life-blood in the sharpened face,The coming of the snow-storm told.The wind blew east; we heard the roarOf Ocean on his wintry shore,And felt the strong pulse throbbing thereBeat with low rhythm our inland air.

At one time, the snow and cold seemed to last forever. Then I started Cross Country Skiing. Now it seems just right. Bottom line… enjoy your surroundings or pack up and move.

Winter is not depressing. Summer is just overrated.

Why not, look at what we’ve done to her!

I’m so glad I live in FL, especially this time of year.

“IT WAS A DARK AND SNOWY NIGHT”

It was a dark an snowy night, the howl of the wolfen were heard amid the hushed snow covered streets. A cold wind blows with the stench of a thousand graves as I walk home from a night of gaiety and schnapps. From gold lit warmth to the blue cold of the late hour.

Thunder rumbled! Flashes of lightning amid the feathery snow dropping at a modest pace. Most unusual to have such a weather phenomena in this odd portentous place. Looking down does he spy elongated wolf-like tracks? I quicken my pace.

Seems more fitting for Hallowe’en than a holy night where the stars are not brightly shining with this storm front. Yet no buses run nor his car is available, booted, so trudge I must to hearth and home. The wolfen pack is in their city hunting. Though the curfew is on you can go at your own risk. Here’s to preying…praying. The howls seem nearer.

I quicken my pace in a futile attempt to win against a pack that can out run a man and out pace with him. Time is short, my breath is long, worst time ever to stay out like this.

The sound, a foot fall on snow, stealthy and persistent, or just a fever dream and I still can’t awaken from it.

Howling, howling so loud I clap my hands to me ears they must be around. Circling to get me, get me down. Did I see a movement or shadow? If I see them it is because they want me to before they strike.

I am on my back and great hand paws are on my chest, I feel hot breath all around and a beast more like a man will feast on me this night. Dinner is served.

Dec. 26, xmas is over and the days are getting longer. A double blessing.

Perfect soup weather. Made clam chowder.

I love the Winter Solstice! It is the longest coziest night of the year and signals that lovely trek back toward spring and rebirth and green growing things. It’s a beautiful time.

…and the shoveling just gets shoved on dad…

Tomorrow the sun sets one minute later…finally turning around.

And then the delightful nights will shorten.