Embracing the Cold 11.13.10

Something I've been learning over the past few frigid weeks is that you have to think like a polar bear. Yes, I know it sounds ridiculous, but hear me out. A polar bear is completely content in its environment. It roams the frozen tundra of the Arctic circle and swims through the icy waters of the ocean to find its food, sometimes miles away. The best part about the polar bear is its adaptation. Did you know that the polar bear actually evolved from the brown bear? Go figure! The polar bear was actually a product of natural selection during a period of isolation in a colder environment. Did you get that? The polar bear came about because it had to deal with the cold! So why can't I do that? All I have to do is gain 500 pounds, grow white fur instead of brown hair, and play in the snow all day long, right? Or maybe I should just put on my white winter jacket and furry boots, and then attempt to change my feelings toward the snow by trying not to completely detest it; that might work better. But if a brown bear can do it, I certainly can (Just don't mention how many brown bears probably died in the process of becoming polar bears, okay?).

We are moving right along into November and that means I want to get out of bed less and less in the mornings because of how cold my apartment is. Of course, having the heater not cooperate does cause some issues too. Maybe when it actually turns on I will feel better about being awake in the morning. Then again, there really isn't much better in this world than waking up in a soft warm bed and knowing you don't have to get up right away, so maybe I won't complain too much. I guess there could maybe, possibly, conceivably, perhaps, be some good things about winter; but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

I really am working on embracing the cold weather and everything that comes with it. So far I've got Christmas and hot chocolate. Holiday food should probably get thrown into that mix. Come to think of it, maybe it wouldn't be so hard to gain 500 pounds in the winter after all. Polar bears know what they're doing. I bet all the coca-cola they drink helps put on that weight too...

Trying to deal without sunshine,
LoMo
 

October Snow 10.27.10

Did I mention it started snowing on my way home yesterday? At the time it was just a few flurries that were gracefully smacking me in the face. But I was horrified to discover what lay outside my front door this morning. A white blanket of snow covering every inch of grass, tree branches, car hoods, and people as it melted and dripped onto everyone that had the misfortune of walking to school in the nasty weather. Did someone forget to tell Jack Frost he isn't allowed to play his little games until after October?

With the lovely haphazard weather changes comes another unfortunate side effect: the common cold. You know, the one that makes you just sick enough to be annoying but not sick enough to actually keep you from doing everything? You cough, sneeze, feel fatigued, and still can't justify staying in bed all day, wishing you were either not sick at all or at least had a fever. Unfortunately, it seems that however hard you might try to avoid contracting this most inconvenient of illnesses, there is no hope.You will get sick whether it comes from the girl sitting next to you in your Music class or the guy in front of you in line at the book store. You take Airborne (which my mother claims "does absolutely nothing," but has still saved my life on multiple occasions), drink orange juice, eat soup, and sleep more, just to realize that when you actually get sick you will be doing all of those things anyway; you'll just feel a lot worse. I am one of those unlucky ones, compounding my dislike for cold weather and the Funk, which now is even more of an issue since I really want to do everything and nothing at the same time. Not to worry. I'll probably live through this cold in the same way I've lived through all the rest. Maybe I'll just sleep until the Sun decides to warm things up again . . .
Wishing for sunshine,
LoMo

When the Funk Begins 10.26.10

I am a sunshine girl. There is absolutely no other way around it. I have often said that if I were a flower I would be a sunflower because I thrive on sunshine. Last night I was told that I actually have photosynthetic processes, and I honestly believe that's true. I live because of the sun.

Winter is my enemy. Do you know what happens in the winter when the Earth conveniently tilts on its axis and causes the Northern hemisphere to get cold? We physically move away from the Sun! The air which was so warm and full of life suddenly turns frigid with decay. The world turns gray, the trees become naked, birds fly south, and I am left with a day that is significantly shorter than it was in June because the Sun is 47 degrees lower in the sky. Thus the Funk.

The Funk is a somewhat endearing name I've given to the mood I get into in the winter weather. You can try to tell me that snow is "wonderful" and the "cold is fantastic," but I promise I will glare at you. It is when I am caught in this most peculiar of moods that I feel like doing absolutely nothing and yet everything at the same time. I've tried to work my way out of the Funk with chocolate (delicious but ineffective, not to mention fattening), music (you'd think that would help), reading (maybe pulling myself into someone else's world would help?), jumping, dancing, cooking, praying, kissing, doing homework, singing, serving, and every other action you could think of. All to no avail.

This is my last resort: Blogging. I will admit that it is one thing I hadn't considered yet. However, with the snow that started to fall on my head this afternoon as I was trudging home from class, I needed a new outlet. This will hopefully be my answer to "Beating the Funk." And if it's not...well, I guess I'll just have to move to the equator and live in the sunshine all year round.
Dreaming of Sunshine,
LoMo