The seasons are shifting

I am not sad to see January go. In fact, most years I'd be celebrating because January has typically been my least favorite month of the year. It's cold and dark, the joy of the holidays has passed, New Year's resolutions overcrowd the gym, sweaters are annoyingly bulky (actually, I don't like winter clothes at all), static electricity is piercing every time I try to get in or out of bed, the roads are slushy and salty and cold-blooded people like me are shivering all the time. It's awful, isn't it? So, 'why do I live here?' one might ask. Because just as I think I've had enough and start thinking of crazy plans to move, February happens.

The days start to get longer, birds begin to sing, the resolution gym goers are gone, the Christmas tree is finally put away (unless you happen to be my parents) and grocery stores are full of little heart-shaped candies-the orange hearts are my favorite, by the way. So, this year I told myself that I needed to find a way to appreciate the long winters or I could no longer allow myself to complain about them. Tall task...skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling all sound great in theory but aren't really my thing. Although, to be fair, I really haven't given them a generous chance. Maybe someday. But for now, I decided that I needed something I could turn to often to escape the negativity whirling around. I can't take off for a ski-trip every afternoon and I don't have a snowmobile so...I decided to start running outside. Yikes, I thought, but great considering I am not a treadmill person. Well, I have learned that it only takes about 8 minutes until I go numb enough to bare the bitterness and then I am solid from there. When I run by myself, I usually have a camera with me just in case I need a break or see something that captures what I'm thinking at that moment. On a few occasions, it has payed off.

And it has payed off to find something I enjoy doing in the winter. I'm not sure if I'm ready to admit that I no longer dislike January buuut, I will say it has made it much more enjoyable.

Here are a few other great things that happened in January...

A gorgeous winter night.

The Wobschall kids (Tricia, Marcus, Mikey and I) had a night out on the town in Northfield...bowling at Jesse James Lanes, Pause Pizza, Mad Libs. It's never a dull moment with them.

The Gusties came to Olaf for a fun night of hoops. My Hill Kitt staff (of RAs) decided it'd be fun to go together. They even gave me permission to wear my Gustie shirt :) Charlie, another Gustie-grad co-worker at Olaf was at the game, too. They snatched him for the group picture! Go Gusties!

Playing around in the snow...I don't know if I tackled him or if we fell. :)

Well, here's to February! Bring it on Spring!