It's a new year!

My brand-new, yet to be stained with coffee, daily calendar sits on my desk, teasing me with all those empty pages to be filled. There is the promise of a new slate, a chance to do things this year that I wish I'd done in 2011 -- or not to do some of the things I did last year.
As far as I'm concerned, a clean slate is all January has to offer. Yes, I am a warm-weather person. I'll take the August heat over January cold anytime; even curled under my electric blanket with the dog cuddled against me I long for summer to appear.
So far, the winter here in northeastern Kentucky has been more like an extended fall. Snow flurried past my office window earlier today, but dissipated about as soon as it fell.

That's me, bundled for winter, with my beauty queen grandgirl, Celeste.

 

My idea of a perfect winter evening is a long, hot bath with lots of bubbles, then sliding on my thick, fleecy jammies and slippers. Wrapped in my favorite robe, I head to the kitchen to make a cup of hot chocolate, then tune the TV to a favorite show –"House," perhaps, or "Criminal Minds."
My idea of a terrible winter evening?
Wrapping myself in a dozen layers, grabbing the shovel and clearing off the sidewalk and driveway as I grumble about how much I hate winter. When I finally get done and go back in the house, the routine's pretty much the same – except the bath is to ward off frostbite, the hot chocolate is simply to warm my innards and TV shows always seem to feature cold climates on those nights.
So how about you? Love winter or hate it? I'd love to know!

P.S. Need a good read for when you're trapped inside? Check out "Double Dog Dare" by Jennifer Johnson, new from Turquoise Morning Press.

Oh, come on, Mama Nature!

Although I write about vampires and others things that roam the dark hours, I am definitely NOT a child of the night. I adore sunlight and heat; my idea of a perfect summer day is basking in the sun on some white-sand beach with a sexy cabana boy bringing me drinks.

So I assume that Mother Nature hates me. Otherwise, why in the world would she continue to submit me to gray day after gray day?

I can handle the rain. I can handle the snow. I can even handle those days when rain turns into ice which then becomes fat flakes of snow. What I can't handle is week after week of that with nothing brightening the world but street lights.

Our local weather man explained that it's not really a bad winter, it's because we so many warm and sunny days late into the fall. Well, that's nice, but it doesn't make me feel any better. What would make me feel better is our local weather man announcing that tomorrow's temperature will be 70 degrees and we better put on some sunscreen.

A few weeks ago, I seriously considered escaping to the south, to visit my niece in Louisana. I haven't seen her for a couple of years, and not seen her new baby at all. She says her door is open and I'm sure I could find a motel somewhere close, since she lives in a city.

I'm glad I didn't jump in the car and start down the Interstate, because about the time I decided to leave all this behind, the south was slammed with a winter freeze and snow. In fact, one day it was warmer in Alaska than Florida said, yes, my local weather man.

I know I could find comfort on the warm beaches of Hawaii, which would be perfect since I don't have to have a passport to go there. But with all the vivid description of the new airport screenings, I'm a little hesitant to fly right now. Not that I mind a good pat down now and again, but I prefer from someone I love and not a stranger with latex gloves.

So I guess that leaves me with two choices: endure or bribe Mother Nature.

Do you think she'd take Old Man Winter for a little fling if I got them a classy suite in Vegas?