Make it Spring!!

It is supposed to be -5 degrees tonight and all I have to say is how incredibly done I am with winter. I've spent the vast majority of this winter in Buffalo, NY where the current snowfall total is 106 inches. Don't get me wrong, I love winter, I love snow, but ughhhh I am so ready to be able to feel my face when I walk outside!

This bone-chilling winter has taken its toll on me. Not only have I been busy with musical day jobs but I have been so cold and tired that I would barely make it home to bundle up in blankets and vegetate on the couch or in bed. I left friendships get buried in the snow and writing was all but forgotten. I wasn't even reading very much. I had bursts of motivation and creativity but overall I was pretty sad and blah. Oh, and cold. Very cold.

With no end in sight to this frigid winter, I finally made the decision to stop being so blah and sad. I grabbed my proverbial shovel and dug my friendships out of the snow and started the thawing process. I picked up my notebook and wrote. I turned the page and read. It wasn't easy but I forced myself to do it and a week later I am incredibly happy that I did.

Now to maintain it.

Notes from the Polar Vortex

January has really gotten away from me. I feel like I was sitting on my sister's boyfriend's floor ringing in the New Year just last week when it was really a month ago. I blame it on the winter weather.

Now don't get me wrong, I am a northerner. Not only that, I spent many winters (including this one) in Buffalo, NY. That's right, smack in the middle of the Lake Effect Snow Belt. But let me tell you that this winter has given  me a run for my money.

Since January 2, the first day of school after the Christmas holidays, my district has had SIX snow days and three further days of cancelled after school activities. Being a substitute teacher and school musical choreographer, I pace my life by the school schedule so for much of January I haven't even known what day it is or where I have to be. (As an aside, I am mad stressed about finishing my dance numbers for my March musicals when we NEVER HAVE REHEARSAL!)

Also, it's been COLD. Like negative temperatures with REALLY negative wind chills. Two days this past week, the school was closed despite state testing because it was too cold to have the kids waiting outside for the buses. I might have been referred to as an Ice Queen once or twice in my day but no one likes temperatures that low. Hence, I've spent a lot of time bundled up in blankets, vegging on the couch watching bad day time TV and cuddling with my cats. Solid life choice, if you ask me.

Basically, I've been a slug for a month and I don't know how I feel about it. In some ways, I know I needed a break. Mentally and physically I've been a little off lately. However, I wonder if pushing through it might not have been a better option. Anyway, I have high hopes for February. Which include - much as it pains my Ice Queen heart to say - romantic plans for Valentine's Day and LOTS of musical things both in real life and on the page.

How have you started off 2014?

xoxox,
L.S. Mooney