Day 13

Day 13 without any measurable amount of sunshine. The sun came out for a sum total of four minutes yesterday but was quickly erased by more clouds, increasing winds and now, more snow. The weather people are predicting falling temperatures this week - single digits by week's end - with plenty of wind to make it all but life-threatening outside. The same weather site is predicting temperatures in Anchorage, Alsaka to be some 20+ degrees HIGHER...and 30-or-so degrees HIGHER at Base Arturo Prat, in ANTARCTICA! I hope the penquins are enjoying their tropical weather.

To say I loathe winter would be a gross understatement. To say extended periods of clouds and cold have a detrimental effect on my moods would be like saying Michael Jordan was an "okay" basketball player. In truth, this type of weather, and it's extended stay, make me downright miserable. I'm ambitionless, unmotivated, perpetually tired, lethargic, cynical, angry, sad, mopey, dark, uninspired, and irritated...on a good day. The helpless feeling that comes with knowing there isn't a damn thing I can do about the weather but wait it out only adds to my despair. Coupled with my current poor financial situation which prevents me from going anywhere south for even a bit of reprieve, and I question whether this is how everyone who "goes postal" feels. Oh if only I were a duck and could take to the north winds and ride them down to the equator (or a touch south of it since that would get me even closer to the sun this time of year). Third degree sunburn be damned, I want some sunshine! Melborne, Australia looks nice. Suppose I can charge a weekend trip there to my FLEX medical savings account? It is, after all, for the betterment of my health.

So it is with life in the midwest in January. Dark, snowy, dreary, cold, miserable. What's not to love, right?