YIKES...WINTER!

IT MUST BE FIVE AM, said I to myself as I awoke this morning. What was that sound I heard? None other than the sound of the snow plow going up the street. Then a brief relapse into light slumber. There it goes again...the plow going down the street.
For the past week or so, I had been pooh-poohing the weather forecasts for snow. So I did yet again yesterday. I'll believe it when I see it...those forecasters are ever the conservatives, they do not want to be caught out not forecasting snow when it finally does come. Talk about crying, "Snow" (rather than "Wolf").
Last night the weather really did mean business and four inches of the stuff lay on the driveway. So...out I went with the snow shovel. Yuck...wet snow and heavy; how I hate it! Much better when it is all light and fluffy. I am very methodical when it comes to clearing snow, dividing the driveway up into nice rectangles and shoving the snow across the drive to the side. Wet snow means smaller sections. The whole operation took me about 45 minutes and raised a fine sweat. By then the sun was up and it looked somewhat like this. I think we are due for some more tonight. However, it looks like those of you who live in Portland, Oregon, are going to get quite a bit as well and even colder than here.
Somewhat of a contrast to the pictures in my last blog. I think I am finished with the garden now. Anyway, the snow is here and I am astonished at how my energy revives now that the waiting for winter is over. What sort of winter will it be, I wonder? Some say, cold and not much snow. Others...wet and warmer than usual. Everyone has an opinion.
Its getting dark around 4:30 PM these days. Just a fortnight (two weeks) or so and the days will begin getting longer.
What to do about the onset of slight Seasonal Affective Disorder (how appropriate, the acronym...SAD). Here's my antidote: Get up early, have an hour out in the morning light before lunch, drink at least four cups of strong, black coffee, take Vitamin D, eat a little dark chocolate each day (I love that semi-sweet cooking chocolate), exercise each day if one can, drink hot chocolate, go to bed around 10 at night, and make sure to read the 'funnies' in the newspaper several times a week. Send a few jokes around the email circuit.
Anyone else have ideas?
Of course, you lucky ones who live Down Under, you have the summer. Lots of sun, long white beaches, surf, and Bar-b-Qs. How can you stand it? Well, yes, and bush fires. Let's hope not as bad as last year.
Apart from all that, be sure to have a happy holiday time and dodge the Christmas jingles (jangles?) if you can. Anyone got a good joke?