Yesterday it started snowing again. Maybe its the loss of our store due to snow or the fact that I haven't seen my deck out back for six months, but I'm pretty over the snow. This is the time of year where I make my winter threat, it goes something like this, “If it's still snowing on (insert date here-usually the next Friday or Saturday) I swear, I'm leaving this town! I mean it. I'm going to move! I'm going back to San Diego, where it NEVER snows.” This is usually stated (shouted with choice expletives sprinkled in) while peeling off layers of wet, icy clothing or struggling with boots. Mother Nature, like all moms, always ignores this threat, then proceeds to test my resolve. (One year it even snowed on May 31st!) It always seems to be right when we have hope that we can plant something. Two years ago, I planted some vegetables out back at the end of March. It hadn't snowed in three weeks during which it had been down right pleasant at 50. The day after I planted my hopeful little garden, it snowed six inches.

As of February 24th, Flagstaff had surpassed it's 30 year average of 109 inches of snow in a “winter” standing at 118 inches. This doesn't include the last two storms. In comparison, the National Weather Service has ranked Flagstaff #2 in snowfall this year. Valdez, Alaska was #1 with 230 inches of snow, then Flagstaff with 118, then Syracuse, New York at only 86 inches. Those babies in Washington D.C. called their storm “Snowpocalypse” when they got 28 inches in one storm, the storm that took out our store dropped 54 inches. 54 inches! No silly names for us. Flagstaff has had 78 consecutive days with six inches of snow (or more) on the ground. The “snow season” runs from October 24th to May 9th. For those of you playing at home, that's over six months. We are only in March, which records indicate is usually the snowiest of the season. 118 inches is nearly ten feet of snow. TEN FEET. Just think on that for a bit, go ahead, I'll wait.

I know all the benefits that this winter will bring, the wildflowers, reduced fire risk, elevated reservoir levels and a longer season for the skiers. However, right now, I don't care. I want the sun! I want to smell the trees without the snot freezing in my nose. I want to walk more than ten paces without the fear of getting stuck and having to change my shoes, socks and pants. I need to feel warm outside again. I want to ride my bike and climb rocks and Bar-B-Que. I want to wear less than three layers of clothing! I need to see green plants and flowers, outside. At the moment I'd settle for a pine tree that wasn't covered in snow. I'm tired of slipping when I get out of a vehicle or having to run illegally across the street because the button to cross is frozen. Tomorrow it will be sunny and bright (please read: blinding) but cold. Wouldn't it be nice if we could go outside when the sun is shining and actually feel the warmth of the sun? It's like a celestial joke that mother nature never tires of. “Here's the sun tiny humans...come out and play. HA! HA! The sun is out but it's still only 25 degrees! You tiny pathetic humans, go get a coat!” The Vernal Equinox (first day of spring) is little over a week away, but winter's grip is strong this year. With luck, it will loosen by June. I swear, if it snows next week...