all hail to the days

[kittenscribble]

One of the coworkers asked me this morning why I loved winter so much; it made no sense, because I get cold so easily.

I thought about it and I believe I have come to an answer: I love protecting myself from the cold.

See, I love wearing fuzzy hats and fuzzy scarves, and feeling the textures of them wrap against my skin. I love wearing thick socks, and I love layering sweaters underneath my wool coat. I particularly love getting a steaming cup of something hot and sweet and cradling it in my palms, sipping it cautiously and letting it warm me from within. Sure, snow is pretty and playing in the snow is a blast, but the best part is when I get to go back inside, shuck off the outer layers, and curl up under a blanket with a mug of hot chocolate. With a big mound of whipped cream on top.

Winter encourages you to stay inside, where it's warm and cozy. Winter tells you to get comfortable, get under an afghan and open a book and laze about on the couch all day. Winter is a nesting, hibernating season.

Really, it's my favorite time of the year.

Comments

[examorata.livejournal.com]

Excellent points. I do love the hibernating feel of winter, but perhaps because I don't have anyone to hibernate with, I start longing for the warmer/longer days of more activity by about late January or so - well before they're actually due to arrive. =)

[kittenscribble.livejournal.com]

I suppose cabin fever would start to set in after a certain point.

I think it helps that I usually have these thoughts at work, when I'm shivering in my cubicle, thinking, "man, wouldn't it be awesome to be at home, under a blanket, reading a book?"

(Maybe I can bring an afghan to work and curl up under that. My office chair is plenty big. And there's powdered hot chocolate in the coffee mess.)

[paleotheist.livejournal.com]

Amen sister. I would also add that, despite the cold, nothing is quite so refreshing as stepping outside during winter. You just don't get the same clear headed feeling as when you step outside in a 90 degree day! The heat makes me feel leaden and bogged down. But in winter I can always add more clothes and blankets and still feel rather energetic ... even if that energy is spent reading a good book next to my fake fireplace.

I have to admit, I'm also more comfy in winter clothes. I'm not always comfortable in shorts and tank tops, but that's about as much as I can stand to wear in the heat. So yay for sweaters and fleeces (fleeci? fleeneces? whatever)!

[kittenscribble.livejournal.com]

oh yes! I would rather step outside to a brisk winter breeze than to a muggy summer heat any day.

And I hate the summer dress code. I wear tank tops outside because it's so hot, but then the minute I step inside someone's got the A/C cranked up to icicles and I start shivering. Winter is easy: put on coat, take off coat. Yay, warm fuzzy fleeces.

(Not that I'm denigrating A/C. I love A/C. Just not when it's overused.)

[p-sunshine.livejournal.com]

Meh - I like the first month or so of winter, but then I'm ready to go swimming again. In the sun. Indoor will work for a bit, but since I can't blow dry my hair without it turning into a giant mess, I tend to just put a hat over my towel-dried (read *wet*) hair and this gets problematic. And I love Summer clothes. Shorts, tanks, sandals, flip-flops - super comfy to me. Plus, I always get sick in the winter. (And I haven't gone swimming yet) I love watching the first snow and getting together with family for the holidays, but... I don't know where I'm going with this. Sorry for the bah-humbugery.
You're right about this being the best reading weather. Maybe once this cold goes away, I'll feel more cheery. And get some logs for the fireplace. Oh - winter lights - those are awesome.
*picking up tissues and getting back to work.

[kittenscribble.livejournal.com]

It's ok, you're clearly a summer person, and summer has plenty to recommend it. For one thing, the days are longer, which means that the sun is around for longer. That's one thing I don't like about winter -- when I leave work, it's pitch-dark and I have to watch out for deer. And summer is great reading weather too.

Whenever my hair is wet, I just braid it. But we have very different hair.

Feel better soon!

[phlee76.livejournal.com]

I love it too!!! It really is the most wonderful time of the year!! :) I love summer but Christmas tops summer for me and as soon as December 1st hits its all Christmas all the time for me!

And we'll have to go sledding again if we get another snowpocalypse! :)

[kittenscribble.livejournal.com]

And everyone puts out Christmas lights! I love how the street gets all sparkly at night. One of my neighbors has light-up penguins. :)

We are definitely on for another sledding excursion next snowpocalypse!

[snidegrrl.livejournal.com]

I love all of those things, but the lack of long days kills it for me. I crave the sun. I wouldn't say I have SAD or anything, just... yeah.

[kittenscribble.livejournal.com]

It does suck that it gets dark so early, but once we turn the corner in December, the days will start getting longer!

The thing that's recently bothering me is the dry air. The skin is cracking across my knuckles. [slathers on lotion]