Say it isn't SNOW!

I'm not a snow person.  I can count on one hand how many times I've been in the snow.  I'm firmly a California Coast girl--born in Orange County and attending college in San Francisco.   I don't have much snow cred and frankly, that's okay with me.

 

Here I am in the snow in Palm Springs last weekend.  See how happy I look? What a natural smile brought on by the joy of being outdoors in the freezing cold...or, more accurately,  brought on by my husband saying "Smile Suz, you look like you're miserable." Truth is, I was miserable and only the thought of a nice martini waiting for me back at the lodge was enough to make me trudge back up the snowcapped mountain and not just lay down in the snow and surrender to the bitter winter cold.

I usually am a shutter bug (see my OC Flickr page here), but while traipsing around outdoors, I felt uninspired and longed for a dramatic street scene, hastily chained up bike or interesting wall mural to photograph.  I wasn't able to shoot off even a few photos of the great outdoors--though I did get some cute pictures of my kids before they got wet and wanted to go back inside. 

It reminds me of the scene from Annie Hall when one of Woody Allen's wives is trying to get him to move to the country and he says, "...I don't like the country, there's no place to walk after dinner."  So true. With all the trees, pine cones, and birds there wasn't anything to shoot and I certainly wasn't going to take my hands out of my warmish pockets for a picture of a snow covered rock.  

It's not that I have anything against the snow.  I think it's super for other people.  I just feel it should stay where it belongs in my life: high atop Mount Baldy for me to admire from the heated seats while driving down the 241, spray painted on windows during the holidays, and falling slowly--suspiciously like bubbles--on Main Street at Disneyland.  These are all perfectly acceptable forms of snow in my opinion.   

My New York-born husband has accepted I won't ever be a snow bunny, so I hope you do, too.  So, I'm dreaming of a "clear with a slight chance of Santa Ana's Christmas!" Not a white one..

This was written for my blog at The Orange County Register, "Mommy's Mind is not Toy."

Comments

[Erica]

I am with you 100%. I am a Florida girl... from the other Disney. I grew up with Sandmen instead of snowmen, and that was just fine with me!

[fancy feet]

I get this. Even though I am surrounded with snow here at the moment and I hear there is only more to come. While everyone is very excited about this I am not. I like my snow on the mountains or over to the side, but not on the roads. I loathe driving in snow. Anyway....I hear ya.

Very cute photo of you!! It's nice to see you on the other side of the camera.

Merry Christmas, Suz.

[LuckyMe]

I love our ski trips to Colorado and I always say that's the only place I would live that is NOT near a coast. But after seeing all of your Orange County photos, I could easily be converted to a "No Snow" girl. Merry Christmas, Suz!

[The Glamorous Life]

I used to say "I am not so much a girl who wants to get back to nature as I am a girl who wants to get back to the HOTEL" and I think that applies to you as well. However, I love me some snow. LOVE it. When this OC gal moved to Chicago for 3 years everyone warned me of the awful weather and TOLD me how much I was going to hate the winter. But ya know what? I LOVED IT! But the Summers with 100% humidity? That was a different story!

[Big Hair Envy]

I share your unbridled enthusiasm for snow. It has been in the teens the past two mornings, and I am beginning to shrivel up an DIE from the cold. Fortunately, it's supposed to be up around 60 the next couple of days. "Yes, Virginia. There IS a Santa Clause"!!!!!

[Predo]

I too am not a fan. In fact I left the midwest to live in Oregon. It usually snows one a year for a day or so. This year I want it to just go away! The first couple of days were great flashbacks to my childhood and now it just irritates me! Regardless, I will survive this and see the green of Portland again soon!!!

[Suz]

I agree. Snow has it's place and that place ain't with me. ;0
You do look cute though...as a snow bunny. :)
I hope the kids had fun at least...that is all the matters. right? right. :)
take care,
suz

[PJ]

You're wearing lipstick AND carrying a shoulder bag, Suz. Dead giveaway. I'll bet you fairly sprinted back to the warmth (unless you were wearing a box pleated plaid skirt and knee highs and then most likely you walked swiftly while you squeeeeed!). I don't mind snow, I just prefer to go to where it lives and leave when I've had enough. You do have a beautiful smile inspite of everything.

[Des]

I am totally with you on this. No to snow! Yes to seat heaters!

[Mental P Mama]

To each his own. Merry Christmas!

[chrome3d]

You are in a forest but there is nothing to shoot? That´s so funny.

Happy christmas and all that.

[Kate Parker]

Nowhere to walk after dinner? Nothing to photograph in the forest? Bawahahahaha
You wouldn't last a minute where I live! Not a single minute.
Merry Christmas!

[horsoon]

Merry X'mas to you, Suz!

[Jennifer]

Ahhh... you get a taste of what we have been dealing with up here in the Pacific NW... I so understand!
Merry Christmas and Happy new year to you! Lovely pic of you by the way :o)

[Carrie Horton]

Oh don't hate the snow, you look like the "perfect" snow bunny. You have it all wrong though, you are supposed to drink the martini "BEFORE" you get into that cold snow. Tell Larry to get it straight. He needs to give you one martini before and one for after.

[foolery]

Snow belongs in a freezer, of course. I can visit it whenever I want to and never have to drive in it.

You don't look like you're in pain, just underhydrated. I assume the martini took care of that. ; )