Dog Days of Winter

So even the dog has started to acclimate to the snow... Last year, we learned that she originally had a family in the mountains, so it explained why the snow didn't seem to faze her. Both this year and last, however, she got a little confused with the first snowfall of the season. See, she normally does her business on the grass. The grass is covered up, so she searches in vain to find one patch of green. Upon not finding any, she realizes she can't hold it forever, and goes. After a couple more snows, she still searches for a patch of grass, and is occasionally rewarded by a small patch uncovered by the snow blower. The patch can be 1 foot by 1 foot, and on an incline, but by golly, she can hit the mark! After a few more snows, and the grass is nowhere to be seen, she paces. And paces. And paces. She's looking now for the perfect patch of SNOW to use! It can't be too fluffy, or too hard. It can't be too deep or too shallow. She refuses to use the concrete... It's got to be PERFECT. And when it is... we have meltdown!! Jonathan has actually catered to her on this, shoveling out a run along the driveway that is just right for her - and perfect for us, because we don't have to run her all over the neighborhood to read everyone's pee-mail about the perfect pee spot.

I'm realizing that as much as I try to resist, I am growing acclimated as well. Last week were some of the coldest days "on record" according to the news (of course, why should this year be any different?) Thursday and Friday were something like -15 (yes, minus) before wind chill. Not comfortable. Today, as I left work at 5:00, I didn't bother buttoning my long winter coat, putting on my mittens, or even wear a scarf, because it was warm... it was freakin' 32! Goodness help me now, because I'm becoming one of them!