Even the natives are restless

Remember how we got all that snow almost a month ago? This is what our backyard looks like now. We've gotten four snowstorms in four weeks (it's currently snowing right now, but I'm counting that as part of the one that started Friday). I was starting to worry we'd lucked out last year and gotten a really mild winter, but everyone -- including the native Coloradans -- says this is not normal. My boss, a Texan, says that if she'd seen a winter like this in her first five years here, she never would've stuck around.

The snow, however, is sticking around. We had a few days last week of mild, sunshiny days that started to melt the snow. Then the cold snap set in. Since Friday, we've had highs of 6 to 12 and lows of minus-something-or-other. Really, the snow on its own wouldn't be so bad -- if it would stop coming down! Many side streets are still a beast -- I drove on one last week that was like a ride at Disney World. There were grooves in such deep ice that when I tried veering to the side to park, my car started going perpendicular to the street. And parking in general can be tricky if you don't find out a cleared-out spot. Some areas just have heaps of snow in the gutters.

I'm all for snow -- when it snows, sticks around a few days, looks pretty until it all turns black from cars, and then melts. This is just ridiculous. By the end of every week now, everyone just dreads the next snow. And the snow coupled with this cold is just crazy! Actually, 6 doesn't feel as cold as it sounds. It's really freaking cold, but it doesn't seem a whole colder than, say, 15 or 20. Once you hit a certain point, it's hard to distinguish. I don't think I could live in someplace where it gets to 20s or 30s below zero, though.

The dogs hate the cold. They'd rather pee on the rug inside where it's warm than saunter outdoors. Even Esther, and she's, surprisingly, more consistently housebroken than Angus. So lately we've been suiting up to ensure they do their business outside. I think they're just ready for some grass to run around on. And maybe weather in the mid-20s.

(Oh, and as you can probably tell from the better-quality photos, I got the camera back from the shop yet again. Let's all cross our fingers.)