February and March are the worst months in my opinion. Besides a few friends' birthdays, March Madness and the occasional 40-degree day, I can pretty much do without months two and three.
Christmas feels like it happened a million years ago. It's still as cold as it was during December and January, but by this time people are just sick of it. If I had a nickel for every time I heard this week, "I'm ready for it to be warm," well, I would have a lot of nickels.
When it gets to be these in-between months, people can go through a bit of depression, or a funk, if you will. Between the weather, feeling cooped up and thinking that it's never going to be warm again, it's understandable.
I've been trying to keep my spirits up by thinking about what's coming ahead. I'm not even looking ahead until summer - that's too far away. Besides, if I start thinking about Italian Festival food now, my funk will carry through until May.
I know I'm not the only one going through the wintertime blues. It's been a constant topic of conversation between me and my friend Candace. But I think we've figured out a way to look forward to the future, and it's all about the little things.
First off, we're keeping up on our diets in hopes that when it is warm, the bathing suits we already bought aren't the scary pieces of material they are now. She's doing much better than I am, but I'm very happy to report that I am down 10 pounds. Hey, it's not exactly where I wanted to be, but it's a start. See, little things and silver linings are getting me through until the days when I can go for a run outside.
Second, and Candace doesn't know this yet, but we're going to hit the Golf Dome so that when the courses open, our swings are already rusted away. I always feel I can never get my golf game going because by the time I've figured out why I'm hitting everything to the left, it's September, and the clubs are getting ready to sit in my trunk for another six months. But, if I start practicing now, fix my hook, which will turn into a slice, then back to a hook, by June, I will have a solid two to three months of golfing. I'm planning ahead and doing something active while waiting to be able to go to the driving range.
Lastly, I'm circling dates on my calendar. They don't have to be big things, just small things that will get you from one 32-degree day to the next 30-degree day.
For example, I have three big days circled on my calendar. First one, March 31. New episodes of "My Boys" premieres. Hey, it's a show about my life; I have to remember to watch it.
Secondly, April 6, opening day of Major League Baseball. I know people are probably wondering why I'm excited for a steroid-filled sport with overpaid crybabies, but my answer is that I am my daddy's little girl, and there is something about opening day that puts a smile on my face.
And lastly, a date that everyone should have circled on their calendar, April 13. Better known as the day of my birth. I will be turning a ripe 28 years old that day, and hopefully it will be a fun-filled extravaganza with many of my dear friends showing me a good time. No presents, please. Save your money. We are in a recession, people!
I hope everyone else is trying to snap out of the winter blues like I am, and hopefully, soon enough, we'll all be running into each other outside where it's warm. Now that would be nice.
Sulonen is a sports writer at the Tribune. E-mail her at dsulonen@tribtoday.com