Jack Frost Nipping At Your Nose . . .

Jack Frost has come to Monticello with a vengeance! Rather than let that keep me indoors and lazy (although I have done plenty of that too) I decided it was time to try cross-country skiing.

Can you blame my when I have this kind of scenery to keep me motivated?

The adventure actually began the previous night. I had rented the ski package and wanted to make the most of it by going out in the evening. I got the kids settled at home and practiced my skills on the snow-packed road by my house.

An hour later I was having such a great time I checked back with kids (who had not maimed each other so far) and set out for more.

By this time the sun had set and I needed some light to I headed out across town with the aid of the town streetlights. The temperatures had really dropped by now, a balmy 12 degrees, but I had bundled against the cold and kept pretty warm with the swish-swish motion of the skiing. As a secondary benefit of being completely obscured by my winter clothing, not a soul in town knew who I was as I pursued my slightly insane pastime.

Part of my "city" route included a pass by my trusty accomplice in many such adventures, Jenna LaRose. I showed up at her door red-cheeked and smiling, insisting that she come with me the next day and play in the snow. She and I are also considering a winter triathlon in the area and the course includes a cross country skiing part of the race. Using preparation as the excuse, we met the next day and "prepared" for the upcoming race, in March.

We headed "up the mountain," to use the local vernacular, and started off into the 2-foot-deep powder. We made it about 40 yards. With hearts pounding and lungs burning we made our way back to the snow-packed road and spent the rest of there. Thankfully, the race skiing course will also be groomed, no more slogging through what felt like cold quicksand.

Although a brisk 17 degrees outside, we ended up shedding our jackets and just soaking in the beautiful winter day.

Did I mention the slogging?

And the many falls that accompany slogging? (Thanks for the bum shot Jenna!)

And since we had not spent enough time outside that day, when school let out Jenna and I grabbed our kids and headed over to the golf course for some sledding. It almost goes without saying that I slept very, very well that night.

Ah, Winter. By April I may despise you, but for now, the love affair has just begun.