OPINION? EVERYBODY HAS ONE Cold weather makes me miserable

I don’t think the bluebirds will be singing today, although sometimes their little bird brains are out of whack and they sing anyway.

Not my little brain; I am not singing. The cold has shut me down and I refuse to utter one good or happy word. Except, you know, I have to behave myself around my close relativeso I smile and say nice things when she is in the region.

The conditions outside make me thankful for a warm nesting place in the house. Therefore, we will talk about the things we do inside. I mainly read the farm or ag magazines to learn about my business. Let me say on the subject that there isn’t anythingnew under the sun except medicine formulas.

The new, quote, way to move cattle, unquote, is the same thing but said in a new and fascinating way. Yippee! Does that matter to me? Absolutely not, but I still read every word of all the articles.

My time indoors is good for learning about landscaping, color coordinating walls and sofas, cooking for health and all the news from Washington, D.C. I did not know that the tiniest little bump on a Congressman or Senator would rate seventeen hours of news coverage. I sorta enjoysome of the news, but I have to change channels when four or five start talking over each other.

The Grands never let anything keep them indoors and they have visited regularly. We play games like Old Maud, War and Trivial Pursuit. Their daddies are out in the weather like good boys ought to be while I sit and take care of the young ones! Their grandmother is determined to nourish them, because they need it, with chocolate chip cookies. Hot chocolate and marshmallows are flowing like the Rio Grande around here.

I have also just about caught up on my napping time. I tried to watch Jay Leno and still can’t stay awake long enough to get through his monologue, but one more nap should take care of that.

I do not like the fact that little chores can be delivered to my chair to be taken care of. I have repaired necklace chains, peeled pecans, sorted receipts for tax purposes, counted and wrapped coins from the jar, cut out recipes that were torn out of magazines to save, stacked up and never attended to and even called off addresses to be enteredinto the list from Christmas card envelopes. I refused to polish silver.

It is my opinion, and everyone has one, my lifetime of being outside in the occupation of my choice is the only way to go. I miss the misery and pain, need the push of blood rushing around in my veins to keep me alert and happy. The weather makes me miserable and I am ready for spring, but I have had all the nesting time I want!

Bill is the pen name used by a local writer and longtime resident of the Gravette area.

Opinion, Pages 6 on 01/26/2011