It's cold here in Maryland, far colder than it ever got in Vienna. I don't know why it's colder here. We are farther south here than Austria so it should be warmer. But, of course, in Austria we lived in the city of Vienna and everyone knows cities are warmer than the suburbs; it's something about concrete and heat-transfer or solar-absorption and hot dog stands. I can't remember the exact explanation but one thing is for sure, I look outside here and we have a lake and lots of trees and it's cold like the ass end of Pluto.
It was 12 degrees this morning. Do you know what 12 degrees does that does to thin-skinned, spindly dog who needs to go outside? If Noodle is on the sofa she hides her face in the blanket. I tell her three times she's got to do her business and she's already shivering. She reluctantly gets off the sofa and walks over to me about as fast as a receding glacier. She looks at the leash like it's a noose and she's on death row. I put her sweater on her and her legs buckle under the burden of that six-ounce coat. She doesn't move. It's her last ditch effort not to go outside. I tug the leash and off we go.
I don't blame Noodle for hating the cold. Weekdays at 5am I go outside and start the car for the Diplomat to warm it up before she goes to work. Last Wednesday I went outside and it was so cold my nipples fell off. Right away I pressed them back on and they seem to be sticking but I think I got them backward.
I don't mean to complain about the cold because I'm happy to have it. With cold comes snow and ice and for a few months of the year our view is transformed. The lake and the state park afford me a great opportunity to head out for a run or cross-county ski. I've made it a habit to bring my camera. I thought you might enjoy a few of my winter pictures.
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