Endings, beginnings, etc

The snow has finally arrived in Montreal. Not necessarily pleasing to all, yet definitely a requirement for a real holiday season. The snow is white and bright, whereas the inhabitants of this city are mostly blue: holiday shopping (bankruptcy), plummeting temperatures (frostbite), the end of semesters (17 papers and 15 exams), sunsets at 4:10pm (gaaahhhh)... It's very hard to get acclimatized to this season, especially this year. 

For the last few years, Montreal seemed to have skipped a few seasons. We would leave winter and enter neither spring nor summer, more of an in-between season that promoted rain and low temperatures. Fall would last one or two weeks, then we'd be stuck in the winter season once more. This year, however, was fantastic! We had a long, slow spring which flowed into the warmest, sunniest and longest summer I can remember. The transition into fall was beautiful, accentuated by over 4 weeks of colorful foliage. And now, BAM! It's cold. 

Don't get me wrong, xmas is my favorite holiday. I love a white xmas. I love baking. I love wrapping presents and seeing the recipients faces when they unwrap them. I love listening to Bing Crosby and Judy Garland. I even love the sports that come with the season: hockey, skiing, sledding... 

Basically, I'm bitching because I'm freezing my rear end off out here.