Just the other day, I was trying to tell Grace about a friend who's 12-year-old daughter has diabetes. She wanted me to explain "diabetes" to her, which is not an easy thing to do. I noticed that she was getting a little flustered with my less-than-stellar explanations (I never did excel in biology). Finally, in desperation, I said, "Grace, just forget it. It's very difficult to explain." She looked at me with as much intensity as she could muster and said, "That's OK Mommy. I LIKE things that are difficult to explain!"

Can I get that in writing? I'll need it when she's in Geometry class trying to prove that lines AB and CD are perpendicular.

Indulge me, if you will, while I vent a little. For those of you who never read the paper or watch the television, let me share the bad news with you: that stupid groundhog saw his shadow again this year! Which means of course that we have 6 more weeks of winter! Six! Now take a look at my pictures. This is what we see every day. Snow, ice, sleet, rain....I'm beginning to wonder if the sun is still shining. Could someone let me know? This morning I commented to Troy that our neighborhood looks like a scene straight out of Narnia, minus the man-horse creatures, talking lion, and white witch. It really can be beautiful, but let's face it...old man winter gets old fast! I am ready for spring in Germany! I am ready for the wildflowers that grow along the side of the roads. I am ready for the tulip festival in Holland, where the tulips grow as large as your head. I am ready for warm weather, the kind of weather that permits a girl to don shorts and capris and cute skirts. I am sick of looking like the Michelin tire man every time I walk out the door, with my hat, gloves, scarf, ski jacket, snow boots....I am sick of chapped lips, dry skin, and perpetual runny noses. So, here's what I propose---

I propose that we fire Punxsutawney Phil and hire a groundhog that will bring the good news of spring! I mean, there must be hundreds of out-of-work groundhogs just dying for an opportunity like this! Phil has to go. I can't take this weather any more. I need the sun, and I need it now! Who's with me?