If you are like me, you may have a mixed feelings of anticipation and dread at the thought of the coming snow. So far, it has been having trouble getting here. And yes, in Minnesota we talk about snow as a "entity" or like a troublesome character from a book that hooks everyone into the story by their antics. It is that "grin-and-bear-it" attitude that keeps us all here year after year.

Pretty soon, the temps. will be stable enough for the city parks to flood the baseball diamonds to create outdoor ice skating rinks. Even some adventurous types build a rink in their own backyard. It doesn't matter how cold it gets, there's always a bunch of kids out on the ice.

My anticipation for the snow is to start cross country skiing again. Some of the regional parks have groomed trails and rental facilities. It makes the six months of snow go by quickly when you find a way to enjoy it.