Re: OT: Merry Christmas!

On Mon, 27 Dec 2004 00:02:56 -0600, Thomas R. Wier <trwier@...> wrote:

>
> Totally agree :).  Even the native Chicagoans I meet sympathize
> when I express amazement that they are capable of maintaining
> such a high level of civilization in such a barbarous environment.
>
For me, it's even more of an astonishment when you consider the things
I like to grow in my garden: subtropicals, and even a few hardy
tropicals. I like being able to grow palm trees other than
Trachycarpus fortunei, and trees other than maple, oak, elm, and
willow, for instance. I like seeing things stay green all year, I like
temperatures where snow boots aren't needed and your car doesn't
corrode within 5 years due to salt on the roads.


> > Yes, snow is pretty, blah blah blah, but it's an inconvenience and
> > a hassle to me.
>
> Agreed! I particularly dislike when it gets just warm enough to become
> slush.
>
>
A country setting with snow may be pretty, but a city where you have
old snow that's got oil, dirt, and grime from the streets just isn't
attractive. Shoveling it is hard work.

My grandfather said to my mom and grandmother one day after coming in
from the snow in Kansas "That's it! We're moving to California!" He
never looked back.

Oh and for those back east who think our fall is devoid of color, yes,
it's true, we don't have forests of broad leaved trees that turn
colors (and actually the character of Western forests is Coniferous,
rather than deciduous, even in the snowy and frigid high country), but
we do have a few native trees that do, and besides, we get enough
chill hours to cause deciduous trees we cultivate to turn, and in
spring for the cherries and plums to go into wonderful spring
displays.