IS THIS HELL FREEZING OVER?

I remember hearing that phrase a lot growing up... you can just wait "until hell freezes over"... meaning it ain't gonna happen.  Well, here we all are, well maybe not all, experiencing the polar vortex in varying degrees.  Hell is freezing over, it's happening.  Here in Wilmington, NC we have freezing rain today.  Brrrr, I can tell you right now, I'm writing up my sign, California or Bust,  to post on the side of my mini-van, the one I don't have yet but hope to have soon.  I don't like being cold, it's not fun, it's uncomfortable & geesh, how much paraphernalia does one need just to keep warm?  Hats, gloves, scarves, layers of clothes, including t-shirts, sweaters, jackets, long underwear, at times 2 pairs of socks, special shoes, (Uggs the most popular) warm pants of course....am I forgetting anything?

I'm well aware this 32 degrees here is balmy compared to the more Northern states/cities. So many of my friends are dealing with snow and what is affectionately called, a wintry mix. Temperatures in the negative, which I can't even fathom. This is not normal.  Dare I mention global warming?  But to hear that this is unusual for North Carolina, than it must truly be "hell freezing over" for all the folks who have maybe a usual snow storm or two every winter.  For them these are pretty radical weather variations and I don't know how they fair in such stifling cold.   My friend in Seattle is calling it Snowmeggedon.  My other friend in New Jersey endearingly calls it Snowcapolypse.    And I'm feeling ya'll.  I've had my share of living in colder climes.  NYC in two separate years, both times with one storm that shuts down this bustling metropolis for a day or two.  I even lived up in Washington Hts. when Hurricane Sandy(a whole different ballgame) burst it's way into the city and destroyed so many homes and businesses.  I felt the blustery, stronger-than-anything wind as I walked up Broadway, wasn't inconvenienced much and was privileged to take the subway for free when they opened up again, but wasn't even close to any damaged areas.  I guess I can honestly say, I've not been faced with too-extreme disasters yet.  God-willing I won't ever but I just want to say, for all of those who are house-bound during this winter, it sure makes for a creative time.  At least for me. (Always making lemonade. this perpetual optimist here.)

I do believe this will be the last time I live on the East Coast, with my intention of going back to Cali soon, I will not miss this kind of weather.  Having grown up in Los Angeles, and then moving to Hawaii for 11 years.  I know what it's like to live in a tank top and shorts a lot of the time, or a t-shirt and jeans. Long skirts and maybe a shawl when it gets chilly.  I do know many people love this cold, the change of the seasons, the invigorating chill in the air which today reminded me of Big Bear Lake or Mt. Baldy.  It's not for me. And speaking of Mt. Baldy, those lovely winter days in LA, (I hear you laughing), when the sun is so bright and it's about 70 degrees and you see this absolutely majestic mountain in the distance covered in the whitest of snow.  I can live with that.  I do miss that kind of scenery and the fact I don't live in the snow.  So to end my diatribe about the cold, I'll will just say, it was nice knowing you NYC and NC but I'm outta here! (As I leave, walking away with glee, peeling away all my jackets, sweaters, scarves, gloves, etc.) It's been a slice(of ice)!!