Well…I know we are in the part of winter that tries people’s coping skills here in Michigan and it is only about 15 out there right now and that is damn cold…but, when I went out to shovel the snow, by the time I got the front walks done the sun had already started to melt the remaining snow on my walks at the back of the house…and that means the sun is getting slowly stronger no matter what the temp is out there…and looking at the 10 day weather forecast, I can see that we have a short spell of moderating temps that give me a little hope that the worst is over for this winter…and it gives me a little bit of a smile that I’ve survived another winter here without much damage…but, I don’t want to speak too soon since I remember getting over a foot of snow in an April snowstorm when I was young and that can still happen….I will take any small hint that spring is coming…I’m an optimist, after all…kinda…