3 months and counting

Ok, as of today I have resided in Lincoln for exactly 3 months now. 12 weeks. 90 days. 2,160 hours. 129,600 minutes. Or 7,776,000 seconds. However you want to put it...I have spent 7.7 million seconds in this strange town, 1 second seems real quick, but nearly 8 million seconds equals 3 months. The winter is rough, the traffic is life threatening, the people are reserved, and my gas bills are high. So now living here 12 weeks, it has been a little easier now that I have total lay of the land. After 2 months of grey skies and nearly 4 feet of total snow accumulated, the sun came out for nearly 6 days straight and the temperature actually went above zero, the snow started to finally melt away showing the sleeping grass and dead twigs. Of course I speak too soon, it is now currently snowing AGAIN and 2 inches are already on the ground after only 1 hour, if it keeps this pace up all day, I will see another 18 inches by dinnertime. I have now seen enough snow to last me almost 3 lifetimes and there is still 7 weeks of winter left. I dream of leaves on trees, 70F weather, sunshine, and my tulips and daffodils at full bloom in my garden I tended just last November before the snows came. I dream of rainstorms, thunder, lightning, rainbows in the eastern skies, the air thick with moisture, lower gas bills. I dream of the yellow breasted meadowlark bird coming to my home and singing me a past time Kansas song. I dream of wearing cute skirts and short sleeved shirts instead of 3 layers of clothing.
I have always hated winter and it's blues but this winter has tested my will and strength like never before. I am already dreading the winter season of 2010-2011....will I ever see spring again? I still see beautiful winter birds fly around, and when the harsh north wind isn't blowing, there is momentary tranquility. I haven't seen my cat friend Jacks in 2 months, I miss him. Maybe he will show himself when the snow is gone, I hope.