Recently we have been getting some very cold and rainy weather. It’s been pretty miserable and I know my family hasn’t ventured to far outside for fear of getting hypothermia and not making it back.

When we do go check the mail or grab something from the car we tie ropes around our waist so the rest of the family can drag our frozen body back into the front door. Thank God for warm salvation.

OK, so it’s not quite that bad but you get the idea. Anyway, I woke up the other day and saw something that I hadn’t seen in a really long time, the sun. I was so excited I started getting my motorcycle back in shape and imagining what I am going to do for a garden this spring.

On the way to work I thought of the saying, “not a cloud in the sky.” It was a perfect day for such a description. Then I spotted it, a small fluffy puff floating lazily across the sky and had to snicker to myself. There it was, one cloud in the sky. Maybe not funny to everyone but I was still completely blitzed from my sunshine high.

I think it may be slightly premature but I can’t help but think about riding my motorcycle and going to the beach with my family. I’m sure there are some out there who think I’m a bit of a sissy for not riding during the winter but just so you know... I am. It’s really cold going 70 mph in 40-degree weather, that’s a vicious windchill.

Every time I see someone riding their bike in the weather during the winter I feel some serious respect for them.

There is a downside to this sun-laden euphoria. I’m going to be mowing the yard soon. I can’t stand mowing and it’s only made worse by my yard being a bit of a swamp when it’s rained much. I sometimes think I should just spread salt all over it so I wouldn’t ever have to trim it down again. Then I have to hope that with every pitter patter of raindrops my property wasn’t being slowly washed down the road.

On the plus side there is always the little bit of a tan that you get when you work outside. Mine always ends with my shirt sleeves. I love those “farmer’s tans”, it makes me smile when I see it in the mirror. I always look so silly and goofy. It always reminds me of an invisible suit or a suit of armor. I know that doesn’t make sense, but neither do a lot of my thoughts.

Mosquitoes are on my mind as well. With freezes and cold weather I can’t help but pray they are all dead and gone. They aren’t, but could you imagine Southeast Texas without those little blood suckers? Wouldn’t be so bad. I saw a product the other day that is the consistency of weed and feed but kills mosquito eggs and adults in the wet grass they love to hang out in. Walking through my yard is like crashing a mosquito party and everyone is there, even that one weird guy that no one knows. There are billions of them and heaven forbid you disturb them. They are evil little creatures that suck your blood leaving behind nice itchy reminders that you just gave them a free meal.

I’m looking to summer very much as well as already being annoyed by something as simple as high humidity and mosquitoes. The good outweighs the bad though and I can’t wait to put on my boots and helmet, throw up the kickstand and do a little cruising around town.

I’m also really excited that this year I’ll have a baby who can play in the little splash pool with her big brother, who I know will have a great time making the baby laugh and giggle. I’m ready for spring and summer and they can’t be here soon enough for me. Like I’ve said before... Bring on the global warming.

Cody Edgerton is a copy editor for The Port Arthur News. Contact him at cedgerton@panews.com.