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Mikes Place

By Michael L. Craner

I like change most of the time, change is good. I love all four seasons, which is one of the reasons I chose to move to Missouri a few years back. I get a beautiful Spring, full of wildflowers, tornados, and best of all, a creek full of trout. Summer is nice here too, it gets good and hot, making days out on one of the lakes memorable, although it can get so humid it feels as if you could choke on the air. Autumn is absolutely gorgeous with all the colored leaves that have to be raked up just for your kids to jump in and scatter back about the yard…

Best of all I think I like Winter. Probably from growing up in Salt Lake with the beautiful mountains full of Olympic grade snow. I like to ski, though I haven't since '94 and I haven't even been sledding or tubing for 3-4 years now. I love the way the ice forms on the trees, turning them to glass, sometimes literally, since these mighty oaks around here seem to explode under the weight and forces of the freezing and thawing water.

But when I get it in my head that one season is over and the next has begun, I don't much care for insolent ground hogs telling the weather folks to hold up for another 6 weeks. Now most folks don't believe in what the ground hog says anymore, and they think meteorologists just report the weather, they don't make it, right?

I say BULL! Every year some fool with a degree in meteors gets on TV and misses some “surprise” blizzard that blind sides everyone… Then they make comments like “I've never seen it this cold!” Hmmm, try looking at last year's newsreels. Seems to me you said that just last winter. Then as the season progresses, they warn about more snowfall that never comes, and by the end of the season, they expect us to believe them when they start predicting MORE snow, TWO WEEKS in advance?

So you can see why I just shrugged off their warnings, I mean I had already been fishing, even broke out and wore the short-sleeves and run the A/C in the truck once or twice this year.

But like I said, I enjoy change, and I do love winter, so when I woke up Saturday and the world was white, that was fine with me. One last opportunity to do the slip-slide ride in the 4x4 and laugh at the other 4x4's that slide off into the ditches as I winched ‘em back out onto the road.

Then Sunday came and my wife woke me up with the good news, the coffee was ready, and the bad news, it took the last of the water because the water line froze. Again.

Got the water back on, half the snow is gone… Probably be completely gone by sunset tomorrow. Too-bad, we didn't have much this year, it would have been fun to go sledding, guess I'll just have to wait for next year.

Yep, change is good, with Spring coming, and tornado season with it, I stand to make a little change in overtime. Just have to remember not to park under any big trees this year…  

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Reader Comments

Name: Debi Craner Email: DEBI@NAMEPLANET.COM
Comment: Hey there big bro. . .It's been a while since I've had time to check out Pencilstubs.com. You and mary are doing a great job. As for your subject of change, I thought I am in the position to add a little comment! I've been adding up the last twelve months and I've realized that since last march, I have lived in five different apartment/houses, and three different states. IN 12 MONTHS!!! I've worked for 6 different companies and I don't even want to think of how many clothes and shoes I've left behind during my adventures! Yes, change is constant. I wonder where the stability of life went?!? Seems like growing up with mom and dad. . . nothing really changed except bedsheets and underwear! Now that I'm grown I'm mixing it all up! Every day I wake up, knowing I can pick the life I want to live. Every day I feed my cat, brush my teeth and dream up a completely different life than the day before. I love being able to change things. . .but when am I going to stop changing my mind?!? One day. . .when I change things to the perfect combination and all things compliment, I may be able to settle down, and stick with changing bedsheets and underwear. Until then. . .I should buy stock in u-haul. Love, Your lil' sis-ta! Debi

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Name: Cassandra Email: mytdc@hotmail.com
Comment: Mike - Yep, funny how change is constant, isn't it? And each season is so beautiful in its turn. The cup of coffee from your wife and the news that followed it, *G*, reminded me so much of Life on Raccoon Run, which is where Ted and I lived - and the water WOULD freeze up sometimes. I also agree with your weather comments. If the reporters had kept a journal, they would soon see how similar the weather over the years. The media make everything sound worse. And keep repeating themselves - when even the first time they say something is bad enough. Your column is refreshing and definite. I am looking forward to the next one.

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