The Observer, April 13, 2007
Volume XXXIX, Issue 24
Defeating the winter blue
The frost has returned, the flowers are dead, and there's snow frozen into the locks of your Honda Civic. Losing the gorgeous weather (and the first signs of your tan) can take a toll on your previously sunny disposition. And a bad mood can wreak havoc on a relationship. If you feel like winter has set in on your duo, take action quick to snap yourself and your partnership back into springtime.
One of the best ways to get yourself out of a rut is to change your location, Especially when your location is blanketed in inches of untimely snow. Anywhere is better than where you are now, but it's even better if it has a summery kick. If you've got piles of cash, you could splurge on a romantic trip to the Bahamas, but there are good weekend getaways just a few hours away that won't cost you a month's worth of tips at Wackadoo's.
A new phenomenon that's been popping up all over the country is indoor waterpark resorts. Most feature indoor restaurants and air temperatures of a balmy 80 degrees by the pool, and you could easily spend the entire weekend in shorts and flip-flops. Splashing around in the pools and swirling down waterslides is a sure way to let loose, and then you can get back in touch with your grown-up side with a dip in the hot tub or a massage. Check out Splash Lagoon in Erie, Pa or Fort Rapids Waterpark Resort in Columbus, Oh.
Feel like staying put? Turn your dorm room or apartment into a tropical paradise. Crank up the thermostat (don't tell maintenance!) and shed your winter clothes for tank tops or – if you're really daring – a bathing suit. Download some beach-worthy songs (try Jimmy Buffet or the Beach Boys) and light some tropical fruit-scented candles or snag a summery AirWick. If you really want to go all out or if you're trying to wow your honey with a surprise, buy a baby pool and put it in your room. Either fill it with water and little bath toys or buy bags of sand at a hardware store and make your own sandbox (really don't tell maintenance!). Don't forget the plastic shovel!
If you don't feel like redecorating or if you want to put your new island oasis to good use, whip up a warm-weather meal. Make some sweet iced tea or pink lemonade to start. Mix up a summer salad with spinach, walnuts, and strawberries. Top it with a sweet, light-tasting dressing like a berry vinaigrette. Find someone with a George Foreman and grill up some burgers or chicken. Add a sweet barbecue sauce for an extra summer zing. For dessert, make s'mores in the microwave. To really give the impression of an indoor picnic, use plastic dishes and silverware.
The sudden reappearance of winter is a total drag. While your first impulse might be to climb under your covers and hibernate until spring is back, there are better ways to deal! Getting through a rough patch – whether it's bad weather or a relationship problem – requires some creativity. Have fun thinking up new ways to spend your time and let your honey help you think of ways to summerize your living space. And just think, if you start now, by the time summer really gets here you'll have all the perfect ingredients to have a total blast. Don't forget your shades!
