He’s arrived.  This time last year we were just starting to feel the chill, but it is decidedly colder this time around.  It’s already snowed (last year it waited until February) and Sean has pulled out his long johns.  I’m trying to put off the inevitable for as long as possible – because I know that once they’re on, they’ll be on until April.

The good news is that we’re better prepared for winter this time around.  We have this awesome new heater (thanks, Peter and Alene!) that costs the same amount to run as our old one but is about a hundred times warmer.  This has become our new favorite spot in the room:

When I lay in front of the heater, I understand why our cat Lola spends her spare time at Sean's mom's laying as close to the fireplace as she can handle.

Additionally, our family now has gas heat and a new snazzy gas heater.  No more feeding the petchi (wood-burning stove) and cleaning up all the ash and smoke.  Just nice, even, wonderful heat.  (My organization got gas heat mid-way through last winter, and I raved about it then, too.  I’m a big fan.)

We also purchased our own electric kettle for our room.  This is good for late-night tea-making but also for washing up in the morning.  Because our bathroom isn’t heated and the water from the tap (there’s no hot water from the tap) is freezing.  Sometimes literally.

This week has reminded us that winter is hard.  We struggle to get moving in the morning.  (Today, for example, I stayed under the covers until 11:30.)  My co-workers and I spend most of our time in one of the two of the heated rooms in our office – preferably the smaller, warmer one.  I get under the covers as shortly after dinner and pretty much stay there for the night.  Such is winter in Georgia.