I love the winter and you can see, so does Mmma our border collie. We have set new records in Boise for snow and cold weather and it is only the end of January. I imagine the merchants in McCall are benefiting from a good snow year and cold temperatures for the winter carnival. Bogus has been in the path of nearly every storm and this has to become a record year for them. I have gotten in multiple great powder days at both resorts with friends and family. All of those positives and I cannot stop wishing for spring. The sun was trying to brighten our Thursday and it was a beautiful scene but mostly it has been dreary and cold. The chamber extols the 300 plus sunny days in the Treasure Valley – in this new age of alternate facts, we may need to have an inversion footnote.
An inversion is an atmospheric set up where cold air is trapped in a valley with high pressure aloft keeping storm systems away. This condition can lead to days in succession of valley fog, air stagnation, and trapping air pollutants in the air. It also creates some tremendous images as the sun tries to peak through or the moisture in the air freezes on trees, fences – anything exposed to the fog is covered with “hoarfrost”. If you go to mountains or high points in the valley you will likely find higher temperatures and the sun, so when you need relief – go up! Ok, I have now re-established my love of winter for the beauty, diversity, change, and challenge it presents. I am also reminded that listing the positives in any situation is a way to balance those negatives that cannot be ignored but that should not dictate your attitude.
Hank awoke this morning and his first question to his mother was: what are gas giants? Yes, I am afraid he was watching an education channel again but a three year has quite a memory and imagination. Of course each of us knows that gas giant is a noun that describes a large planet of relatively low density consisting predominantly of hydrogen and helium, such as Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Hank is fascinated by the galaxy and space travel and it is very interesting keeping up with his questions.
I have to finish with a call to arms to let your legislator know how important education is to the future of Idaho. Idaho Voices for Children is a dependable resource, I hope you will look at their web site. A recent opinion poll shows that Idahoans overwhelmingly support policies to build a brighter future for kids and families. The poll shows that 75% of Idahoans believe that access to high quality, affordable preschool for children enhances their educational performance in elementary school and over 54% believe we should invest state funds in preschool.
Don’t let the weather stop you from pursuit of the positive. Mike