Smile!!!

Well, it's official: winter in Poland is over!
Goodbye snow. Didn't make it with my snowman plan. Again. Next time, I'll decide to flunk one of my finals, just to make sure I finally play with the snow a little. Goodbye freezing temperatures, I'm not sad you didn't haunt me, yet I hope next winter you will help me wake up in the mornings, when it's dark, just so I will feel cold enough to close the window (and start the day, not snooze it up like this year...). I'm pretty sure all the farmers curse you for being a bad visitor this season. Goodbye ... wait, that's it. All the rest stays: gray skies, slippery ground, dark mornings, heavy pressure, strong and impossible-to-breathe-with wind... oh shoot...

So along comes the time of season when winter's behind us, but it's not yet spring. In Polish this is called przedwiośnie, meaning pre-spring, or before-spring. And where's the best place to start looking for fun? I can't guarantee this will work this year; anyone familiar with United Nation's announcement today? Yeah... there you go... But this worked in previous years, maybe it will be just as good this time.

My favorite first sign of the coming spring is the warm breeze, comparing to the mega-cold winter hair-killer. The energy it brings makes me simply drop the idea of taking a bus and I decide to walk my way through. I think of the flowers that will soon be blooming, and the sole thought of that makes me smile. And that's the starting point of funhaving. If you want to begin in anything, you gotta get into the right mood. The truth is: you can't even begin to have a good time unless you let the "funness" in, and you won't let it in if you can't put that smile on your face. Do that, and the rest will come much easier.

When I think spring, I think of wanting to run, jump all around and sing. Ever tried singing while walking in town? I know very few people who do that, counting me. I used to skip around as well. But now that it got slippery I'm saving that for another time. The thing is: why not just enjoy the day as it is, for no specific reason? Is it that "childish" to simply be happy, smile to others and wish them a nice day? I used to think Poland is the land of grumps. Can you imagine how shocked I was to see people respond to a simple silly small talk? You'd be surprised. And THAT gives you fun, AND make a day seem like it couldn't be better.

Yes, I am serious. These are the basics!

white fluff...

Well...

...maybe this has little to do with funhaving, but I think worth a thought :)

My good friend just called me... told me that an hour earlier or so his second nephew was born. Kinda nice. Especially since... all day all you see here in Warsaw is snow. :)

I think I might be the only one happy about this... The very same friend said he didn't buy any winter shoes, and now he's concerned about slipping and breaking his bones... My younger brother got mad, because he just cut his hair. Actually, had it all shaved off. And the buses are coming late... People are late for work...

For the past few months, everyone was upset about the lost winter. Everybody was looking for a spec of snow. Finally, it came last night. The city services was unprepared for this (again). People all around are saying it's too cold (again). Others are saying: Snow? So what! It'll melt and there will be a big mess when it does. (Again).

So, generally... I live in a very optimistic society...

And of course... so far no one agreed to go out and make a snowman. :) Sure, there isn't enough snow to make a big Frosty. How about small snowmen? Like, simple decorative 1-foot-tall ones? Nope... everyone's too busy worrying about the winter-that-spoiled-it-all.

hide and seek?

I'll tell you another story about Poland

Last year, they say it was the coldest winter for something like 20, 30 years? Well, everyone was upset, I remember. It wasn't as cold as perhaps in New York last year, but I remember everyone blaming everything on the cold... And I recall being so frustrated with everyone complaining about the good-for-nothing-coldest-ever winter of 2005/2006. Because you know what was great? Snow. There was tons of it, and it even took over a month for the snow in Warsaw to turn black, unlike the usual time - within a week. The only bad part about it was that it wasn't the kind of snow you could use to make snowmen, really... So basically, everyone decided that last winter was by far the worst. Hell, if I was winter, I'd take it personally too. This year, there is no winter at all. It's almost the end of January and it's still above zero Celsius... and... no snow whatsoever. And guess what people are saying this year? :)

The only snow I had was in November on our National Holiday (1st of Nov.), and when the building next to mine was being covered in packing foam. Only that doesn't melt... what a mess!

Anyone care to join a search party?