And then depression set in...

"Now is the winter of our discontent..."
William Shakespeare, King Richard III

"And then depression set in...."
Bill Murray, Stripes

Winter in the Midwest sucks. In the last week or so we've had 1) over a foot of snow 2) sub zero temperatures 3) 60 degree temperatures 4) rain. More snow is expected tonight to replace all the snow that melted the other day. This is the basic cycle of events (minus the 60 degree weather) we can expect for the next three months or so. But for most Midwesterners (outside of the occasional transplant) we usually just shrug it off and go about our business. We shuttle from our homes to our cars to work and back again without too much complaint. One reason could be we are just bred for the weather. Much like a Malamute is born with a thick layer of fur, we might be born with thick skin and thicker blood. While that theory sounds good, a more likely explanation probably resides in the social sciences rather than the biological (my apologies, Mr. Darwin).

Typically there is one common event that ties the people of Wisconsin together come January - the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs. The last 16 years that's been almost as sure a thing as my dad voting democrat. But this year there is no joy in Mudville - or Titletown (even though I'm pretty sure my dad still voted democrat). The Packers are out of the playoffs this year. That makes getting along the rest of the winter a little - er, a LOT more difficult. It's the mental equivalent of the groundhog seeing it's shadow. Winter just drags on and on and on, angry letters to editors increase ten fold, grumpiness goes unabated, etc. etc. Even a wild card loss is good for shrinking the season a good two weeks. And a playoff win is guaranteed to bring spring by early March. I'm surprised the Farmer's Almanac hasn't picked up on this yet.

But much like Midwest weather, the Packers more or less sucked this season. As such we are stuck with a full season of winter and just as likely a full off-season of complaining and second guessing about the 2008 season. That will likely spill over into spring - right about the time Teddy trades out of the #9 slot and picks up a receiver and a quarterback in round three. Also about the time we get our last snowfall of the year.