That phrase has been stuck in my mind for a while now. The January-type weather that began tormenting us in November appears ready to last into March. Endless snow events and eternally frigid temperatures have tag-teamed us for far too long. It gets downright depressing when there’s no end in sight.

Nowadays we talk about cabin fever and seasonal affective disorder. But Shakespeare said it better when he opened Richard III with these words: “Now is the winter of our discontent…”

Yes, this certainly has been a winter of discontent.

What, I ask you, is wrong with this picture? I mean, other than the Cubs are losing.

That’s right. I should not need a fire when I’m watching baseball. But that’s exactly how I’m spending my afternoon—pretending it’s spring when the windchill is -8.

Like a lot of people, I’ve decided to begin enjoying spring, despite the weather.

Our Woodstock Dairy Queen re-opened for the season on Monday. Apparently, it’s the calendar, not the thermometer, that dictates their opening date. So yesterday, I couldn’t wait any longer and drove over. Despite a brisk -15 windchill, I found five cars ahead of me in line at the drive-up window.

And I must say, that DQ treat temporarily eased my discontent with winter. What did I have?

A Blizzard, of course.