January is usually one of the most difficult months of the year for me.
Early on we had lots of snow and it was quite cold, but it was beautiful inspite of the difficult driving conditions. I drive down 6000 West in Herriman on my way to and from work. This road is, as yet, relatively undeveloped, and the view of the valley is amazing. On a clear day you can see the whole valley, plus a really wonderful view of Timpanogos, my favorite mountain. In those early days of January it really fed my soul to look out across the valley at the beauty.
Now, later on in January. We have had a few warmish days, snow has melted, which means the driving is good. However, now the snow is dirty! I mean really dirty! Black mounds of ice frame the roads. Everything is painted in colors of brown, black and white. Even the air! This last week we have had one of our "infamous" inversions. From my view on 6000 West, all I can see as I look out is a brown haze sitting over the valley. I'm glad that I'm up high enough to feel like I'm not in as much of the gunk as other parts of the valley.
Thursday I went up to the U for my conducting lesson. I don't remember seeing the air as bad as that before. I'm sure I have, but I think every year it is a new shock to me. It smelled bad, it looked bad, and I know it was unhealthy to breathe! It was gross! I noticed as I walked up the hill towards the music building that I was more out of breath than usual. I don't think it was because I am in worse shape than usual. I think it was because I was breathing less oxygen and more gunk. YUCK! I was very happy that I could get in my car and drive back to the "relatively" clean air of Riverton/Herriman.
Friday we had a little rain, today (Saturday) we have some actual wind and rain. Monday morning we are supposed to have a "commuter special." Meaning it will be snowing while we are all trying to drive to work and the plows can't do their jobs because there will be too many cars on the roads for them to get much done. I guess I will be happy to see the snow after all!
So, back to the topic of January blahs. We spend so much of the month in hazy dirty surroundings, I go to work when it's dark. If I stay to get something done once the kids have left, I come home in the dark. Or, it gets dark shortly after I get home.
I miss the sunshine, I miss clean air, I miss the view of the valley, I miss feeling like I can go outside. In short, I think January is a month best to be missed!
