The Weather – Yeah, again.

Many people might wonder. What do you DO out there in South Dakota? And the answers can vary.

1. I have gone to one of the local libraries.

2. I have become a member of the butterfly house – where I take photos of butterflies. Facebook friends you know what I’m talk’in ‘bout. I am winking right now.

In fact, the butterfly house has really only helped me realize a macro lens would be nice. My new found, and frankly, distractible, dilettante interest in photographing butterflies has led me to look for local camera shops that rent equipment – which then led me to realize…

3. I have looked for, but not found a local camera shop. I say this tentatively. Perhaps I have missed it. There are nonetheless tattoo parlors and casinos. This makes me think I am supposed to get a tattoo. There are also tornadoes. Have I mentioned that before? This makes me think about photographing tornadoes.

4. I have learned that a robust disdain for the winter is not limited to families relocated to South Dakota. The locals really despise the severity and duration of winter. A poll taken on a popular South Dakota mom internet group site asked what people liked the most about the winter months and the resounding answer was “it ends”.

The local radio station's morning show held a call in session asking listeners to share what they are doing to get through the winter months and escape the seasonal depression. The suggestions where typical "I work out", "I eat", "I clean", "I vacation" etc. This is first time it occurred to me that I was not alone in feeling very "down" as a result of the weather. That in fact the entire community was "feeling it". Without realizing it, I was taking part in an important community ritual.

Thus the cultural anthropologist in me believes it is a form of authenticity to gripe about the weather conditions. I believe this means I have gone through my initial hazing and thus have reached a point of belonging. Like a badge I wear my disgruntlement for the weather. I have survived my first Midwest battle with Mother Nature and I was not broken. I did, nevertheless…

5. Plot my escape. This plot includes organizing, repacking, tossing out nonessentials (make sure I can travel light and rapidly), learning the route to the airport, kissing up to my mom so I can crash on her sofa and lamenting the kids being stuck in school till summer. I joke. Really. I swear I am stronger than -22 degrees.

6. I became a member of the local children’s museum. The museum includes an Imax, an art museum, a theater and camps for kids. The kids prefer the water table. Of course I could buy a cheap water table and put in our back yard – well, if it would not freeze.

7. I took the kids to the local zoo/natural history museum. This is where the picture is from. They have live and stuffed animals there. In Beezus terms they have both the living animals and animal heaven.

A fast Beezus logic recap: When Beezus was younger she determined that taxidermies, especially the ones in the Lindsay Wildlife Museum are where animals went to heaven. She takes the remains as the physical essence of the dead or at least did then. At the zoo out here she was much, much more interested in the gift shop. She is becoming more concerned with being a good ol’American consumer now. Heaven! Phuff that is obviously spending her allowance on gimmicks at the mall.

8. As a family we have started hanging out at the mall once a month. It smells great, unlike the zoo. BIG PROBLEM with malls now. We can not eat anything there regardless of the smell. Gluten issues. All those sweet memories of going to the mall eating a lipid heavy cinnamon bun are gone. To be fair I could never get away with that kind of snack again anyway, but it is worth noting the mall is not a gluten friendly place.

9. I have started to volunteer in local communities. One is a mental health organization aimed at ending stigmatism against mentally ill through education and group counseling for families.

10. I joined a book club. I did give them the disclaimer that I do not really critique books well. Yet, I do like to read. I felt being literate added to the group. The club consists of a group of women with little kids.

One woman’s husband works with my man. We double date. It is not a big deal. It is just kinda our status. I am being casual. Nonchalant. They know of Settlers, but they might not LOVE it, like we do.

My new take on dating, any form, not fun. Playdates, double dates. It is the constant looking for someone you are compatible with and unfortunately the endless interviewing, nervously trying out your sense of humor and finding where the boundaries on politics are established. I just need my pre-established network which has long ago been worn down by my bawdy and somewhat depraved sense of humor and my “fracking” liberal views (someone here described them that way for me - I never swear). By the way…

11. I have not broken down and joined a church yet. This is laziness. Though, it occurred to me recently that churches are FREE karaoke bars. This makes church vastly more interesting. I want to find one with a choir, preferably one that likes blues, lilth faire and rock n roll! Not joking. Free vocal lessons and a community that gets together to sing for fun. Count me in.

12. I have gotten to know my neighbors and our kids now can run between the houses freely to play. It makes my man and I seem old school 1950s style and social.

I will end this post with some good old weather talk. The snow is finally melting. Ramona insisted on wearing her snow pants to school today, even though, most kids are not at this point. Beezus who is ridiculously skinny is almost never cold, was thrilled to ditch her snow pants. Yeah, we might be hitting spring. It is time for lightening storms. Of course that means I might want to take photos of lightening.