What winter activities get you through this time of year?

[BleedGopher]

Well, this week is just brutal, and it certainly isn't helping our national reputation as the national news has been doing many a story about our weather. One of the national morning shows did a segment this morning on "How do Minnesotan's live survive this weather" - hey, why not do it on Milwaukee or Chicago or Detroit...heck, we don't get half the snow the Milwaukee/Chicago corridor is getting now and their wind chill is just as bad as ours.

Anyway, I digress...

So I am curious what winter activities people have that excite them for the cold and snow? For me, it's our Siberian Husky, Bella. Both my wife and I grew up wanting a Husky and having one that loves the cold and snow makes the winter so much more enjoyable. We like to keep one window open a bit this time of year and she'll just sit there letting the frigid air hit her face and she'll howl until we take her out...and once she's out, she's in heaven. I love running around in the snow with her and watching her dig herself a minishelter where she's quite happy just sitting in self-made "cave." I can't wait until our son gets a bit older and we'll hook up a tobbagon to Bella with him in the back pulling him around!!

What about others? Any snow mobilers? Cross country skiers? Extreme outdoor runners? Ice skaters? Sledding with the kids? I really think that having something to look forward to in the winter (in addition to Gopher hoops, obviously) makes our most well known season much more enjoyable.

And, keep in mind, despite the frigid weather we're having, the days ARE getting longer...it's staying lighter later which makes me quite happy. It's nice not to think about for about two weeks and then all of the sudden you realize it's still light a good 15 minutes later than it was. We're heading in the right direction...ideally, after this week the worst is hopefully behind us.

Go Gophers!!

[MinnesotaMadman]

Beer.

[nooram]

The walk from Stub and Herb's or Sally's to Williams Arena on game days

[weezy]

It is usually around this time of year that I start to question why I live in this part of the country. I have to remind myself about just how beautiful and enjoyable Minnesota is in the summer to help me get by. There aren't too many places I'd rather live in the warm months than Minneapolis. Envisioning myself playing volleyball at Lake Calhoun with bikini-clad women makes the frigid winter months worth it.

Some activities that help me get by:
Reading
Downhill skiing (although MN doesn't provide the best hills)
Basketball (indoor of course)
Gopher Basketball and Hockey
and I can't forget BEER

[Moonlight]

Hot Saki.
Actually, I like to cook this time of year, I make a mean jambalaya, soups, stews, roasts. I got a pasta machine for Christmas and have been making homemade pasta - fettucini alfredo, spaghetti w/sicilian hot sausage.
Also: reading a good novel in a hot bath w/an ice cold beer.
Your dog sounds great, Bleed. My neighbors have Bernese Mountain dogs who love the snow. I envy the joy they have in this weather!
And, of course, a good BT BB game helps block out the reality outside!

[Jike Spingleton]

Well, this week is just brutal, and it certainly isn't helping our national reputation as the national news has been doing many a story about our weather. One of the national morning shows did a segment this morning on "How do Minnesotan's live survive this weather"

I wasn't in my office for more than five minutes this morning before a co-worker called me asking if I'd like to be back in Minnesota with this weather. Besides the obvious response of yes, the conversation went something like this:

Me: "It's actually supposed to be colder tomorrow, they're saying 20 below."
Her: "It was minus-38 this morning."
Me: "Yeah, but that's up by International Falls...."
Her: "A MAN DIED."
Me: .....

To answer the question, I'm with MinnesotaMadman. Beer.

[tikited]

I went to the Oasis show a couple of weeks ago. Noel (the guitarist) asked the crowd if we knew that people in California were wearing shorts at that very moment. It really hit a nerve.

[bigtenchamps1899]

would it be unorigional to say beer:D

[Sarah0633]

It’s funny that you mention this topic because I was just thinking yesterday and I must go downhill skiing this weekend. For me it’s the one redeeming thing about winter in Minnesota. It will probably be crazy busy but I don’t really care at this point. I agree with you about cooking too, Moonlight. It’s a lot easier to cook in the winter than it is when it’s hot outside. I love those specialty drinks from Caribou (cocoa and mint…yum) although they aren’t the healthiest things in the world…

[Frink]

I'm still managing to get out on my bike a bit, taking some walks and playing ball at the Y a couple times a week. I don't know how I'll survive winter when I can no longer drag myself up and down the court.

The occasional bonfire helps too.

And yeah, cooking helps. Cooking lots of nice heavy starch loads with some vino or beer at hand. :)

[Costa Rican Gopher]

Porn was always my get-me-through.

[Goph4phan]

I actually prefer sitting in a fish house on the lake. This time of year (snow permitting) you can drive out to your house and be warm within 15 minutes.

Sitting on a bucket, in the middle of the lake, without a house... now that's a story that will put you on the headlines of the evening news ... and it wouldn't be for catching a state record either!

[Bayfieldgopher]

Snowmobiling! What else! Was out Tuesday riding the smooth trails in the beautiful Chequamegon forest and it was -17 when we finished. Hit the hot tub in the backyard to warm up a bit. When the eyebrows get icicles its time to call it quits.

[GopherLady]

Watching Gopher Basketball - a warm, toasty Barn is the perfect way to get through a cold winter!

When we're not playing, watching basketball in my warm, toasty home, with my Gopher/Packer Blanket keeping me extra warm.

I actually look at the cold as a blessing in disguise. If it were 80 and sunny out, I would not want to spend countless hours watching hoops inside - I even face that dilema with football on nice fall days. When you walk out side and with your 1st breath, your snot freezes...it makes staying in the obvious choice!

[rovert M]

I love outdoor hockey (when it's a bit warmer than this week) and snowmobiling.

Bayfield is correct, snowmobiling up north is awesome! My favorite place is up by Valhalla near Washburn.

[Bayfieldgopher]

Rovert.
You are riding right in my backyard!! Trails are smooth and fast and the forest roads have about 4-6" of loose snow on top of a 14-16" base. We stopped at the PUbNGrub this afternoon. The place was dead. Business is very slow up here due to economy and widespread snow this Winter. If you want to access one of my trail reports go to www.snowtracks.com and click on Bayfield.

Let me know when you get up here next time and maybe we can meet up.

[goldygo4]

Play Call of Duty during the day and beer pong/moose head/circle of death at night

[Bad Gopher]

1. Movie night with the family. I call it our "Friday Film Series". Some weeks, having it at the end of the tunnel keeps me going.

2. Gopher Basketball, of course. There's no complaining about the weather when you're walking to Williams Arena for a game. Well worth the subzero wind chills on your face.

3. The general idea that spring and summer are on the way.

[Gopher4Life]

An entire thread and nobody's mentioned hot sex in front of a fire? For shame.

[ruppertflywheel]

you must leave this frozen tundra. Minimum, 1 week, and doable for most. Tougher, but doable, 2 weeks. 3-4 weeks you have great seniority at your workplace. 2-4 months, your obviously retired and living the high life with hopefully no health problems. My wife and I are leaving for 6-7 weeks
to Florida at the end of January. We are residing in Freeport, FLa which is about 15 minutes from
Destin. Panhandle has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and the dining and golf are pretty reasonable. We were able to book a 3 bedroom beach house on 1-1/2 acres with a private fishing pier for 2000.00 !! through a vacation site VBRO. With the real estate market the way it is you can get some pretty good deals, especially in the panhandle area. Back to what we do to stay sane?
1. Ice fish, although it has been reallyto cold over the last three weeks
2. Cook, my wife and I love to put together a good dinner with wine
3. Movies out. Gran Torino was great
4. Basketball at the community center in CrossLake
5. Entertain, we try and have friends over for the Gopher BB games.

[GophersInIowa]

I actually prefer sitting in a fish house on the lake. This time of year (snow permitting) you can drive out to your house and be warm within 15 minutes.

Sitting on a bucket, in the middle of the lake, without a house... now that's a story that will put you on the headlines of the evening news ... and it wouldn't be for catching a state record either!

I loved sitting in the fish house drinking beer, playing cards, and just hanging out with family and friends (oh, and catching a few fish). I enjoy sitting outside on the ice from time to time as well. Over the New Year, I went up to the Ely area to visit a friend. We went out fishing all day the day after New Year's day. It was chilly (about 10 degrees), but the sun was shining and there was no wind. Sitting there on the ice in the northland, catching some fish, playing catch with the football when the fish weren't biting, just hanging out; it doesn't get much better than that to me.

What I think is great about winter too is how most people aren't nearly as busy (except during the holidays) and, therefore, spend more time with family and friends. People are not "on the go" as much when it's cold out.

[Schnoodler]

I would tell you what I do to occupty myself in the winter, but then the collective "ewwww" would likely send the earth off rotation.

[Gopher4Life]

Foreign films with NR ratings and a whole lot of skin, huh?

[GophersInIowa]

Foreign films with NR ratings and a whole lot of skin, huh?

Late night Cinemax

[maroonfive]

I do the same things in the spring, summer, fall, and winter whether it be inside or outside. I assume that the same question is asked in the spring, summer, and fall?
The perception is that this time of year is somehow harder on people than the other 3 seasons. I guess this is true if you are lazy then it really does not matter what time of year it is. It is too cold, it is too hot, it it too humid, it is too damp, I don't get it.

Go Gophers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Schnoodler]

It's too cold.

[Rouser]

Mrs Rouser. Rouser Jr. and I went up to Lutsen last weekend and busted out the snowshoes. Little Rouser is only 4 so this was more to his liking. We also took a sled with us..its a blast to hike in the forest and find a hill with nobody around and go sledding.

Snowshoes are great for little ones. He had no problems with the deep snow (after I blazed a trail first).

[walleyedude]

Ice Fishing all the way. I look forward to it and I don't know why, I guess it's fun to drive to your spot drill a couple holes and sit there in a plastic house drinking beer, listening to basketball/hockey and watching a couple bobbers.

I saw a Fish House last year on Minnetonka with a sweet gopher paint scheme, is it someone on here?

I saw them bring it to the Maroon lot this year as well.