At least one reliable source says the season after winter and before summer, in which vegetation begins to appear, in the northern hemisphere is called spring. The southern WA winter is not usually like Alexandria, MN, where ice fishing is common, nor is it anywhere near Palmview, TX, where one can play golf most winter days.

It is with great sadness and concern that I announce Old Man Winter in the Pacific Northwest was or is gone too soon. Neither football nor basketball seasons are over yet and the season of “Say it ain’t so, Joe” hasn’t started so it must still be winter.

But:

The green of my iris plants has been showing for several weeks now — also true for the scattered bluebells.

My potted daffodils would normally appear in about a month, but they are nearly four inches above the potting soil. The roses would not bud until April or May, but they are now! The Rodies look like they are only weeks away from blooming too.

Yes it seems that Old Man Winter where I live is gone too soon, and for the sake of the plants thinking it is spring, I hope the old man is gone for the rest of the year.

Oh! I’ve also noticed that crows and squirrels are gathering nest materials about a month early too.

Primary election season is upon us. Candidate and opinion signs will be up soon, and many will block drivers’ view of traffic. NO, this is not a political opinion statement. However, it is my opinion that there should be a law against …

We obey the law and stop at an intersection because a red octagonal sign, put in place for our safety, tells us to stop.

Vision blocking political signs are generally in place every two years, garage sale and estate sale signs are short time temporary, and most municipalities have regulations for commercial signs.

When was the last time you stopped at a sign, looked left, looked right, then looked left again and your vision of the street to the left was blocked by a bush? How far did you have to creep forward until you could see the lane you would have to cross or enter to see a speed limit moving vehicle? How about a ten-over vehicle?

How about uncontrolled intersections? Do you have to stop to creep into one because a bush blocks your view? Should there be a law against corner bushes?

Have you been in your crawl space lately? Was the radon blocking material clean? Were all the pipes wrapped? Spider webs?

Why am I talking about crawl spaces?

It is winter – even in the Pacific Northwest. Granted it’s not like where the center of the country is blasted with cold from Canada, or where lake effect drops feet of snow overnight. What does winter have to do with crawl spaces? No, I’m not going to get into the conversation about plugging the vents or not plugging them.

Winter keeps most, many, or some of us inside. What is inside other than a good book or a hobby like this activity seems to be?

TV! And you know what supports antenna TV. Commercials! What do they have to do with crawl spaces?

One starts with something like, “Buggs, mold, moisture, dry rot … where you can’t see.” Then it shows men in clean uniforms with clearance over their heads rolling out a vapor/radon barrier in a well-lighted clean I say alleged. crawl space. Then the brag about being able to make any crawl space look like the one shown.

That commercial sparked memories of all or most of the crawl spaces where I had to work or find wires or pipes. Even the one new house we owned had just enough space above the ground to crawl using my scapulas or elbows to get a grip on the surface for propulsion. Where was the problem needing analysis or repair?

At the opposite end of the access opening, of course.

Do I believe the crawl space depicted in the commercial is common?

No!

Would I go into my crawl space again?

No!
Even ‘I can do it myself’ people my age should stay out of crawl spaces and off of their roof.¹Cost of shingle repair $1000; cost of tibia repair after insurance $2000.

I‘m not sure where the idea of making New Years Resolutions and I certainly do not feel like researching the topic. The following bits are adapted from bits written by people other than me.

Someone said, or wrote, “My goal for 2016 was to lose ten pounds. That New Year’s Day, I ate salad for dinner! Mostly croutons & tomatoes. Really just one big, round crouton covered with tomato sauce. And cheese. FINE, it was a pizza. I ate a pizza. At the end of 2016, I still had fifteen to go.”
I feel sure some might say the same at the end of 2026, but I and others have a year to prove me wrong.

I also read:

I just did a week’s worth of cardio after walking into a spider web.

I don’t mean to brag but… I finished my 14-day diet in 3 hours and 20 minutes.

Kids today don’t know how easy they have it. When I was young, I had to walk 9 feet through shag carpet to change the TV channel.
What does that have to do with resolutions?

Remember back when we were kids and every time it was below zero outside they closed school? Me neither.
Also, what does that have to do with resolutions?

I love being almost ninety. I learn something new every day and forget five others, but I forgot where I was going with this.
PS: Sunday, March 8, 2026, begins Daylight Saving Time. Don’t forget to set your bathroom scale back ten pounds on Saturday night.

If you’ve read this content before, thanks for remembering. If not, I hope you find it interesting.