Janu"weary" in North Dakota

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Since we are in the deep freeze here for a couple of days, I thought I would repost this article I wrote in January of 2010 for HubPages. 

It's January in North Dakota. Today on January 9, our thermometer showed -33 degrees F. Right now, the wind isn't blowing, but if it does pick up, it could feel closer to -50 degrees. I know, it's North Dakota and we should be used to our winters by now. Snow and cold weather are fine, and we do like to say it keeps out the riffraff. But when the temperature dips down to being dangerous, it's just not fun anymore. 

I am thankful because I get to stay indoors all day, along with my daughter. I opted not to bring her to school or take her to physical therapy. The extreme cold is hard on her little body and dealing with her wheelchair in this frigid weather is not fun by any means. 

I do, however, feel for those who have to work outdoors most of the day. Like Rob who has to deliver home medical supplies. My dad has to try to keep a diesel-powered 18-wheeler running in the extreme cold and my two brothers have to work outside in the oilfield. I also have an uncle who needs to keep his livestock warm and fed. 

Yes, it is January in North Dakota, or as the title of this post states, Janu"weary." (I got this from the title of a poem my dad wrote, which is posted below. Winter for us sometimes starts in October and by the time January rolls around, we are ready for spring, or at least above-freezing temperatures. We usually have our coldest weather in January and February, and the cold snaps often make us weary of winter. 

By this time, the excitement of the holidays and ringing in the New Year are over, and everything seems to slow to a crawl. Vehicles run slower (if they even start at all), water seems to flow out of the faucet at a slower pace, and the days seem to stretch out even longer. The only thing that moves quickly is people bustling to get from one warm place to another. 

On the bright side, January does mean that we're one month closer to Spring! Really, though, I should know better than to jump ahead of myself. Last year we had a blizzard during the last weekend of March! 

It probably sounds like I'm complaining. I really do love living in North Dakota aka the frozen tundra. It is my choice to stay here and suffer through these cold winters. But maybe someday, I will take Rob, who comes from our neighbor to the north, seriously when he quips, "We could move to Canada where it's warm." 

Kids still go to school in this frigid weather. (Photo credit: Bismarck Tribune)

Janu"weary" written by Michael D. Lawlar during the brutal winter of 1997
Hello, Hello how are you
Colder than cold, and almost blue
It warmed up to 20 below here today
Lots of ranchers running out of hay
The horses, cows, and deer are hungry too
Hay bales are becoming fewer and few
It sure is nice to have a good warm truck
Heater keeps on heating - can't trust in good luck
Keeping the house and kids warm is a full-time chore
It keeps me running full bore
Propane bills and electricity are sky high
A lot higher than air conditioning in July
We're heating with wood and lignite coal
Keeping the heat bill low is our goal
Carry wood in ashes out
Its lots of fun beyond a doubt
Getting thru this winter is the name of the game
Surviving it may lead us to fame
From the 18-wheeler this is Michael Dean
Lots of winter yet to be seen
Loading up getting it done
Winter trucking is lots of fun!

My dad's truck on a freshly cleared gravel road in the McKenzie County oilfield. 

It wasn't uncommon for Dad to have to get chains on the tires during the winter! 


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