From the Dead of Winter to Early Spring

I love the snow of winter and the green of spring, but there's this awkward in between when the world just seems dead without the white blanket covering the earth. Right now, everything just seems... brown.

Expectations ≠ Reality

"When I first saw that, I thought it was a pile of dirt." -- JKDavis

After 18 years of living, one might think I've learned the lesson that expectations never match reality... that is, unless you have low expectations. I thought I was returning to what this article called the "snowiest large city in the nation." I was disappointed.

60 degree weather. Green grass. Scattered piles of dirty melting snow. WHAT IS THIS MADNESS? This goes to show that reality is never the same as my dreams. It's colder back in Southern California! Does this mean it hurts to stop having high expectations? Should we stop dreaming?

I don't think so. Keeping the dreams in your mind, despite it not being reality, you have the capability to see the potential in the world. By seeing the world's potential, you have the power to push for the best in anything under your human control. Not that I can change the weather or anything... :P

Winter Rose

Welcome to winter in California: where roses bloom in the dead of winter!

As I looked out my kitchen window today, a rose in full bloom caught my eye. It wasn't just the beauty of the rose itself that struck me... after all, I've seen roses plenty of times before. But this rose showed a certain strength I had never seen in any flower.

This rose beat all the odds: its stem stretches over 5 feet high, towering over me. The flower stands with its head held high, proud to face the chilly winter air. It not only lives, but thrives off the weather with several rosy buds branching off the main stem.

Needless to say, I ran straight for my camera to capture this winter rose. My mother thought I was crazy for getting so worked up about it.