Although I wasn't raised in the North - just born in the frigid town of Carlisle, Pa., I sometimes think I have the "snow baby" mentality instilled in me.

I only stayed in Carlisle for six months, none of which I remember. I have a photograph my dad took of the snow near a pond, with a crystal reflection of the barren trees in the water. It also happens to be my favorite picture in the world.

Winter in the South is rather mild, but I don't really have any basis for comparison. At least none that I can remember. I enjoy "bitter cold" days here, even if our lows are considered heat waves in some parts of New England and the Midwest. The cold keeps me on my toes, forces me to keep moving. Granted, it makes for getting out of bed a little hard … but then again, nothing comes easy.

My mom has been hounding me to get my heat turned on since November. She even sent me a check to have it turned on, which I didn't use - at least not for that purpose. I used it to pay bills, though. So, thanks Mom.

She wouldn't stop there, however, and my inbox has been raided with little reminders to call the gas company. For Christmas, I received a space heater and an electric blanket as my presents from her. I've put both of them to use, but I'm still not turning on my heat. Call me stubborn. My mom does.

I really wish it would snow, but that seems unlikely unless we have another great blizzard like the state witnessed about 10 years ago (1993). Despite the loss of power, water, and telephone, I had a blast. My parents were frustrated, but all the neighborhood kids in Anniston had a blast. We made sleds out of steel garbage can lids. We made snow-angels until our backs were frost-bitten. It was the time of our lives.

Just as people who live on or near the beach claim to get "tired of the sand," I've talked to Northerners who complain about the relentless snow. I can see why they'd say that, but just as other people can't get enough of the beaches, I think I'm the type of person who can't get enough of the white stuff.

I wish the weather would just make up its mind. It's as if the weather has a perpetual mood swing here. It literally went from 70 degrees to 40 degrees in a couple of hours one day this week. I know, because my Jeep has a thermometer and I wasted some time in Wal-Mart that day.

It has been cold, even if above freezing, the past few days. It's supposed to warm up this weekend, though. As for me, I don't think I need to look for any groundhog's shadow in a few weeks. It wouldn't make any difference as far as a prediction goes, because, after all, I live in the South.

And the weather here is rather unpredictable - even with high-tech equipment (Doppler radar) and certified meteorologists.