Top 10 Things I Hate About New England

I promised this update after completing the Top 10 Things I Love About New England this spring. Well, we are in the depths of winter and my attitude had changed. That's what 4 days without power will do to you. No TV and no Internet make Cindy crazy. Here it is, my much anticipated list...
10. Nor-easters. I can't complain too much. It has been a very mild winter. It is March and there is no snow on the ground. None. But it's not really the snow I mind, it is the carnage that it brings. There are lots of trees here, and trees generally don't like snow and wind. We had a major wind and rain storm last Thursday night. Ryan and I barely slept because we were too busy watching the trees in our back yard sway like wheat in a field. Our concern was warranted. Our neighbor three houses down got nailed by a falling tree that took out their back deck, roof, and sky light. When Ryan and I drove around the next day, it was unbelievable how much damage was done in our area. We were very lucky to emerge unscathed. We did lose power for 4 days. Good thing I married the emergency preparedness guru. Ryan had the generator going early the next morning with plenty of gas for several days, the Coleman stove fired up for breakfast, and the BBQ on the porch for dinner that night. While many people had to go to hotels for several days, we were warm, comfortable, and well fed. Thanks for taking such good care of us, Ry! Now back to my list...
9. 6 month winters. It's WAY too long to be inside. I require fresh air.
8. Mosquitoes. I don't know why God created mosquitoes. They serve no purpose but to annoy me and make me itch.
7. Humidity. It's sticky and miserable. Good thing it doesn't last long.
6. No See's candy. I love you See's. Oh, how I miss you. Why can't you come east of the Rockies?
5. No In-n-Out. See above.
4. Hawaii is really far away.
3. Whenever I hear someone say 'dude' or 'sweet' it brings tears to my eyes. I miss California lingo. I promise to never EVER let 'wicked bad' slip into my vocabulary.
2. Pasty skin. I left my tan in California. I am now pastier than I have ever been in my life. I don't see this changing any time soon.
1. I really really miss my family. Thank goodness for Southwest.
Enough of this negativity. Now that I got it all out of my system, I can say that there are more and more things I love about New England every year. Just not the winter. On the bright side, it is March. I just have to hang in there a little bit longer till spring. Until then, I can dream of our Hawaii trip this July. Maybe I'll get a tan.