I hate cold weather. Hate it! Hate it! Hate it! Always have; always will. So, naturally, I was outraged yesterday when it snowed. And, of course, since I live in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, the wind whistled and roared, as well.

I started shivering yesterday as soon as I got out of bed. It only got worse when I got to work as my office sits at about 63 degrees. So, I spent the morning trying to concentrate on editing a story while wearing two sweaters and a scarf, and, naturally, feeling grumpier and grumpier. I simply could not get warm!

Outside my window, the snow continued to fall. The wind continued to howl. Obviously, the weather was not going to take a turn toward my liking.

So. . .

For lunch, I motored over to my favorite slice joint to warm up with mozzarella and marinara, supported by a perfectly-baked pizza crust of just the proper thickness. Next, to ensure that my newfound warmth would last a while, I took myself off to the gym for a good 30-minute session on the elliptical and another 30 minutes of lifting weights.

To me, sobriety has been a lot about a willingness to let my life get better. The truth is, that if I were still drinking and using, I probably would have just stayed cold and grumpy.