The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

It is that time of year again. I have the mid winter blues. They are a siren song that I can hear almost every minute of the day.

It used to be that just ordering Oriental takeout once a week would cure those blues, but not anymore.

If you are feeling that same way, here is what you do. This cure is not cheap but every so often it is just good to pamper yourself no matter what the cost.

Rent a ski lodge at what used to be called Big Mountain in Whitefish. Rent a condo with a fireplace and a view that won’t quit or stay in a lodge in a room that has that same view and a huge lobby fireplace for you to hang out.

It matters not one whit if you know how to ski. If you ski, fine, but if you don’t, that is not what you are there for. Once again, you are there to pamper yourself.

Sometime on this vacation you will have to go home. Ride the train over so you don’t have to worry about how in the world you are getting over Marias Pass in January or February or rent a plane and get there quickly.

Take a bunch of books by Lawrence Block with you. Get the ones that feature a burglar who is an owner of a used book store. They are wonderful reads and will keep you happy whether you have television or not.

Drink at least one Tequila Sunrise every sunrise, then go back to bed and get up at a respectable time, like 11am.

Have brunches and good surf and turf dinners. Talk to people from all over the world and enjoy these new kinds of folks you have not seen before.

Drink martinis before dinner and brandy before bed and spend a lot of time just watching the fire crackle at your feet.

This trip won’t be cheap but it will be fun and when you get back home, it will have given you so much juice, you will be thinking of planting potatoes and sweet peas in the snow covered garden!