City soot covered snow mounds.

Potholes that can be seen before driving into them.

Dirty snow.

Boston University students wearing shorts and tees in 35 degree weather to get a jump on their tan.

Dirty snow.

J.D. Drew complaining about an injury on the second day of spring training.

Dirty snow.

Sue chirping about her first red-winged blackbird.

Dirty snow.

Ten dollar drop in monthly heat bill.

Dirty snow.

Autos stretched around the blocks of car washes.

The expectation of another large snowstorm.

Dirty snow.

AND WHEN SPRING FINALLY ARRIVES:

A month of monsoon rain, meltage, and flooded basements.

“It’s not the load that breaks you down. It’s the way you carry it.” Lena Horne