Getting some fun out of the freeze

Minnesotans love to complain about the weather, and there's no better time to complain about it than during the winter months. I've joined in the winter-weather whining from time to time, but in truth, winter can actually be a pretty great season for hanging out with friends and family members. After I've finished shoveling out the driveway, I always make a point of planning a skiing and snowboarding day with friends. Last year, we hit up Buck Hill, the quaint little ski area where Olympic superstar Lindsey Vonn got her start. Other favorites include Afton Alps, Welch Village and Wild Mountain.

Sledding is also a popular winter activity, and there are plenty of excellent sledding hills to choose from. My personal favorite is Minikahda Vista Park in St. Louis Park. The sledding hill at Minikahda is certainly not for the faint of heart. It is steep and can be a bit treacherous on icy days. All this means that Minikahda's sledding hill is the thrill-seeker's paradise.

I have a love-hate relationship with snow and cold, which is why there are some days on which I have no interest in even looking at the stuff, much less skiing in it. It is on these days when I choose to host a night in. My friends all think I'm being noble by putting together a party, but I'm actually just doing it so that I don't have to embark on terrible roads with terrible drivers.

My favorite get-together is our annual game night. This is when I set out a smorgasbord of snacks and get the poker table ready for a night of stiff competition. I am, unfortunately, terrible at poker, but that doesn't mean I don't have a great time playing it. I am, however, quite talented at mixing drinks. Our poker table has convenient drink holders so that players never have to leave the game to get a margarita. It’s also equipped with those cushy swivel chairs, so I can just spin around if I need to check on the status of the snack smorgasbord before returning to the game at hand.

Based on all the money I lost this year, I think I'll have to make one change for the next big game night: we're switching blackjack out for craps (a game at which I've been at least somewhat successful). The poker table is equipped for both games, so I shouldn't have any trouble changing it up. I'm already starting to get excited. Bring on the dice!