# Mid-January Gloom!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mid-january-gloom/609092
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [January 10, 2012, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mid-january-gloom/609092 "2012-01-10T22:48:31Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2012, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mid-january-gloom/609092/1 "2012-01-10T22:48:31Z")
My wife made me take the Christmas tree down (sob!). I really dislike this time of the year-the holidays are over…and we have weeks of bleak winter, long dark nights ahead.
One by one, the neighbor’s Christmas lights are going out…I really like the colored lights-it helps dispell the winter gloom.
At least, I kept the outside lights up!
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### Author:  [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mid-january-gloom/609092/2 "2012-01-11T01:46:37Z")
There is something about the outdoor lights in the darkest days of winter that appeals to me. I may kind of roll my eyes at people who leave Christmas lights up well past the holiday, but I understand the urge to bring light to the darkness.
It’s a long stretch from New Year’s Day to Easter, that’s for sure. I guess we’re supposed to be buckling down and working on our resolutions and improving ourselves in these cold and dreary months.
Right. Think spring!
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### Author:  [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2012, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mid-january-gloom/609092/3 "2012-01-11T02:43:28Z")
We’re planning to go to our local hot springs mid-February - gotta have something to look forward to at this time of year!
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### Author:  [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mid-january-gloom/609092/4 "2012-01-11T17:49:55Z")
I also like to keep in mind that we are actually getting more daylight each day.
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### Author:  [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mid-january-gloom/609092/5 "2012-01-11T18:29:43Z")
> [@MLS](#):
>
> I also like to keep in mind that we are actually getting more daylight each day.
It’s been really, really warm for January in Wisconsin, so that plays a part in a lack of gloom. But the last 2 nights specifically, I’ve been thinking that it seems like it’s light much later than it “should” be. Just a few weeks ago, sunset was around 4:30pm, and last night (with very few clouds), there was still a lot of light in the sky close to 5:30pm (well past official sunset). It’s obviously just perception on my part, but I’m pretty happy with this winter so far.
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### Author:  [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2012, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mid-january-gloom/609092/6 "2012-01-11T19:14:11Z")
The days getting longer is a very good thing, too - we’re less than a month after the solstice, but I’ll take every extra minute I can get. I don’t think I have SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), but maybe only because I walk outside every day, even in winter.
It snowed here yesterday, and it’s much colder today - I’m glad for both. This winter has been very warm and dry, and I’ve been worried for all my plants. I’ve been watering my evergreens regularly.
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### Author:  [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mid-january-gloom/609092/7 "2012-01-11T19:16:15Z")
We get Martin Luther King Day off from work. I can’t think about succumbing to depression until after that.
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### Author:  [@KRC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KRC)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mid-january-gloom/609092/8 "2012-01-12T02:55:13Z")
Forget about the lights and focus on the birdies. Out here in Albuquerque as soon as the solstice passes the doves and finches are singing and displaying and basically saying “Think Spring!” They aren’t very shiny or bright, but in 6 weeks you’ll see their babies taking flying lessons on your lawn.
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### Author:  [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2012, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mid-january-gloom/609092/9 "2012-01-12T22:22:04Z")
> [@mkecane](#):
>
> It’s been really, really warm for January in Wisconsin, so that plays a part in a lack of gloom. But the last 2 nights specifically, I’ve been thinking that it seems like it’s light much later than it “should” be. Just a few weeks ago, sunset was around 4:30pm, and last night (with very few clouds), there was still a lot of light in the sky close to 5:30pm (well past official sunset). It’s obviously just perception on my part, but I’m pretty happy with this winter so far.
Full Moon helps with light.
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### Author:  [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2012, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mid-january-gloom/609092/10 "2012-01-12T22:23:55Z")
> [@ralph124c](#):
>
> My wife made me take the Christmas tree down (sob!). I really dislike this time of the year-the holidays are over..and we have weeks of bleak winter, long dark nights ahead.
> One by one, the neighbor’s Christmas lights are going out..I really like the colored lights-it helps dispell the winter gloom.
> At least, I kept the outside lights up!
You could have a Groundhog’s Day celebration. A friend actually has a special Groundhog’s Day dinner. You could also rig up a bright light to represent the sun – or lots of lights around the room, so that there is light but also no shadow.
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### Author:  [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2012, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mid-january-gloom/609092/11 "2012-01-13T00:24:05Z")
> [@Tapiotar](#):
>
> You could have a Groundhog’s Day celebration. A friend actually has a special Groundhog’s Day dinner. You could also rig up a bright light to represent the sun – or lots of lights around the room, so that there is light but also no shadow.
Did he…eat a groundhog? :eek: