Cold and snow have been the big topics of conversation among friends and colleagues this winter. Everyone is a bit grumpy. The sidewalks remain icy, the driving has been treacherous, and too many events have been cancelled. This is not Virginia! "What happened to global warming?" a friend asks, and I remind him that it's called "climate change" now. There is little doubt that weather patterns are changing. What hasn't changed is our need to complain about it. So when my husband and I cleared off last weekend's snowfall before it turned into crusty ice, I decided we needed a positive totem to counteract all the negativity. A jaunty snowman did the trick. I can see him from my studio window. His cap's a bit lopsided, but he's still smiling. And he should be. More snow is predicted for the day after tomorrow.