By TERRY AHNER

tahner@tnonline.comAs we've all experienced in recent weeks, winter has begun to ramp up its fury.While far from the clippers that had been originally predicted, the recent storms have nonetheless served as a disheartening reminder of what the season is capable of, and what figures to follow.For most of us, dealing with the inclement weather can often put a real strain on things.That's particularly true when the storms hit overnight and run into the morning hours before work.When this occurs, we set our alarms for earlier than usual, before we walk out the door with shovel in hand, only to be greeted by the dreary, dreaded white powdery stuff.I have another name for it, but I'll refrain from using the term for obvious reasons.Just when we start to feel good that we shoveled our way out, it's then that we realize we're not quite out of the woods yet.As we sit behind the steering wheel of our cars, driving can often prove to be a huge form of stress due to the travel conditions.What's most dangerous of all is the black ice that usually forms due to the cold temperatures that cause freezing on the roads.After work, the thought of going home to clean up the remnants from earlier in the day doesn't exactly put me in the mood to do cartwheels.Especially when some people refuse to shovel their snow because they assume that plow trucks will come through and take it away.That makes parking a real hassle, especially when the snow freezes.Or, when people decide to park in the spaces occupied by the homeowners who shoveled them out in the first place.If everyone who is able just did their due diligence and shoveled, the entire process would run much, much more smoothly.While the bad weather can cause all kinds of challenges for adults, it can prove to be a godsend for students who eagerly reap its rewards.For them, such weather is a dream come true, as it often means no school, increased sleep, and plenty of recreational time to partake in their favorite activities.In my youth, snow days resulted in some good old fashioned snow fights, sleigh riding, and of course building snowmen.Provided the condition of the courts were playable, a hard-nosed game of basketball was never out of the conversation either.A good portion of my time was spent on outdoor activities.I wonder how much of that still applies today, a time when interests seem to have shifted to PlayStation 3, tablets, and text-messaging.Though each of those forms of entertainment certainly have their place in today's society, it seems outdoor activities have gradually fallen by the wayside.Further proof of that can be evidenced by the lack of snowmen out in front of yards.In fact, one would be hard-pressed to count the number of snowmen on one hand.To each their own, as everyone has their own thing that keeps them content.Just ask skiers, who pray for cold weather with plenty of snow.By their way of thinking, the more snow, the better.As for me, less snow translates to less overall stress.