Dortmund sounds similar to Seattle, actually - we're right between two mountain ranges, so I look out across the sound and see the (gorgeous) Olympics, now all covered in snow, or I can drive less than an hour east (and I am at the extreme west of Metro Seattle) and be in the Cascades, which cap out at Mt Rainier, 14,114 ft. I'd really rather go visit the snow than have it come visit me.

We have actually had an amazingly dry winter. I'm not sure we're not gonna have a drought next year - I think we got your dry and cold. I will give it back. With snow. *g*