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Community Corner

The List: Places to Go to Complain About the Weather

Yeah, we know. You're fed up with the gray skies, cool temperatures and rain. Need some places to vent? Patch has answers.

Gray skies. Cool temperatures. Rain. Wind.

Again.

And again.

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As much as we all try to be positive and imagine that summer really is going to get here, most of us are still bummed. It's the foremost topic on everyone's mind and is everywhere in the local news.

So,where can you go and vent your frustrations and meet fellow complainers? Why suffer in silence, right?

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The List is ready to get their gripe on and have a little whine with that cheese.

You come along, too.

Why here: Clearly, the obvious point of going to Forza is getting LOTS of hardcore caffeine to wake us up and help us battle through some dreary mornings. Great hot coffee products also warm us up. As we wait in line for our necessary beverages, we can strike up weather conversations with fellow weather zombies. Better yet, we can gather around the Forza fireplaces for warmth and a total venting session. Win win!

The Tacoma Mall, The Lakewood Towne Center, and Uptown Shopping Center

Why here: Cranky locals flock to the malls and shopping centers on bad weather days for A: something to do B: a refuge from poor weather. But there's more! You can pick up your Summer 2011 essential gear (rain coat, umbrella, sweatshirts, hats, gloves and rain boots) and commiserate with fellow customers about lousy summer weather. Just make sure you don't get into a fight over the last umbrella for sale.

Aloha Oasis (Tacoma)

Why here: This store features all things Hawaiian! Capture the smell, tastes, sounds, look and feel of the Islands. Okay, maybe this will actually make you happy and comfort you in there (it does us), rather than be a place to vent. That's okay. Dream about that sun and a tropical isle all you want. Get some Hawaiian gear and garb to take home. Hey, at least we can pretend right?

The vitamin and supplement section of any major grocery store, health food stores, or vitamin/supplement dealer (locations vary)

Why here: No specific links here, folks. We all know our local grocery stores and the like carry vitamins and supplements, yes? So, when you are in the store purchasing your vitamin D tablets to combat your vitamin D deprivation, you will run into others surely doing the same. This is a great place to hold some serious conversation about all things weather related. Now that Patch thinks about it, the energy drink section is another winner, too.

Why here: You know Patch loves, loves, loves our local libraries. And we've talked about the library being a great escape from our weather before (you can look up tropical climates, see pictures of the sunshine, and read books and magazines about all things warm). Aw, but complainers and sad sacks have you thought of this: researching weather anomalies and facts. Find out what our rainiest summer has been. What was the summer around here with the lowest temperatures? The list goes on! And hey, maybe you'll find that in your research that this really isn't the coolest summer on record after all! You gotta hope, too, right?

All right everyone, let 'er rip! Patch's service to you: vent away in comments if you'd like. Go for it--it's free and maybe it's even a little good for you. And positive peeps, we need you too!

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