Weather. Or Not.

After a cold and snowier than normal November, it's warmed up to temperatures a little warmer than usual.

It feels good.

It's still early winter with most days topping out in the 30s, but that's an improvement on daytime highs in the teens or single digits.

Those kind of days, when they come early, can be difficult for even the hardiest of northerners to swallow.  We like to ease into it.

Maybe a significant amount of snow is OK to ring in the season (although we don't need Buffalo or Upper Peninsula accumulations, if you please), but the bone-chilling stuff isn't something we are prepared to handle until January.

January is a good month for bright rays of sun that had its heat pick-pocketed on the way to earth.  It's days of walking outside and realizing your nose froze from the inside.  It's cloudy days of snow that falls by the flake, by the inch, and by the foot.

It's not January.  Not yet.  Thirty degrees feels good.  It's cold enough for gloves and a hat.

Leaving milk and cookies next to the air conditioner for the guy in the red suit isn't part of the Christmas tradition - it's about leaving a treat for Santa near the warmth of the fireplace.  (I guess we'll assume Santa can use his key to come in the side door if the fire is going.)

Years like this one have brought some crazy weather - mostly in the arrival of thermometer readings that seem out of season.  As we enjoy a couple days of normal - let's enjoy it - there will be snow and cold and tales to tell soon enough.