An Open Letter to Spring 2014

Dear Spring, I hope you are doing well and are busy ushering in warm weather elsewhere.  As for me I am cold and getting very tired of this long wet winter.  Once again this weekend it got down to near zero degrees where I live and we received about a quarter inch of ice and three quarters inch of snow.  The TV talking heads tried to tell us we would get nine inches of snow but we all know they are morons.  But, alas, I digress.

Spring, wherever you are could you please hurry?  My front yard is starting to look like the frozen Tundra of the great White North.  And I have no idea how deep the frost line is now.

You are not officially supposed to arrive until March 21st which is like three weeks away.  But, I and several million others in the area would be overjoyed if you decided to arrive early and stay for quite some time.  Thank you and I really hope to see you very soon.

One Cold Midwesterner

P.S.  When Summer tries to arrive please don't feel obligated to leave.  And please do not feel intimidated by that hot headed season.  Every year summer tries to intrude on your wonderful season by wanting to go to 90 degrees in May.  But, let me assure you, everyone here likes you just fine and wants you here for as long as possible.

When Will this Winter Let Go?

As I write this I am looking out the window at about seven inches of snow on the ground.  And if you are wondering when this was written it is March 25th, 2013.

Yesterday the Saint Louis area got hammered with over a foot of snow at the Airport.  According to the folks at the National Weather Service who keep track of such things, this is the largest snowfall the area has ever had in March.   Locations to the north had more snow and areas south of the Airport ended up with less.

Yesterday was the second Sunday in a row it has been cold and snowed.  Last weekend's Saint Patrick's Day celebration was hindered by the cold wet weather.  It was the first time in years I've been home on St. Patty's Day by seven in the evening.

I and everyone I know is tired of Winter.  The St. Louis Cardinals will open their regular season next Monday in Arizona and then play the home opener the following Monday April 8th against the Cincinnati Reds.  Hurry Spring!

Spring Can't Be Too Far Away

The weather here this week has been wonderful. Daytime highs in the 60s and night time lows in the 40's. It's about 20 degrees warmer than normal for the first week of February. So, even though some little rat up in Pennsylvania saw his shadow yesterday, Spring can't be far away.

By the calendar it's about six weeks to the official start of Spring and to St. Patrick's Day. But, you know I found a six pack of Boulevard Brewing's Irish Ale yesterday afternoon. It always comes out a month before St. Patty's Day and the start of Spring. So there it is; yet another sign we are getting closer to warmer weather. And you also know what I will be tasting this afternoon after work. Cheers!

"Little Darling It's Been a Long Cold Lonely Winter"

Any true Beatles fan knows that line comes from the Abbey Road song "Here Comes the Sun". It has been a long and cold six weeks for the area. But, yesterday the temperature got to 50 degrees and today it made 63. Yes it is very welcome after the ice and snow of the last few weeks. Just to give you an idea of how nasty the ice was, I still have about an inch of ice on portions of my driveway and sidewalk even after the sun shone it today.

So to celebrate, I have four split fryers on the Weber Kettle and a nice Lagunitas Maximus IPA in my right hand. (Well, I have had to set it down to type). With warm weather, barbecue cooking on the grill and sipping a great beer...life is good!

"I Can Feel it in the Air Tonight"

St. Louis experienced it's first 70 degree day of the year today. And man am I ready for it. When I left work this afternoon, I carried my coat with me rather than wearing it as I have every day since November.

It's been a long cold winter. But today was wonderful. It may have only lasted a day and rain and cooler weather will move in for the weekend. But, for today at least, finally a taste of Spring!

I'm Here...Just Busy

I haven't had much time to writer lately but am doing just fine.

I am tired of winter and the return of colder temperatures this week hasn't left me the happiest of campers. But, every day we are one day closer to spring. The Cardinals position players are now in camp and spring training is in full swing. So, see what I mean. Spring is just around the corner.

I will write more this weekend as time permits.

Hurry Spring

It's April, but it feels like it did four weeks ago. The temperatures in the morning are gradually getting warmer, but it still isn't as warm as it should be. And the rains just keep coming. It rained cats and dogs Monday night and I had a small stream across my basement floor into my laundry room where there is a drain.

My golf league played the first round yesterday afternoon. It was a little chilly but not too bad. But, you could tell it was wet by the "squish, squish, squish" every time someone took a step in the fairway.

But, good news is forecast. It's supposed to be in the 60s on Saturday with sunshine. I am looking forward to it.