I've been included in a Minnesota anthology "Under Purple Skies", now available on Amazon!

My second chapbook, "The Second Book of Pearl: The Cats" is now available as either a paper chapbook or as a downloadable item. See below for the Pay Pal link or click on its cover just to the right of the newest blog post to download to your Kindle, iPad, or Nook. Just $3.99 for inspired tales of gin, gambling addiction and inter-feline betrayal.

My first chapbook, I Was Raised to be A Lert is in its third printing and is available both via the PayPal link below and on smashwords! Order one? Download one? It's all for you, baby!

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Mid-Winter Reflection; or Is that Brownie Batter on your Lips?

It bores even me to say it, but dang.

It’s cold.

It’s always been cold. 

As is common for my people at this time of year, I’ve clean forgotten the sodden heat of a Minneapolis summer; the brisk, clear skies of fall; the loamy, promising fragrance of a spring day. 

All that is, and ever was, is the possibility of an icy death.

It was eight below zero at the bus stop this morning.  I mention this not by way of bragging or inspiring your pity but simply so that I can then say this:  It’s going to warm up over 40 degrees by Saturday, all the way to freezing.

And don’t think that we don’t get a perverse pleasure out of saying things like that, out of pointing out to lesser, softer beings, that we regularly experience 100-degree swings in and out of our comfort zones.

Because we do get a perverse pleasure out of saying things like that.  This is what keeps us warm:  the knowledge that we are special, if not in our ability to “keep on keeping on” then in our ability to meet the bright, hectic look in our fellow Minnesotans’ eyes as we clap each other on the back whilst declaring “Ha!  Only nine more Mondays until spring!”

It is here where we shut our eyes, ever so briefly, and envision going home, whipping up a batch of brownie batter, and giving up, just laying in the tub hoping our absence at work goes unnoticed until the thaw.

It’s warming up 40 degrees this weekend.   


Only nine more Mondays until spring.

20 comments:

Sioux Roslawski said...

Pearl--Look up banana bread brownies with browned butter frosting... Yum.

I do not envy you hearty folk. Vicariously, I will shiver.

Unknown said...

I've never lived anywhere like that. Visited, but not lived.

On the other hand, here in Houston, I did decide to wear a light jacket this morning!

Nine more Mondays...

Watson said...

CBC (facebook page) had a video of pants standing by themselves in Minneapolis! I'd be for sending my slacks or skirt off to work alone while I snuggle down again into my blankets. You folks are very hardy!

Leenie said...

Raising a glass of ice water to you, Pearl. Not that it was my preferred beverage but because my Diet Coke is frozen solid and the tap water is still running--for now. SE ID understands.

Joanne Noragon said...

How cold is it? The seven bird feeders in my yard are emptied in a day. The birds nose around for all mother nature's offerings when it is above freezing, but colder than that and they go for the sure thing.
My skinny little youngest granddaughter told me the outdoor thermometer was minus ten when they left for the bus yesterday, at 6:15 in the a.m. It was two above when I got up at eight. Poor kid.

Anonymous said...

So far we have not slipped below 0 degrees F. That is, not without a wind chill factor which is a whole other animal. I remember winters as a youngster being below 0 F for weeks on end. We were tougher back then. Now if it slips below 70F I'm looking for a sweater.

Launna said...

Oh Pearl... eek... it is not that cold here but.... I think we have 12-14 Mondays before it actually starts being Spring here without any ice or snow on the ground... at least it didn't happen until that late last year... We can do this right? :)

jenny_o said...

Seeing as -10 C (+14 F) is the outer limit of my comfort zone in winter, your -8 F is giving me reverent pause. We don't usually get there until a little later in the season. I like your way of thinking. Not nine weeks, but nine Mondays. It changes one's perception, and perception means a whole lot in extreme weather. Hang in there.

Connie said...

Sometimes it seems like it's been cold forever. We aren't as cold here as you Minnesotans have it, but it has been in single digits here recently. Sending you warm thoughts. Could you pass the brownies, please?

Anonymous said...

Would it help if you wore a sweater in the tub?

Jono said...

While it's fun to go from -30 outside to 70 inside, that doesn't hold a candle to the 300 Club at the South Pole. They go from a 200F sauna to -100F outside. Naked.

River said...

A 40 degree upward swing might sound wonderful to all you below 0 people, but if it happens here in Australia we're all going to melt for sure. Our current temperatures are in the mid 30C range.

Mary Koppel said...

Rats - now I can't think of anything other than brownies...maybe the banana brownies with brown butter frosting...but still - rats!

Gigi said...

We've just had our second dusting...not that I'm bragging. We are miserable. But counting our blessings that we aren't even more miserable.

Catalyst said...

I spent the first 29 year of my life in North and South Dakota (actually only one year in South Dakota). Then I left. I've never figured out why it took me so long.

sage said...

There was frost on the ground here, this morning... But I do miss those crisp cold days with snow squeaking under my boots.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari om
...as long as spring knows it is 9 more Mondays, you're onto a winner... YAM xx

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

My gosh, 40 degree weather in MN in the winter. Wow, it's time to find the bathing suit and pour a pina colada.

We are expecting a foot or two of snow this weekend. We are not happy, but I will follow your advise and make some brownies.

vanilla said...

Persevere.

Vicus Scurra said...

We had two consecutive days of frost this week. Do you hear me complaining? Do you?