ON THE WEATHER:

Like my good friends, the Chicago Bears, I have really felt like hibernating for the past week. The appreciable difference, however, being that I don't have a nationally-televised event to hibernate through. Stupid Packers.

As the weather grows cold and daylight grows short, I sometimes find it hard to keep an optimistic attitude. Sure, sure, it's peppermint hot chocolate season, but I somehow that can replace a full day's worth of whatever vitamin it is that we get from the sun during days of longer light.

Although, I suppose there are trade-offs for the lack of sun. Sleeping in on a cold day is always a good time. Christmas is rapidly approaching, which means Christmas cookies are rapidly approaching. And girls in stocking caps always look good. (I can't explain that one rationally. They just do.)

I guess it's a four or five-month lesson in balance. That it takes days of extreme cold (or, I suppose, extreme warmth) that make us appreciate the "perfect" days of spring or autumn that much more - just as the treachery of Mr. McMahon made us appreciate Stone Cold Steve Austin that much more.