Full-Scale Assault by Mother Nature

You wouldn't describe this scene as a "Full-Scale Assault by Mother Nature"? How strange. That's what they're telling us on TV this morning, and told us all throughout the day yesterday. I'm confused. If they say it on TV, it must be true.

I love how the local TV stations turn weather such as this into a full-scale media event. Yes, it's December. Yes, it has snowed a bit. Must we have consant breathless video reports telling us that "It's STILL snowing!" and that "Traffic is snarled all over the area!" They work each weather system with the relentlessness of Anderson Cooper out in the middle of Hurricane Katrina. One would think this was something other than a meager drift of approximately 2 inches of snow, which ought to be fully expected and very normal in December. Isn't this Wisconsin after all?

I know the TV stations have huge investments in meteorological equipment and have to justify that investment and their own existence oover and over and OVER, but it's the 4th of December people, and this really isn't too bad. I suspect we will survive.

Despite this cataclysmic weather event, I was able to make my way to the mall yesterday and put in a little Christmas shopping time. Will and I met up at The Gap, special coupon in hand (it being a special discount weekend for friends and family of Gap employees, and we are fortunate to have one of those in the family). We shopped what we needed to shop and finished with a noodle-y lunch, and I had a coupon for that also. Once in a while I can keep my wits about me and stay organized.

The rest of the day was spent in food prep, fun stuff. We're having some friends in today for the Packers/Bears game. Pork barbecue is on the menu, as well as marinated cucumbers, a calico corn and bean salad, and chocolate applesauce cake, plus assorted cheese spreads, dips, and associated chips and crackers.