It's Winter

in Houston.

Today.

Today was that lovely day, that seems to happen every year in this fine town, where the weather, seemingly of it's own accord and for no particular reason, turns from "Oh, hey, it's not very hot outside today. That's nice" to "Holy shit, it's freezing!".

Cold, wet, rainy, grim day.

I should preface all of this by sharing that to date I have lived in Los Angeles, North Carolina, Santa Fe, and Houston. None of which would be considered much in the way of the "Wintery North".

For me, Winter is when you can see your breath.

Anything worse than that is unpleasant and should be avoided.

It's Winter in Houston.

Don't get me wrong. I love the concept of winter/snow. It's just that every time I've been in direct physical contact with it, it's been horrible.

Por ejemplo, my first time in Chicago... Thanksgiving day. Took the train into downtown with some family for my first Chi town excursion. Seeing the sights, living the dream, when the sun starts to go down. So there I am, standing in Daley Plaza, waiting for a tree to light up, when it starts to snow...

Sideways.

No one mentioned to me what exactly "Lake Effect" snow was. But I got a pretty clear crash course in it that night. My scarf, was stuck to my face, with ice.

There might have been tears... but who would know. It would have just added to the ice.

No one should live like that.

It's Winter in Houston.

and this nomad of the mostly southern sunny regions, may need a thicker coat.