7:15 pm, DECEMBER 1...Temperature outside: 68 degrees

Yes, that's right. Today, the first day of December...And the temperature in the district is a ridiculous 68 degrees. I mean...What is the story here?? How does one dress for this kind of mid-winter heat wave? Are we sure cotton is out of the question? Is a seersucker blazer appropriate? Do I have to wear stockings with my skirts or is bare-leg occasionally appropriate when the culprit is global warming? Fashion police forgive us- we are a confused city parading around in miniskirts and tweeds uncertain of what tomorrow will bring us. According to weather.com- 37 degrees and sunny.

Seriously though- this weather is freaking me out. Its weird to get on the metro on the first day of the Christmas month to foggy doors and beads of perspiration. I spent all summer dodging sweaty strangers on the metro- its just not a winter sport, my friends. But again, as I sit here at my desk, with the window open to let the fresh air into my apartment, I look at my thermostat and see the heat (usually blasting at a comfortable 70 degrees) is instead in the "OFF" setting.

Now don't get me wrong- it was quite refreshing to step outside of my office today and take in the beautiful clear sky, the warm breeze, the giddy grins of the downtown set. But that moment is fleeting as I look in shop windows to see packages dressed in big gold bows and sleighs and reindeer left and right. Christmas is around the corner and I haven't even gotten to wear mittens and a scarf yet! I haven't seen my breath on cold morning air, or the frost dew on the grass and windshields... I haven't bundled up to hike to the metro in a warm fuzzy coat, or snuggled up in a blanket to keep warm at night...I haven't seen the little red noses of the children heading to the elementary school next door, or the smell of a fire burning. (ok, I know, I'm not really going to smell a fire burning anytime soon in my neighborhood...but you know what I mean)

My hot chocolate in the morning just doesn't taste as good when its not cold outside- I'm ready for the cold front, whenever its ready. I'm sure I'll eat my words in a matter of days- but really, enough of the balmy winter weather!!

I'm not even sure who I'm appealing to at this point because I'm pretty certain God has WAY more pressing issues at hand (it is World AIDS day today!) but throw me a bone here...Besides, who doesn't look great with flushed cheeks and rosy lips?!