Sun, Rain, Snow, Sleet, Sun

'How bout this weather?'  Whenever you need to make small talk with someone you don't really know, you can always go with this old one.  It can lead to conversations that have nothing to do with the weather, but it is a jumping off point.  But let's talk about this weather we have recently had in Minnesota. 

Last weekend, it was in the seventies.  SEVENTIES!  The last of the winter snow did not stand a chance.  We took advantage and had the windows open.  We walked around a nature center not far from here.  It felt good to get out and not have to bundle up.  Don't get me wrong, I love the winter, but what I can't stand is that couple of weeks each year when it goes back and forth from spring to winter.  With the nice weather, everyone was looking forward to the spring and what it had to offer.  What did it offer?  Snow.  And rain.  And sleet.  And eventually sun again. 

There was a nice little storm that came through and the seventy degree weather dropped like a rock.  A forty degree drop to be exact.  Here in the eastern suburbs of the Twin Cities we saw just a few inches of snow.  South of here got upwards of fourteen to eighteen inches.  In the western part of the state had a state of emergency called.  The snow here was gone by the end of the day.  Thanks to the rain because it warmed up just enough to do that.  In the evening, it cooled off but it didn't snow, it was too warm for that.  It was more of a sleet.  Fun stuff.  We woke up to a little bit of snow on the ground, but it didn't stick around.  A few days from now it is suppose to be back up to the sixties and seventies.

People around here are pissed.  And why not?  Lots of people are just sick of winter.  It's been around for a long time.  Two weeks into December we got our first real snow and most of it melted by the middle of April.  When we went on our vacation, the only snow that was left was the big piles that show up when parking lots and driveways get plowed out.  While we were gone, there was a small snow storm.  It stuck around for a week and was officially gone.  Everyone was ready to move past the winter and into spring.  Plans were being made for gardens, baseball fields were cleared, the grass was starting to turn green.  Then we got this.  Rain, sleet, and snow.  Awesome.  I love winter, but if it's spring time, it needs to be spring.  Once you see the grass turns green, there should not be snow. 

Later on in the week, it is suppose to be back up into the seventies and after this past week, if it snows one more time, I think people might start sacrificing goats to appease some sort of god.