Deep Fry

I’ve always loved Christmas lights . The sparkle. The illumination. The flair of color.  The whole works. In fact, when I was a toddler, rumor has it I would break down crying if a light burnt out or if a bulb broke (Clearly, I wasn’t aware of a magical, little thing called a spare). Regardless of infant emotions, point is : it didn’t take long for a fascination to spark. And as I grew older, I made it a tradition to put up the outdoor Christmas lines every Black Friday, while the rest of the family focused on internal décor. So as I recently returned to my big box of lights and started decking the brush, I couldn’t help but wonder how Christmas lights are actually fitting reminders as to why we celebrate the season as passionately as we do. For before Christ could come to be the light of the world, there had to be a willing vessel with the faith to contain it . Pretty crazy, eh? To think at any point in history, a teenage girl would accept o...

Thought it would be fitting to post a brief weather update on the day of my 10th prime birthday... I'm going to be honest: the weather outside doesn't feel anything like December...which is rather anticlimactic and depressing; however, we did have the 7th coldest November on record here in Nashville, so a reverse/seesaw pattern isn't too surprising.   Around this time every year, I get asked if we'll see a 'white Christmas'. The last two times it's happened here in Nashville w as 2010 and 1993...and climatologically speaking, we see one in Nashville every 14-15 years. Thus, I wouldn't invest in the idea of one this year, especially if you buy into the law of averages.  However, the main reason I doubt it will happen this year is  due to the current positive AO/NAO, which is bottling up the colder air in Canada and causing the northern snowpack to diminish. If you check out the first map (valid on 12/14), you'll see a classic ridging setup ...

Does it ever bother you how Christmas seems to start a little earlier ever year? I know I fall into that camp. Seriously…it’s like our culture is allergic to Thanksgiving. F all arrives…and it’s Halloween for two months. Halloween ends…and it’s Christmas for two months. Yet, lost in between…within the crazy carousel of “to do” lists, peppy parties and shopping sessions is the most underrated holiday of the year…   … (*turkey drumstick roll please*)… Thanksgiving . Now, don’t get me wrong. I love me a cup of Yuletide bliss. I’m not trying to undercut the most wonderful season of all. It’s just that I balk at the idea of jumping on the premature Christmas celebration bandwagon. And note : for those who don’t know, yes, I do consider pre-Thanksgiving Christmas celebration to be premature. I mean…think about it. Our American calendar is not friendly to ‘Turkey Day’ at all. Not only is it sandwiched between Halloween and Christmas, but every year, you ...

Last Sunday, I watched my little sister walk down the aisle…   …swept away by her knight in shining amor.   The only person I’ve ever prayed into being, finally the glowing bride she’d longed to be. It was a beautiful day …in every sense of the word. But it wasn’t easy... …not even close.   Why, you might ask? Well…let’s just say I’m still figuring it out. All I know is when the day first started, I wasn’t too sentimental. In fact, the brunt of any emotional barrage came in the form of parental sympathy, knowing they were just hours away from being official empty-nesters for the first time in almost thirty years. Yet, as I watched my sister’s eyes sparkle, glimmering in the joy of her perfect man, I started to melt. For my little sister wasn’t so little anymore. Granted, she’s probably the most mature 21 year-old you’ll ever meet… …not to suggest I’m just now noticing that. Truth is : anyone who’s ever known my sister understands the...

Well…it’s that magical time of year again when I switch into “ winter weather forecasting ” mode and  spend a couple hours a day immersed in regional weather forums, computer model output and teleconnection analysis. Now, I’ll admit…I’m just an amateur. I don’t consider myself professionally qualified nor do I trumpet this forecast as more valid than others out there. ‘Cause truth is : I’m just another voice in the chorus of passionate weather freaks hoping to accurately play-call the most entertaining yet most unpredictable season of all. However, unlike the past two years, I have greater confidence in my understanding of what will happen during the upcoming meteorological winter. Despite tasting the bitter dregs of busting on a forecast (i.e. 2011-12), I’ve also triumphed in the victory of calling it right-on (i.e. 2013-14). And with my accuracy score improving every year, I have high hopes that this favorable trend will continue. Although there are numerous meteorological...