ugh.

This is getting old.

What isn't pictured here is the 65-mph winds that roared through here in the early hours of this morning.

Don't believe that teaser sun icon on Tuesday, the other maps I've seen show relentless rain all the way to April.  And don't put much stock in those temperatures.  When it's wet and windy, that alleged 53 feels more like 33 to me.

I keep telling myself that this can't last forever and soon enough it will be roasting here.  But it is getting harder to keep a positive attitude in this soggy winter that won't end.

Back on the horse

I'm happy to report that our post-Christmas ride and wreck did not prove overly off-putting to my little cyclist, who so loved the bike Santa brought her.

Rad at Peak Adventures restored the bent crank to like-new condition, and Dad replaced the broken, scattered accessories.  Decked out for a blustery Spring day, my little one saddled up and rode with me to Old Sacramento on the American River Bike Trail.

The only train tracks on our route were handled carefully and quickly and the rest of the ride was happily uneventful.

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh!

St. Patrick brought us a one-day reprieve from the relentless rain and gloom that is marking this Spring.  I, for one, am grateful and thrilled. 

Sure, I know that I could still ride in the rain -- and I do often enough -- but between the weather and travel and work, it's been quite a few days since I've been on a bike.  Not wanting to waste today's sunshine, I headed to Capitol Park for fresh air, people watching and sunshine. 

Our family St. Patrick's celebration is going nicely, albeit in a low-key way.  Thanks to the last-minute arrival of Irish bangers at Costco, we're having two excellent dinners in a row this week.  Last night was bangers, beans and mash, and tonight is corned beef, cabbbage, spuds and carrots.  Yum.

When I was younger and a bit (!) more militant about these things, I never tired of pointing out that corned beef and cabbage is an American re-invention of an Irish dish... kind of like Chop Suey.  Now, I figure A) it's delicious; and 2) it seems to make people happy.

So, to the several thousand people who received one of my mini lectures between, say, 1974 and 1999, I'm genuinely sorry and grateful to you for not punching me in the mouth.

I hope your St. Patrick's Day was as happy and pleasant as mine.

An beannachtaí Dé agus Naomh Pádraig a bheith agat ar lá atá inniu ann agus i gcónaí!!