How 'Bout This Weather, Lamorinda?

Our local weather people are stretching their reports for all they're worth these days as a cold front appears to have taken up residence over Lamorinda and the East Bay -- and doesn't appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.

Local gardeners who monitor such things tell Patch that temps have gotten down into the high teens these last few nights and the bar-side conversation starter "How about this weather?" is only good for a few minutes of chinwagging as the local meteorological scene isn't getting us much past the response: "It's dang cold out there."

A drive home Christmas night was like a drive into a meat locker, the night air wispy and blue with cold and ice crystals forming before our eyes. Spare the Air edicts keep the fireplaces cold as the only thing moving in our skies are flocks of confused birds hoping to catch a favorable tailwind.

The static inactivity made us think of the late, great George Carlin and Al Sleet, the comedian's "Hippy Dippy Weatherman," -- who put the weather forecasting game into proper perspective.