Because I had pre-written my blog posts for all of last week, readers won’t have realized that I was in Southern California meeting with catechetical leaders.  I left Chicago on the 29th November while it was sunny and, if not warm, at least pleasant enough to walk outside. 

What a difference a week makes.  I came home on Friday 5th to the full arctic treatment – snow on the ground and a fierce wind nipping at my head and my heels.  This is what life in a city with four seasons is all about.  It always takes me a few weeks to adjust myself (both in terms of clothing and activity) to the newly-announced season.  And that is perhaps why I woke up this morning with a dreadful cold… going out on Saturday dressed as though I was taking an autumnal stroll in the park was probably not the best idea. If I’m grumpy (grumpier?) for the rest of the week, you’ll undertand why.

(Don’t recognize me in either of these fine gentlemen in the illustration?  Of course not, I’m driving the car in the background.  I thought you’d know that about me.)