'Oh the weather outside is.....'

1. Frightful...the black bear captured in the photo was probably out hunting for some of that white stuff which signals biological hibernation; the only snow, currently, in the sierras is being manufactured by the ski resorts. Uh, the bear probably sniffed that little joke out and wandered off confused and frantic in search of winter for that extended carb blissed snooze. Good luck, pal. Down here in the urban jungle, it's January, and 70 outside. No rain on the horizon for several weeks. No snow pack. We might be retro-gliding back to the 80's, where signs like this hung in restrooms: 'if it's yellow, let it mellow.' Water rationing, hovering like a black cloud, over Cali...

2. Out for a walk in the cemetery today. Ok, I confess, I like balmy. I was enveloped by the warmth and seized up emotionally as I discovered I wasn't the weak B that I thought I'd be after my little germ filled bout; I actually felt like my old frisky self. And then there it was. The head stone that always solicits a smile and a nod; Phi Gamma Delta bro...dude, I don't know who you were but your brothers left not just one liter of gin, but two liters at the base of your stone, empty flagons that honor their dead.

3. Binge watching MI-5. Not even halfway through all the seasons; an outrageous 10 years. Brits production rock the charts. I did pull the plug momentarily to watch True Detective a mini series starring Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey, which had the highest opening rating of any HBO series; the return of 'Girls,' we love you Lena. A lot of good telly viewing happening.

4. NFL playoffs. My heart says Peyton. My wallet says Brady boy.