Daylight saving time must be coming soon

As I woke up this morning the only thing I could think of was when exactly does daylight saving time begin? I know it used to fall on the first weekend of April because there was one year when we stayed up drinking all night so we would be awake for a super-early round of disc golf bright and early on a somewhat warm Sunday morning but we ended up going to breakfast instead. All told, the plan was obviously flawed but we at least made the effort to follow through with it.

But a few years ago the dates for the beginning and end of daylight saving time were adjusted. It started a few weeks earlier -- moving the time change into March, and ended a week later so finally Halloween would be a nighttime event like it was meant to be.

The amount of sunlight this morning, though, made me think that daylight saving time had to be near. Hell, I even heard a few birds chirping. Maybe that's because we've experienced virtually no winter this year here in Minnesota or maybe it's because it is legitimately sunny when I wake up now but I'm looking forward to the impending time change because, for some reason, I actually prefer getting ready for my day when it is still dark outside. Maybe it's the inner creeper in me or maybe it's just less jarring to wake up to darkness and let the light come on slowly via the rising sun.

Anyhow, daylight saving time has to be coming soon. Maybe it's St. Patrick's Day weekend. I'll find out soon enough because I bet it will be the top news story on the TV as s ome dopey anchor jokes about springing forward or being late for everything on the following day. Dopes.

The sun finally felt warm

On Monday I grilled. On our perfect 67 degree Monday, I grilled. The last time my gas grill saw the light of day was late October. Since that time it had been stored away in front of the lawnmower and next to the smoker in the utility shed attached to the garage. It's been a long 4 1/2 months. It seemed longer but after buying a huge family size package of ground beef (what size family needs 6 lbs.?) and knowing that Monday's weather was going to be the kind of early spring warmth that gives teenage boys erections in anticipation of swimsuit season, I saved one pound of ground chuck for the upcoming glorious Monday afternoon.

After speeding home, my nipples tingling in anticipation of the grand event, I pulled the grill from the garage and put it in its proper place on the patio and lit that bad boy.



Welcome to flavor country. These 1/2 lb. beauties that look like a Wendy's burger on steroids borrowed from Barry Bonds were nothing short of delicious. Grilled hamburgers, one of the many summertime treats I've missed. Welcome back spring, welcome back!

Spring is just around the corner for MinnPics as well. Check back frequently to see the seasons change in Minnesota.