Only in North Dakota

As I write this, everyone in the house is sleeping but me. I can only hope the twins have visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads. I find myself wishing tonight were Christmas Eve and that I would see the twinkling lights on the tree, open the shades and witness snowflakes making a white cotton blanket of my lawn. But maybe I wish that only because it is so freakin hot outside! Today we topped out at 99 degrees. On my way home this evening, it was 90 degrees at 11pm and the dewpoint was 80 making it feel like 105 outside. This was not a 105 heat index at high noon when I would expect to find a man taking a siesta under his sombrero. This is 11pm in Fargo, ND! I'll take the dry heat of the desert southwest over this dripping, sultry, beat-you-into-submission heatwave we have been experiencing lately. Moorhead's heat index reached 134 for the day!

Tonight on the way home, my windshield was getting pelted with so many different bug varieties that it was becoming difficult to see. That's when it struck me to try my ice scraper to clean up the mess. Only in ND will an ice scraper be an implement of choice year-round...for removing ice in the winter and bugs in the summer.

Earlier today, I was reading a blog of a newcomer to our city. She was lamenting how in March, she got excited to see 25 degree weather after freezing all winter long. I know exactly how she feels. After a long winter, the first 25 or 30 degree day feels like Spring has Sprung, when most of the country would be shivering their collective ________ (you fill in the blank). Tomorrow's forecast is for another 90+ degree day with high humidity. But on Thursday, we are looking forward to a cooler 85 degree day! I can't wait! Only in ND can you think that a 25 degree day in March means the harsh weather is over and an 85 degree day in July means the harsh weather is over. LOL

It's no wonder Fargo won weather.com's worst weather city in a bracket tournament last March. Fargo easily beat all opponents. The only head-scratcher was that the finals against Bradford, PA was actually close. Seriously...does anyone outside of the 814 area code have Bradford, PA in their top-10 list of worst weather cities?

Name another city in the USA, including Alaska, Hawaii, DC and its territories that has a 130 degree swing in the normal temperatures. It was 99 degrees here today and I guarantee you that in 6 or 7 months, we'll see a -30 degree day. Toss in the annual rite of spring where Delta Tau Delta and Kappa Alpha Theta team up to craft a vessel 300 cubits by 50 cubits by 30 cubits, not for some wacky Greek race down the Red River but as a backup plan in case the dyke fails. Toss in the 60 m.p.h winds here last night and the 4 inches of rain that fell in one hour. Toss in the 5-to-1 ratio of mosquito to man...and you will have to agree that Fargo has the worst weather in the nation.

But only in ND will you find the residents who actually wanted their city to win the contest, proclaiming that our regular dealings with Mother Nature are not something that make us miserable but is a badge of honor. It would be great if Santa would make a surprise July trip to leave Chay, Jace, and Jenner stockings filled with care. I'm off to bed now, but not before I leave a glass of milk and a plate of cookies on the counter...just in case. Ho Ho Ho. After all, only in ND would Santa come in July, right?