Baby, it's Cold Outside

In the grand scheme of things, this is Minnesota. It's not really as cold as it seems. But it's snowing, and that makes it seem colder. And that wind tearing down the streets of downtown Minneapolis? That's downright freezing. This morning, before the sun rose, I was crossing Marquette Avenue to get to the building where I work. Thanks to all the buildings downtown, the streets become brutal wind tunnels that never seem to let up. That was by far the coldest intersection I've crossed so far this season.

Of course, all this would be made more pleasant if I just broke down and got my winter coat out and actually wore it. But I'm not ready for that yet. I'm a Minnesota girl, I can take it. It's not even below zero yet!

This whole cold-and-snow thing isn't so bad, though. Why not? Because it's getting me into the spirit of the upcoming holiday. No, not Christmas. Not Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or the Winter Solstice. No, this is the greatest holiday of all: Cookie Day.

What? You don't celebrate Cookie Day? It's only the greatest holiday ever created! It's an entire December day devoted to gathering with your family and baking a gross of cookies (at the minimum, usually more) and a variety of candies. Traditional meals include tuna salad sandwiches for lunch and pizza for dinner. And lots and lots of cookies.

This year the holiday is a bit early, but that's OK by me. I'm excited. I'm pumped. I'm ready to bake my heart out.

**Warning: Extemporaneous poetry ahead**

Oh, Cookie Day, Cookie Day...
You're less than 24 hours away...
With flour and butter and sugar I'll play...
At Cookie Day, Cookie Day, Cookie Day!

Oh yeah. That's how much I love Cookie Day. I just wrote a poem about it. That's the true magic of the holiday. It's my favorite day.