This cartoon from Literary Life by Posy Simmonds (see this link to Guardian Unlimited) succinctly captures the lethargy that has blocked my desire to write the next Great American Novel (ha! - no pressure there, huh?)

. . .

Minnesota in January can be bitterly cold with several feet of snow and -50F windchill readings.

Today’s temperature was in the low 50’s, shattering a record of 45F set in 1949. Snowfall has been next to null, giving the impression that Spring is just around the corner.

Of course, this is just Mother Nature’s way of playing with our minds. She’s mercilessly lulling us into a sense of nirvana, expecting the crocus and tulips to break through the ground and the Robins to show up looking for worms.

Alas, a cold front is on the doorstep and should reach us late tomorrow afternoon. Temperatures are expected to drop closer to normal by Thursday, with highs in the 20s and lows in the single digits.

Snow is expected in the Twin Cities on Friday — if you count flurries.

That’s right, Winter Take 2.