Winter? Spring? we're caught between seasons

Patrick Fisher, Staff Writer

It's that point of the year when we're caught between seasons. Tomorrow (Friday, March 20) is the first day of spring.

Lately, we've been bouncing back and forth from temperatures in the single digits to the high 50s. It's been a reminder that the weather in Minnesota between late winter and early spring can be like a game of dice. We never know what's going to turn up.

Personally, I keep my winter jacket close by. I don't put it away until we reach the point where we have a steady stream of 50-degree days. Even then, I have a lighter jacket handy for those cool, overcast and rainy days.

Soon, we'll also have those spring days where the temperature is like a roller coaster. More than once I've started with the heat on in my car, moved it to the lowest setting of the air conditioning by noon and went right back to the heat in the evening.

It's also that between time where the ground is frozen and covered with ice and snow, but soon it will start thawing. Then we'll see more of the ground itself, plus patches of snow and dirt, eventually giving way to green grass.

Another St. Patrick's Day has come and gone. Whether you celebrated over the weekend or on the day itself, I hope you enjoyed it.

There were a few events to mark the day. Minneapolis and St. Paul had their annual parades and several clubs, bars and coffee houses had musicians performing a wide range of Irish music. There were the groups that played traditional to those that performed what could be called a fusion of Irish folk and rock music. Believe it or not, there are a few bands that do mix the two. It's something that has to be heard to be believed.

A local example is the band Boiled in Lead. They have been around for 26 years and have music that is unique and can't really be pigeon-holed. They draw from Celtic music, folk music of multiple backgrounds, plus various styles of rock.

They're just one example of how I enjoy finding and listening to different types of music. More often than not I prefer music that doesn't require it to be numbered (Top 40) or that is played over and over again, because it's from the hot band of the moment.