For the first time this season, I wanted the heat on higher than 68 degrees.

It grows darker earlier. I don’t feel like swimming in the late afternoon. And that is about the time when my small pool finally gets heated up by the solar panels on my roof.

I am drinking tea with honey. I don’t usually drink tea. I don’t often eat honey.

I’m wearing a long-sleeve t-shirt-type garment under my long-sleeve shirt. I think I’ll go add a sweater to the mix – There – that feels better.

I can’t believe that I said, “Where’s the colder weather?” this summer.

I am bothered by the cold nearly as much as I am about the three things that went wrong in the past couple of weeks: A root canal, that same tooth falling out, a bee sting on my finger, a new pain on the side of my foot, and problems with the recovery system on our car.

Look on the bright side: My family and I are relatively healthy, my daughter expects a baby, please God, and I have a good wife.

I suppose one needs to find ways to cheer up during this colder, darker season.

I can watch the news again, and see how the non-Southern Californians are trying to cope with the Big Freeze. That should warm me up.

Actually, the tea was good. I will have another cup or three.

I was thinking of ending this with, “Where’s the warmer weather?” I changed my mind. Instead, I just want to say, “I hope your winter season is a warm, healthy and happy.”

There. I feel warmer already.