Are there other things that give you the same unbridled joy as a Christmas morning when you were 10? You remember, when you came down the stairs to the Christmas tree and saw wrapped presents, just the size of that race car track, or football uniform, or Easy-Bake Oven, or whatever gift you had coveted that Christmas. You know, the feeling that you have gotten when you might have shot that 16-point buck that all of the neighbors were talking about and everyone was scheming to shoot, or working on a motor vehicle engine, not really having the confidence that the fix you were applying would work but finally turning the key and having the motor come to life just like you were non-confidently hoping it would?

****Speaking of the Easy-Bake Oven,,,,a disclaimer here,,,do not use a 100 watt lightbulb. Yes, the heating method on an Easy-Bake is by lightbulb. However, I tell you from experience, as much as it might seem like a great idea to jump up from that slow, low heat, 35 watt bulb the manufacturer recommends to a 100 watt bulb, this is not a good idea.  The main problem is that all of the baked items your child is making for you tends to have this plastic drizzzle on them that really doesn't help the taste.****

Well here at Hybrid Redneck, we spent the last month questioning if we would ever have that feeling again. We have been watching the thermometer wondering if we had to move to Oklahoma to get into cold enough temperatures to actually go snowmobiling, we also had gotten into the habit of hitting the mute button when CNN would go on about how tough the winter was in Nome, Alaska (with having an early onset to the winter and having to send icebreakers to allow shipments of heating oil to get to the city).  In the first couple of weeks of January we saw the thermometer hit 50 degrees a couple of days and wondered if we should just start up the Richland County Camel Racing Circuit a little earlier this year.

However, we finally got that shot of excitement and pure joy on Wednesday morning when we woke up to a thermometer that had dropped about 25 degrees in less than 24 hours and a steady snowfall had started. We were even more excited to see that the extended forecast calls for much more typical January and February temperatures, instead of the Texas-winter-like temperatures we had been experiencing. Even the "Old Farmers Almanac" is calling for the time frame from Febuary 8-18 to have regular snow showers and cold with the month of February having below normal temperatures. (And if you were wondering,,,yes, the Almanac called for a much higher than normal temperature in January.)

Temperature and Precipitation November 2011 to October 2012

*http://www.almanac.com/weather/longrange/region/us/10


What this means is several things, not the least of which is gearing up for the February 18, Screaming Half-Mile at the Richland Center Fairgrounds. Preparation is under way, and some of the fastest snowmobiles on ice will compete on the half-mile at the Fairgrounds. You can plan on a heated concession area and everyone's favorite, fireworks at dusk. We will offer more details as the date gets closer, but here is your chance to go see some of the most exciting racing the Fairgrounds has ever offered. I encourage you to take this opportunity to celebrate winter and join us on February 18.

STAY TUNED!!!!!!!!!!!