A change in the weather is known to be extreme

It's the first snowstorm of the winter, and it's a big one -- there's 14 inches on the ground in Central Park, and they're predicting we'll get at least another foot.

When I was making breakfast this morning I realized I'd forgotten to get coffee when I stocked up a few days ago. I could have either a second cup today, or a first cup tomorrow morning, or I could pull on the layers and go up the block to Starbucks before the serious wind and snow kicked in and have both.

And since I was already out it seemed ridiculous to face a nor'easter without an adequate supply of chocolate, so I stopped at the supermarket as well. Now I'm hunkered down, warm, dry and well-provisioned, watching sheets of white streamers blow past the windows.