Unsettled Wednesday, then cooler before heating up next week

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Bob Collins is off today. Bruce MacDonald is today's guest host.

"No need for any fuss on Valentine's Day," said my spouse last night. "A simple smootch will do." Our marriage may not wind up the subject of a 

1) IT'S ABOVE ZERO OVERNIGHT HERE ON THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND

Mark Seeley, whom I met years ago during my radio days on "Morning Edition" in St. Paul, writes for today's broadcast,

Seeley, a meteorologist and climatologist at the University Of Minnesota who appears at 6:50 a.m. most Fridays on 

, implies that we won't be turning the earth for gardening or planting any time soon.

Ah, it brings back memories of Laura Ingalls Wilder and 

New York Mayor Blasted for Keeping Schools Open in Snowstorm

International Garden Photographer of the Year 2014 - in pictures

About this time each February I cast my thoughts to our public radio colleagues out west. I visited Pasadena, Calif., some years ago for work. I walked around in shirtsleeves and admired the rose bushes -- on Valentine's Day! At Southern California Public Radio, 

Doesn't that sound so much nicer than sitting in traffic, texting?

3) LOVE AND MARRIAGE GO TOGETHER LIKE ... CATS AND THE WEB (OF YOUR HAND)?

An elusive regional angle for a cat story on the Internet -- it's a writer's dream. Don't put your hand near that cat's mouth; you don't know where it's been!

4) TAX SEASON LOOMS LIKE THE ICE DAM ON MY EAVE

Although the income tax filing deadline is still two months away, many of us with a long weekend off for President's Day will start thinking about finding that shoe box and the Internet financial account passwords and mutter naughty words under our breath.

Every year it seems to get worse (and I get older and more easily distracted). Why can't the government just send me a bill, as the county does for my property taxes? 

 a week ago devoted to "The Tax Wilderness, Untamed." The accompanying art consists of a backpacker walking an infinite Möbius strip made out of Form 1040. I couldn't bring myself to read it.

Tax season always reminds me of this scene from a 50-year-old film:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOFCT62C7YE

5) INTERACTIVE BIRD POSTER IS EDUCATIONAL, THERAPEUTIC

the Minnesota DNR's interactive bird poster

9:06 am -- Do the Twin Cities have a vibrant future?

10:06 am -- "Lincoln's Boys": The men behind the president's image

11:20 am -- Lizzo gaining national attention

Noon -- The Really Big Questions: What is This Thing Called Love?

8:00 pm -- Live broadcast, Minnesota Orchestra: Music of Elgar and Holst

Bruce MacDonald is a former reporter and producer for Minnesota Public Radio. He now writes computer software for American Public Media in St. Paul.

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Bruce MacDonald

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Valentine’s Day, ice dams, long winters and bad cats. It’s all part of 5X8.

Roses are red, violets are blue, it’s Valentine’s Day, the rest’s up to you (5×8 — 2/14/14)

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