Good morning, Lake Saint Louis!

I had to laugh when I got today's Picture of the Day from Joe Snell yesterday. He titled it "Orange you happy it's February and 50 degrees?"

I'm sure this winter's mild temperatures are making a lot of people happy. My last two electric bills (we have an electric heat pump) were $16 and $35. How could that not make me happy?

But I got to thinking about stores with piles of unsold rock salt and ice scrapers. Snowplow drivers who might have been counting on the overtime to help pay their Christmas bills. And the farmers who cut and sell firewood. This isn't going to be a good year for them, I suspect.

Okay, a little snow might not be a bad thing.

Orange you happy it's Thursday? Today we'll post the Get Out column so you can get started with plans for your weekend (snow or no snow).

And wasn't it fun to read about our old friend, Punxsutawney Phil? Many thanks to Wentzville editor Brian Feldt for putting that story together.

We've got a poll coming up at 11 a.m. about the proposed Missouri law that will outlaw driving and texting for everyone—not just the under-21 set. I have to make a confession here. I had to go to an online translator to write the title for that story. I can't write in text messaging lingo, and I have no desire to learn it. When it comes to proper grammar and spelling, I have my standards.

Orange you glad?