Highlight

On the inside front cover (A2) is a brief summary of the weather. There is the high and low of the day (H 9 L -5), the sunrise (8:51 a.m.) and sunset (4:05 p.m.), the percent of snowfall (30%), and minutes of daylight lost (6 minutes and 44 seconds). And then a cute weather icon picturing what the day is supposed to be like.

I am then supposed to write a short 3-4 line phrase interpreting the forecast, and they told me I could be creative with it.

Let me repeat that. They told me I could be creative with it. 

This is the highlight of my work night.

I get to type out words from my head and they get to be published in a newspaper. The second largest paper in the largest state.

For the first week, I kept it within the limits of a stagnant pond. I was still putting my feelers out for my new environment. The last two days -- well let's just say the tadpole got some legs and is walking out of the pond.

Because honestly, there are only so many words that rhyme with sunny, cloudy and cold. And those three words are what the weather will always be for a long time.

Two days ago, it was supposed to be cloudy with some sun. I wrote "After the sun hides behind the clouds, look for clouds that are shaped like mythological creatures." Yesterday, cloudy all day "If clouds were cotton candy, there will be lots of cotton candy in the sky." Today's cloudy and cold "On this cloudy day, dare a friend to eat ice cream outside. And then run away."

Ladies, and gentlemen, I am just warming up.

I want to be that girl that my editor gets calls about "You have just got to tell me who writes your weather reports. They're brilliant!" or "Do the world a favor and let me hire this girl and help her achieve greatness while paying her loads of money."

I want to be that girl that when Katie Couric asks what was the main turning point in my road to fame I'll look sentimentally off to the right and say "Writing the weather reports, Katie."

I want to be that girl that gets her honorary meteorologist degree and makes surprise visits during the nightly news weather report, much to the glee and happiness of all who are present.   

I want to be that girl that gets perfume named after her (I'm thinking "Cloudy, With A Chance of Eternity, by Elissa")

Because that girl needs only three lines a day to slide her way into the hearts of many and the noses of none.