We're Still Experiencing Winter Wonderland Conditions

Yes, Virginia, it's snowing again. Some thoughts, in no particular order.

1. Yes, Josh, I got your card today. As of this posting, you're the only of my frenemies who's sent me one.

2. You know the song "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"? Remember the second verse?

There'll be [something] for toasting [right?],
Marshmellows for roasting,
And carolling out in the snow.

That's all well and good; it's the second stanza where things start to get a little dicey:

Scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories
Of Christmases long, long ago.

Is anyone else weirded out by this? Why will there be scary ghost stories? This isn't Halloween, and I think any family whose Christmas tradition includes scary ghost stories is either terrifying or awesome. I'm leaning towards terrifying.

I do enjoy, however, that when we get to the part about the glories of Christmases long, long ago, the music takes a deft modulation to the relative minor (it's a Phygian cadence on "long ago" if you must know), which makes that line so much more portentious. And by "enjoy," I mean, "mostly enjoy, but also judge the composer a little bit."

3. I saw someone at the mall today wearing shorts. How's that for bizzare [sic]?

4. There was more, but of course it all happened (suddenly, as with everything) while I was driving, so I can't remember it now.