Cook I have to admit to a certain amount of appreciation and thankfulness for this week’s somewhat warmer temperatures.

It’s really pretty simple. Because of the warmer temps, I got to ride my motorcycle to work on Tuesday (the day we lay out the newspaper).

I was kind of surprised the bike started up. It has been sitting in my garage, in the cold, for about six to eight weeks without being cranked or moved. I half-expected to find it with a flat tire or to have it not start because the battery was run down. But, I got lucky.

Now, looking at the weather, and some things I had set to do on Wednesday (I’m writing this on Tuesday), I’m not going to ride that day. But the weather, at least now, looks good enough to ride my bike on Thurday and Friday, as well.

Just going to have to figure out if I really want to ride it on Friday, when I’ll be staying in town late to cover basketball games at the gym. That ride home, after dark, might be a bit nippy.

I’ll probably still ride the bike, though. I can always wrap up in a couple of Afghans when I get home that night.

•••

The Cowboys’ season is now over. I’m not really surprised.

I was surprised that they finally won a playoff game ... and the fact that they beat the Eagles in back-to-back weeks. At least, we got some pleasure out of it all this season.

And we still have the annual “wait ‘till next year” slogan to fall back on.

But, speaking of next year, I’m guessing most folks have heard that that year’s Super Bowl will be held in the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

Now, wouldn’t it be cool if the Cowboys finished next year with the best record in the NFC, earned the No. 1 seed and a firstround bye in the playoffs? That would mean all playoff games would be at home ... and if they won out, all of their playoff games, including the Super Bowl, would be at home.

That would be a first.

•••

I believe it’s now under 30 days until Texas Rangers pitchers and catchers report to training camp in Surprise, Arizona.

Again, I have to admit, that in the biggest football state in the country, I am a baseball guy. Probably because it was the only sport that I was at least mediocre at, given that I basically have never had any athletic talent at all.

Regardless, I’m ready for the long grind of game after game after game. That’s one of the things I like about pro baseball. It’s not just 16 games ... or 82 games ... it’s 162 games. Jut like in real life, you can have a bit of an extended bad stretch and still have time to make a comeback.

At least, that’s how I feel about it.

• • •

Now that we have had that taste of warm weather, I wonder how long it will be before we can get it for an extended period of time.

I mean, I enjoy the break from Texas’ famous, and dangerous, high levels of heat. I’m one of the first to turn on an air-conditioner each year, I imagine.

I’m just ready to get back out on the road again ... even if it’s just the 40-orso miles between Brownsboro and my hometown of Kerens. It is nice to feel the breeze on your face in the morning on your way to work. It’s a definite eyeopener and a great way to get your heart pumping.

I guess it’s a little different for me. After all, I did spend two weeks in a coma once upon a time, just after a small motorcycle accident.

A stint in Parkland Hospital’s ICU unit will definitely get your imagination in full gear.

Loyd Cook has been in the newspaper for 17 years and possesses writing awards in both news and sportswriting.