Like finding just the right simile, here are some other things to start the day:

1. Take a light coat and you might look like the office genius. Expect a sunny day with gusts of wind up to 23 mph and a high near 73, according to the National Weather Service. 

2. ...And as the thermostat rises and falls, the Tampa Bay Veterans Alliance is collecting items including new cold-weather wear (gloves, mittens, scarves, hats, hoodies, jackets), undergarments and socks, and diapers (all sizes) to donate to the Homeless Emergency Project. The items will be donated Jan. 25. Call Shelly Bauer at 727.692.5152 or email shelly.bauer@earthlink.net. Financial gifts are also welcome.

3. Pulitzer prize winning author Philip Roth will talk about his novel "Everyman" at 2 p.m. at the Main Library. Roth won his third Faulkner award, the only author to do so, for the 2006 novel which deals with illness, aging and desire.

4. Cold blooded or just a friend to those who are? Check out the Suncoast Herpetological Society meeting at 7 p.m. at Moccasin Lake Park, 2750 Park Trail Lane. The group is a nonprofit, educational and recreational club for people interested in reptiles and amphibians, with an emphasis on responsible husbandry and captive breeding.

5. The Eye Shop, 432 Cleveland St., is one of Cleveland Street's latest businesses and the first recipient of the Downtown Development Board (DDB) Retail and Restaurant Recruitment Grant for interior improvements in the amount of $35,000. The grant program is an effort to recruit businesses to the downtown core. Qualifying business owners can apply for the up to $35,000 matching amount. The Eye Shop is associated with Rowan Eye Center which is in New Port Richey. The optical store opens in March. It will offer fashion eyewear and lenses including specialty items for fishing, bike riding, golfing and computer reading. Prescription lenses for dive masks and goggles will also be available. For more information about the matching recruitment grant program visit clevelandstreetdistrict.com.