It's "Mountain Cedar" season here in Texas, and man is it a doozy.

Jan. 1 brought not only the highest pollen count of the season so far, at 22,300 grains per cubic meter of air, but also the highest single-day count measured here since 2003. And given the generous rainfall through September last year, some observers are predicting an unpleasant few weeks ahead. “The trees are really loaded this year,” said Dr. Paul Ratner, an allergist who provides pollen counts that appear in the San Antonio Express-News and on local TV stations each day. “It seems we're right on track for whatever you want to call it. I call it a good cedar year, but not if you have cedar allergies.”

Ratner said this year's season, which began Christmas Eve, has already produced more than half the amount of mountain cedar pollen seen during the entire season last year, which was mild. Mountain cedar season typically begins in mid-December and lasts well into February. Dr. Dale Mohar, a Kerrville allergist, said the trees there are “really red” with pollen and that counts have been “in the thousands since last week.”

Mountain cedar is the common name for the Ashe juniper trees that grow in thick forests across the Hill Country. The reddish-brown pollen arrives each winter on chilly north winds, usually after the first frost. And it's a lot of pollen — sometimes enough to leave a reddish blanket of powder on cars and lawn furniture. Mountain cedar trees generate some of the highest concentrations of pollen of any plant.

Unlike in most places, where ragweed is the No. 1 misery-producing allergen, mountain cedar holds that rank in South and Central Texas. Experts recommend that people who are sensitive to mountain cedar pollen remain indoors when possible during the season.

Every year at this time, many people are miserable. But this year, it's so bad, that pretty much everyone is suffering. I find it kind of funny actually. (I'm suffering too, worse than ever, so I'm laughing with you, not at you.)

At church Sunday, I welcomed everyone by telling them it was a "Two Kleenex Box Sunday" and one lady actually held up the two boxes she had with her. Everyone you talk to here is suffering runny and red nose, sneezing and burning eyes. What's funny about it to me is that you can't find any sympathy. Just try to say, "Man, the Cedar's really killing me." and the person you say to it will look at you through bleary, red eyes like your the most self-centered person in the world. I told everyone Sunday not to feel self conscious about their red noses and bug eyes, "because anyone you talk to will be hoping you don't notice theirs either."

We've all got it and it's pretty miserable. On the plus side, small talk is easy. You can pretty much approach anyone and say, "How's the cedar affecting you?" and you are guaranteed to get a conversation going that's at least a little more personal than the weather.