When TJX Corp. reported lower profits for the first quarter of 2007, CEO and president Carol Meyrowitz said "comparable store sales results in April were below our expectations, which we attribute to the unseasonably cold and wet weather across most regions of the country during the first half of the month."

Was she actually blaming April showers--not the biggest credit-card number heist in history--for disappointing sales at TJX discount stores T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Bob's Stores and others?

But Meyrowitz's comment was not far-fetched.