I do feel bad for people who have to drive places in any kind of bad weather. I've never lived anywhere you had to drive to get around, so I forget.

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We have no snow. We do have heavy fog at the moment.

...you're not impressed, are you?

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Fog is just scary. At least snow has the potential for fun.

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From a me-me-me PoV, I don't like snow during the work day. You can't really decide not to travel, and you end up with more snow packing and less snow clearing.

Oh, yeah. The first winter Scott and I were married (married in Oct.'94) was a tremendously snowy winter around here. We rented a teeny-tiny apartment, and had to park on the street, so our car always got plowed in. We were on the public transit lines (or close enough to), but we were also only about 4 miles from work, and it took so much longer to get to work on public transit, because of where our office was, so we drove. Getting to work was a bitch, and a lot of times, by the time we came home, we'd have to re-shovel out our spot. There was an enormous snow pile we watched all Winter and Spring, near where we used to have lunch. I think the last traces of it disappeared in early May.

The winter Ben was born (Jan. '96) was a really snowy one, too, but I didn't care, because I was so sleep deprived. I just didn't go out until March.

Julia and Ben are a little angry at me, because I've told them that even if school isn't closed tomorrow, I may not send them. I have no reason, except for: Because I'm the mother. That's why. And you know what? I don't care, because I'm the mother. That's why.

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Ugh, Cindy. The winter of '94-'95 was awful. I was going to school at UConn in snow central, and getting around campus was hell that year. The winter of '96 was also awful--I was about to graduate, and we got a snowstorm in early May. It was so depressing. I actually had to wear layers to stay warm outside on the way to Commencement.

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do you use the white, or the red? I've only ever made my own (white--although I do usually use canned clams). The Progresso sauce has called to me from the market shelves, but I'm always afraid to try it. Does it need any doctoring or is it good to go, from the can?

I use white. It needs a little bit of salt and pepper and add taragon and parmesan.

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Fog is just scary. At least snow has the potential for fun.

I love the fog.

AND...fog eats snow.

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I do like the fog too. The best fog was London fog -- I had to walk down a street that was cemetery on one side, crematorium on the other, and on a foggy night, all you could see on the one side was high walls, and the other was gravestones in the near distance, and hovering lights in the far. Beautiful.

Fog here is scary, but in a fun way. Crossing a pass can be just a matter of trust, that reality continues on the other side. It's just so sudden. And there's a portion of the 405 where the fog creeps, instead of being a wall. I have no idea what's on the other side, what's leaking out, but I'm curious.

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The thing that frustrates me about fog is that I know there's a beautiful sunny day out there if only I were a thousand feet higher. Taking the freeway north is an exercise in frustration sometimes; there are three ridges, and you'll be popping out into the sun and then dropping back down into gloom on a regular basis. So sad.

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How to celebrate National Pie Day from the American Pie Council.

Created by the American Pie Council, National Pie Day is dedicated to the celebration of pie. As part of our American heritage, this day is a perfect opportunity to pass on the love and enjoyment of pie eating and pie making to future generations.

Eat pie. Whether you make it yourself, buy it at a supermarket or bakery or order it at a restaurant, eat some pie on National Pie Day. Pie is great with lunch or dinner or as a late-night snack.

Make pie. Bake your favorite homemade pie on National Pie Day.

Share pie. If you make or buy a pie, share it. By its very nature, pie is meant to be eaten with others. Have a pie potluck get-together.

Teach pie making. Stage classes and demonstrations and samplings at stores and schools. Invite seniors who KNOW pie to teach a class. If you don't know how to make pie, ask a pie maker to show you or attend a pie-making class.

Hold a pie night. Gather family and friends for a pie celebration. Everyone must bring one homemade pie for the pie buffet. We have heard of events where more than 100 folks come with 100 pies.

Hold a pie-making contest. Invite the best pie-makers in town to compete for prizes in various categories. Be sure to include the kids. Ask cooking teachers, pastry chefs and pie lovers to be judges. (We'll send you a sample APC pie judging sheet.)

Hold a charity pie-throwing or pie-eating contest or a pie auction. We suggest you donate the proceeds to your local community food bank.

Hold a pie sale and sampling. This is an excellent opportunity for pie retailers and commercial bakers to introduce consumers to pie through special National Pie Day sales and promotions. Bakeries can also donate pies to a pie raffle or pie auction. Restaurants should offer a pie sampler plate or free pie with dinner on January 23.

Stage kid's pie activities. Have kids compete in pie-making, pie poetry and pie art contests. Show kids how to make pie and then serve it at lunch, preferably a la mode. Teach American and world history, math and science through pie.

Pass along pie memories. Our pie heritage is slowly fading away. Call older members of the family and ask them for pie recipes. Ask them to teach you how to make them. Talk about your favorite pies and the family history behind them. Publish pie memories and recipes. Make pie often and serve them to the next generation.

Eat more pie. You can always have another slice, preferably warm and a la mode.

Do pie stuff. Sing pie songs, read pie books, quote pie poems, make pie charts. Join the American Pie Council. Contact the American Pie Council, the only national organization devoted to eating, making, selling, promoting and enjoying pie!

After reading it that many times, the word "pie" has no meaning at all to me anymore.

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