Stay warm all you folks! I feel slightly shameful about the warm sun streaming through my kitchen window right now. OTOH, we do get to worry about droughts and earthquakes here...

True. And we'll almost certainly be under water restrictions/rationing as of February. However, I've done my time in the cold climes, and I'll take droughts and earthquakes any day.

Seriously, dude! So that's why the kid couldn't just be dropped off earlier...he wasn't there! Lying liar who lies!

It's a beautiful day here in the White Mountains, too. Sunny and mild. I think I'll go split some firewood in a little bit, with my new Christmas axe!

I have a ton of work to do too, but all my non-teaching work is work from home anyway, so no big deal. I should probably also eat something at some point. Oooh, which reminds me, the kettle is probably hot on top of the woodstove by now.

my new Christmas axe!

What a Buffista gift!

It's pretty great. It's got a shorter handle, so it works better for my stature. I haven't taken the ribbon off, I just use it all bedecked.

I did trip over the curb getting off the bus and faceplanted in the snow, but it was mostly a soft landing.

My poor coworker is probably stranded on a bus somewhere, as he lives out in the suburbs.

I got stuck on the roof.

Say again?

yikes, sarameg! Were you up there to clear the eaves?

Of a bus?

I got stuck on the roof.

Ice dam. The spout off the main roof is poorly engineered for when it is this cold and melting starts. It freezes up and the water backs up to a weak point in the mortar around the top on the spout and comes in through the bedroom ceiling. Only has happened a couple of times, but I am now thinking of getting a gutter heater coil to put up there. Getting on the roof is a PITA. Especially when the ladder blows down because the grabby things are no match for this wind.