Sue, I hope you get a clear idea of what's going on soon.

We got about 8-10 inches, but it is now above freezing and it is rain/sleet until this afternoon when it will Chang to all snow again. Streets around us haven't seen a plow, yet.

I've shoveled off the kitchen roof (so I can open the door) and now have to go deal with a potential ice dam up there (it's not bad.) But it is raining now, which isn't good.

You have a door on your roof?

now have to go deal with a potential ice dam up there

Wait. Wasn't there a problem with you not being able to get down from your roof recently? Are your neighbors around to lend a hand?

No real news, but I spoke to my sister, and she thinks my dad seems okay. They're still waiting to see the cardiologist, but all his vitals are okay. Phew.

That's the other roof! No ice dams there yet (knock on EVERYTHING.) The potential one was left over from Sunday's snow and kinda odd.

One of my second floor bedrooms opens out on the kitchen roof (it has 3' walls, making it a giant bathtub.) That's the one I was clearing just now. Had to climb out a window because the door was snowed shut.

Neighborhood is stirring, going to go out front to shovel.

Sending good thoughts for your dad, Sue, glad you know a little bit now at least.

Bob stuck in Chicago and we're supposed to fly to NC to visit my brother and family on Friday evening. For now, I'm keeping my flight down there--hoping that the forecast of sunny weather tomorrow holds and I can fly out with no problem. Bob is going to try to get down there from Chicago on Saturday. There was no getting a flight back here before that. It's very complicated travel! But I'm safe at home and he's safe in his nice hotel so we can't complain too much. I was out with the dog before too much shoveling had happened on the street. She LOVED leaping through the deep drifts. And her favorite hound buddy on the street was out so that was exciting. And the construction company behind us has plowed the alley so there was a place to walk that wasn't a foot deep of snow. I shoveled the front walk and need to do the parking pad and my car. And I have my first cold of the winter so maybe it's better my snotty self is here alone. wah wah.

Well, if it means anything: Illinois is having warmer weather. By warmer, I mean the sort of weather where it's above zero even early in the morning. Next week: in the 30s!

Baby amur leopards! And one of them is melanistic. So cute and fluffy.

sarameg Go take a look at [link] , including Andy in the comments.

Thank you so much for that link sarameg! I've never heard of that group and they seem trustworthy. This just might change my life.

I think we got about 8 inches after all.

Cagney was super confused. Fortunately, his buddy, Odin the Golden Retriever, is coming over later. Odin was born for the snow, so maybe Cagney will learn from him how to enjoy it.

I shoveled a lot and am grateful that my neighbor finished what I could not. Phew! Thankfully, I got to it before the icy rain we are getting now. There was a LOT to move, but it wasn't oppressively heavy.

Winter frickin' wonderland, baybee.