thanks dianavan. I feel better now that I'm over the shock ... and hey, it does look so VERY PRETTY out there today. The snow does brighten up those muddy brown leafless November days.

PLease pardon me going a little off-topic here - but what a gorgeous sunrise there was this morning! The thick silver snow-clouds blushing rose at the edges were parted just enough to showcase Venus against a clear blue sky, glowing huge and bright in all her awesome beauty.

ANd what IS that other planet so close to her? I've seen it in various positions right beside Venus every morning for about a week now ... does anyone know? If it looked a little redder I'd think it was Mars.

daylia