Sparky the Wonder Angel is comfortable toasting her wings in front of our fireplace. She's been blown down so many times that it just seemed Christian to bring her in by the fire.

Yes, it's been snowing here most of the day. My wife Ruth has been in severe pain for the last three days with a bad muscle sprain in her neck and shoulders. We finally got her doctor to call in a prescription for a strong pain killer, and I set off down the hill to Walmart to pick it up. It was an interesting drive down the hill. The hill is about six blocks long and quite steep and winding. Even though they'd taken a lick at it with the snow plow and thrown down some ice melt and sand, the street was very slippery. On a dry day if you don't hit your brakes you'll be going fifty miles an hour by the time you get to the stop sign at the bottom of the hill. I probably could have hit 75 today before I plowed into the living room of the house facing the end of the street. I kept tapping my bakes all the way down, swerving every time. My years of growing up and living in Wisconsin came in handy. I know how to handle snow.
The drive back was interesting in a different way. You have to start up the hill from a dead stop, and it took about a block of swerving before the hill leveled off enough to get up to speed.

All's well that doesn't end. My wife is now taking a desperatly needed nap, and I'm settled in for the duration.

The great thing about bidding a not so fond adieu to 2008 is that it will defy nostalgia. Not even folk singers will be able to look back at this year with longing.

Have a wonderful New Year.

Jerry