Last night, I left the heat on in the house at about 16C (usually about 13C) and this AM, I stayed in bed an extra hour and a bit. It was warmer in the house than usual, but I could HEAR the cold. Walls and roof trusses banging every now and then. The Venmar (roof mounted turbine ventilator) bearings groaning as the turbine spun slowly. The teeth of the Ki-Ki Birds chattering.

Then, I heard the mailbox. The newspaper! With my eyes still closed, I got in starting position, stretched that that satisfying first stretch of the morning, and formulated my plan. Covers one way, me the other. Sweatpants, sweater, slippers, pee, parka and boots, deep breath, outside and down the steps, across the driveway, grab Mum's newspaper out of her mailbox, get keys... get keys... SHIT!... back to my house for keys, back to Mum's, deliver paper to her, back to my house, deep breathsss, pee again (-30C will do that), tea... tea... tea... tea pee.

But, no tornadoes, no helicoptors, no snipers... not even a skeeter. Life is good, despite winter.

And, tomorrow, it's gonna warm up... so it can snow.