There are dishes waiting in the sink, and the taxes are started. It's one of those cold days when paying attention to staying warm is more important, since we are getting rolling blackouts here. I have a stock pot full of water simmering on the stove, partly to put some moisture in the air, partly to have for hot tea or other uses if the power cycles off again. The high today is supposed to be 17. That would normally be a very low low, I've never seen it as a high temp down here before, that I can remember. It was very cold the winter after we moved here (early 1990) and killed shrubs in the yard. This may have the same effect.

I will sit down and work on the taxes, it will be nice to have them finished today, so that is my goal for the afternoon and evening. I have a battery operated calculator and a good battery operated Coleman lantern, so there's no excuse for not finishing them, though I may have to snuggle with the dogs on the futon to stay warm to finish if the power is off!

My truck is finished, but they're not driving the courtesy vehicle for picking up customers. Though they're only three blocks away, it is three blocks of sheet ice, so I'll leave the truck where it is and get it tomorrow, if things begin to clear.

SRS