Dec 17 - more to add

Not only is it cold here, it's cold almost everywhere. I see that it snowed in Las Vegas; the high today is 60F in Phoenix; but in New Smyrna Beach, yes in NSB, it will be in the upper 70's today and over 80F tomorrow. Yes, we're crazy.

The internet is showing -12C here or about 10F. The thermometer is showing 16F -- probably moderated by the lake, although frozen, and proximity to the house and ground. Tonight it's supposed to get down to -17C -- close to 0F -- but in the near future we're looking at -25C or -13F. Yes, that's cold.

Abby doesn't stay outside very long. I told her repeatedly in Florida -- stop shedding, you'll need that fur later, but she didn't listen. While I was outside yesterday doing stuff in which she could participate, like walking around, she would dash about finding sticks in the snow to chew. While I was shoveling she stood by the door wanting to go in. What a wimp. Soon she'll be dancing around on three feet when it really gets cold.

At these temperatures, with only me in the house generating heat, the fireplace doesn't keep up at night and the furnace kicks in. During the day with the sun shining the furnace stays off.

I did go out and do some more shoveling yesterday, not content to leave widening the driveway until today. There was no action at the ice fishing rigs -- I guess that cold fish don't like artificial or dead bait.

Sandy took Kylie and Lauren to see The Nutcracker ballet last night. Today she picks up the table leaves that we were having re-sized larger and then heads up here. It will be afternoon before I meet her in Parry Sound. I'm going to see if I can pick up live minnows in Port Loring this morning -- failing that, I'll check the yellow pages and find someone in Parry Sound. I also thought about calling Donnie to see if Sandy could divert around Penetang and pick up some at his supplier ... I'll sort that out later.

Onward ...