Today.

[quakerboy]

Today is the day that an old acquaintance chose to argue with me over whether Global climate change is real, and whether human activity has anything to do with it. Today. Sometimes its hard to believe some people manage to successfully breathe of their own accord.


How ya'll doing with the weather? I am well, but Getting a bit tired of Boxed and frozen food. Some fresh stuff would be nice. And getting in a few days of paying work would be quite handy right now.

[stubtoe]

1. some folks have a pretty limited concept of the term "global".

And confuse weather with climate. Nothin' you can do about willful ignorance.

[eagertolearn]

2. Yes, my mom brought that up because they have about 5 feet of snow

up in Big Bear Lake, CA. Never mind that they have been lacking snow for years and that they finally have a big storm and she laughs that the Dems. believe there is such a thing as global warming! Over here in Eastern Oregon it would be nice to get our Oregonian delivered and a few Christmas cards (haven't had any real mail get through since Friday).

[quakerboy]

3. Sweet

I don't know if mail is getting through here in Portland right now. We did discover our new phone books under the snowbank outside the front door yesterday. I really question who and why they did that in the snow storm.

I am quickly loosing tolerance for this. I moved to portland to get away from the snow. A few stray flakes are cute, but when they horde up like this, I really begin to remember why I was so happy to leave Colorado.

[LWolf]

4. If the plumbing was working, I'd be fine.

After more than a week of temperatures never getting into the 20s (until today,) my pipes are frozen, I have no water, can't shower, can't do dishes or laundry, can't flush.

I'm driving into my son's, a 15 mile round-trip, to shower.

I'm doing my best to eat without using any dishes that can't be washed.

I'm hoping that the direct sunlight will make a difference, and the place will begin to thaw out. I've been told that I ought to rent a heater with a blower, put it under the place to thaw things out.

Money is tight. I keep hoping I won't have to.

[quakerboy]

5. No fun

My sister was house sitting when the snow hit. we are really hoping the pipes aren't broken or anything when she gets back out to where she lives.

This is the only time I have ever wished I owed a truck. I have no fear driving in this, especially with the chains on. Did on Sunday night, and it wasn't all that bad. But Im rollin the low profile sedan, and my car would have to act as its own snow plow, if I want to get it off the side street I live on. Chains don't matter if you need to go through a snowbank taller than the hood of your car to get to a main road.

I hope I can work Friday. I would be happy if I could get a half day in tomorrow, even. I know all my employees are hurting too. I can just use vacation time, but each morning when I call and say "nope, we can't go out today" I can hear the wistfulness in their voices, that tinge of concern about how bills will get paid. Fuck if any of us needed this as a Christmas present.

[LWolf]

6. Well, I am on winter break.

Last week was more than stressful. The only heat I've got is the woodstove, and trying to make sure I got home in time to keep the fire from going out was challenging.

I do drive a little toyota truck; I live a few miles off of the nearest paved road, and none of it is plowed. The high profile and 4wd make a difference. I like being able to shut the 4wd off for most of the year, too. The little "all wheel drive" cars are full time, and you can't improve gas mileage when you don't need all 4 wheels. So to speak. The little truck does everything but haul my horses. A compromise for gas mileage. If I could afford it, I'd have a little hybrid for most driving, and a full-size truck for hauling horses, hay, firewood, etc., that would stay parked for most of the year.

Today we got some sunshine, and it's already gotten to 25 degrees. Not enough to thaw anything out, but still a welcome relief.