Playing catchup

Frantically typing old observations. I am now less than two weeks behind. Sorry 'bout that.

I'll try to get you into the new year when I get home next time. Meanwhile, enjoy the posts from 12/16-23.

I have GOT to find some money for a cheap laptop...

So this is winter...

(This entry has been moved. I originally wrote this note January 3. Hate to confuse people...)

Pennsylvania was fairly straightforward. Just mountains and wind and a bit of snow and ice.

Ohio, on the other hand, was interesting. I've driven through fog thick enough to make me slow down below 40 on an Interstate. Scary but nothing new. When the "fog" is blowing snow, now...

I'm a Southerner. I'm used to big fat wet flakes, that kind of glop down on your windshield and squish under your shoes. This powdery stuff that fills the air like an opaque mist is something new to me. And unnerving.

I'm also used to snow (when it appears at all) piling up on the roads without much relief. Seeing snowplows at every exit, straining at the gate, waiting for an excuse to attack the white stuff and flood the asphalt with salt--that's strange and comforting.

I got through Ohio and Indiana. I rolled comfortably into Chicago. Then I got lost twice looking for our terminal there. No matter. I'm here now. And in 15-degree weather I don't get embarrassed running the truck all night. Which means I'll actually be warm tonight.

Could be worse.

Through the Poconos again. In the dark. And the snow. It got more interesting when the windshield washer froze. But other than that, not too bad.

Happy New Year.

Somebody just walked by me with a cell phone. He pointed at the display* and said that to me. I said it back.

That's about it for the party, I guess. Now to bed, and then drive a while in the morning.**
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*I still haven't gotten used to this new trend in timepieces. That isn't the way I expected pocket watches to make a comeback.
**Oh. That's right. It IS morning. Well, you know what I mean...