Woke up today and looked out the window...

ALL of the 3 to 5" of snow from Friday is gone and the temperature is about 50 degrees.


I am SO going outside!

First time in about a week going outdoors without wearing gloves.

~

Hell has really frozen over:

I don't think I'm the fittest, but I survived the coldest day I can remember for a loooooong time. I made it to work and the building where I work was cold enough I had to wear a hoodie all the time. I know it's a bad habit, but I popped outdoors twice for a smoke... very quick ones, I might add.

I was very happy to get home. The drive to and from work was cold, even if it was only a short (12 minute) drive. I had that deep down in-your-bones chill until I went to bed, wrapped in my flannel p.j.'s, under flannel sheets, with four blankets, a comforter and an afghan.

Towards dawn I actually felt too hot, until I got up to go to the bathroom. I didn't want to get out of bed when the alarm went off.

A hot shower and hot coffee have kept me feeling good. It's about 12 degrees outside and will continue to get warmer overnight. High on Friday of 32! It'll feel like a heat wave.

Even better news: 40's on Saturday and 50's Sunday through Wednesday.

Hallelujah, January is ending!!!

As of 5 minutes ago, it's -6 degrees. Wind chill is -31 degrees. I'm expected to go to work this evening. I hope my car starts.

Other than all that, all I can say is:

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

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It started Monday. 39 degrees at 4:00pm, then down to 11 by midnight.

Today the high is 13 and down to 5 by midnight. Around 4:00am, the temperature is expected to plunge to 10 below zero. Wednesday's high MIGHT reach 0.

We are lucky here in central Indiana. Farther north in Wisconsin and Minnesota, the temperature will dive to 30 and lower below zero.

And, we didn't get all of that snow.

On the bright side here, teens by Friday and 50's by Sunday.

A wild ride indeed!

~

Last night I dreamed I was walking past a house with a friend when I noticed a big heavy chain on the ground, attached to a stake. I asked my friend if he knew what that was and he said the house was protected by a big bear and not to wake it up. Right then, the chain started moving. My friend yelled "run"! and we took off. Looking back over my shoulder, I saw a huge white bear with black fur all around it's eyes.

Today, I googled it (of course I did, curiosity got the better of me). Nothing but pictures of either polar bears or panda bears.

Just one more humorous production of my subconscious mind... until I see a real one.

~

Stayed outdoors too long today and I'm paying for it. Both of my hands were frostbitten over 30 years ago and I have to wear gloves as soon as the temperature drops below 40 degrees. My hands get icy cold and numb. It was 14 degrees outside today and all I did was clear snow from my car then stop at the gas station to top off my tank. Now I'm wearing gloves indoors to warm my hands up. 15 minutes to type this. Although my gloves are thin, it's hard to type without making numerous errors I have to go back and correct.

Another new experience, though.

~

Seth MacFarlane is one talented guy... the creator of Family Guy.

Chicago. One of my favorite all-time bands. I've seen them perform live more than any other band I know of. Some of the cast have changed over the years, but they still sound the same as they did at the start of their long, awesome career.


Rock on!