An Icy Surprise

Yesterday morning we woke to snow and this morning, the same snow, but now it's turned to ice. Ann is happy -- a two-hour late start means she can dawdle this morning (something she enjoys doing) and not feel rushed to get to her classroom and prepare for the day. The thermometer reads 20 degrees, but on the news they claim it's 10 when factoring in the wind chill. That's cold for these parts and while deep in the heart of Wisconsin or Montana or Alaska they might think we're wussies, it feels mighty chilly to me.

Rubin loves the weather. Well, yesterday he loved it. He played hard in the snow morning, noon, and night and slept like a brick all night long. He's still asleep even now. This morning, though, he wasn't so sure about the frigid temperatures or the ice that clung to his paws when he went into the backyard to take care of his morning business. He came in shaking his paws and skating slightly across the kitchen floor.

We have a fairly light weight day, though I must work tonight and walk the neighbors' dogs twice as the owners are off to Hawaii. Lucky them, though frankly, I'm more of a cold weather gal than a steamy, humid one. Not sure how their dogs will fair in the ice and cold seeing as how they are small and more cat-like than doggish, but if we keep moving, I think they will be happy, as usual, to get out and smell the trees -- literally.

My feet are tired from yesterday's shift at work. It was busy in a steady sort of way with no outrageous customers to speak of. I'm still amazed at what people are buying these days seeing as how there are warnings of such economic doom and gloom. In the first half hour of work, for instance, I sold three $200 tents and a $200 sleeping bag. It kept on from there and when I glanced over at the optics counter where the real pricey items are displayed, they were swarmed with gift-buyers. Marion, who works in Snow Sports, said they were never without 3-4 customers trying on ski boots, testing out snowshoes, or trying on helmets. I can only help that tonight the store is as busy so my 3-hour shift moves quickly.

It's the drive there and back, of course, but Ann and I are still working out the details of our transportation. In the meantime, we're enjoying the morning eating our oatmeal and drinking our respective coffee and cocoa in a warm, warm house.