Well the blizzard came and went without causing too much of a problem. The groundhog saw his shadow or not depending on which TV station you watched. One in North Dakota bit the mayor's ear. Well, what do they expect? This is the middle of the night for this guy and I'm certain he did not want to be dug and dragged out of his burrow, den, or hole or whatever just so a bunch of folks can have a party. I don't relish an outdoor exposure in this kind of weather. But plowing snow last Monday morning wasn't too bad as the temperature rose until it was well into the 30s. |
My daughter in Mt. Pocono said it was up to her knees. She had a delayed schedule Monday so went into her office at 10 am only to be sent home at 10:08. Of course her husband Anthony worked from home.
Son Chris reports Florida in the '60s.
While on the subject whatever happened to crust on top of snow? I remember walking on top many, many years ago and even having a tunnel under it. While talking by phone to Chris in Florida, he asked the amount of snow. When I said maybe 6 or 7 inches he made a sound much like the beginning of a chuckle but not quite and I'm sure I heard laughter in the background.
I usually get news of Ridley Park from my mother. I have not heard much lately so I will assume all is well and they are dug out.
While talking with my mother about snowfalls in the past and school closings due to weather she did not recall school ever closing due to snow. She lived on lower Lycoming Street and usually walked to school even though there was a bus owned and driven by "Booty" Shoemaker and as she described it. It was old and "Rickety."
I remember a bus similar to that but it was also ugly. It was driven by fellow Alba resident Hazel Frease. She was also a pretty good paperhanger.
A new great-granddaughter arrived in New Mexico Wednesday evening. I believe the call came approximately 11:30 pm.. Her grandmother Shelly flew out Saturday before for a couple weeks. Her timing was perfect. The predicted due date was Feb. 4th and little girl Penelope arrived right on time. Maybe the fact that mom and dad are both in the Air Force had something to do with being on time and precise. All are doing well.
We witnessed a rather tragic event last Thursday as I sat at my usual spot at the kitchen table watching birds at our feeders (no it's not all I do). I noticed a large bird which at first glance appeared to be a dove then a crow decided it was a small hawk, or falcon of some kind. This bird had its talons holding onto another smaller bird and was busily discarding feathers until my wife as about to take a picture. Then he or she took off with everything but a bunch of feathers and a red spot.
Way back when I was an independent freight relocator I owned my own truck which was so much fun I bought another one. During this time the IRS and I had a disagreement about what was legal deductions and what wasn't.I lost. This was learned when I stopped at a bank in Horseheads and tried to use the ATM machine. When this device failed to provide my money I went into the bank and said a few things to the manager about said machine and as I remember, the bank itself. After checking some records and all that stuff, he informed me that I had no money because the IRS had seized my assets. The reason I relate this sad story is because depending on which news channel you watch our old buddy the Reverend Al Sharpton owes between $1.4 and $5 Million To The IRS and still is a regular guest at the White House and wants to regulate everything in the country that he does not agree with. The point I'm trying to make is that after some intense negotiations I agreed to pay what I owed or the house i went to probably would be gray instead of white plus my bill was not large enough to warrant sucking up with the President. What is he a Reverend of anyway?
According to Webster's (college edition no less) Reverend is to be worthy of reverence; to be revered or characteristic of the clergy. Well that explains it and I feel better now.
I am on my second 50 lb. bag of sunflower seeds and I don't know how many suet cakes. The birds seem to hang around more when the temperature is in the single digits or worse, as long as the hawk, raptor, hangs out by the feeder there may be less to feed.
As each week comes another auction is a must. This time I brought the car home so I could exchange it for the truck because we purchased a hospital bed but by the time I returned my wife sold the bed and realized a small profit. No problem; we still had to have the truck.
I'm sure you have heard the phrase "He who dies with the most toys wins." A friend of mine who is also an avid auction-goer asks if the same holds true with auction stuff? If you have the fullest truck do you win or do you lose? I think it all depends on how much you sell it for at a yard sale.
When Mr. Sharpton fades away take Kanye West along with you.