Winter in Delaware County sucks. Maybe the skiers can deal with it, but even some of those I know prefer spring skiing to freezing skiing. This winter is much more average than the exceptional lack of snow and cold we experienced last year. Should be about -8 or sow on Wednesday night, which is normal. The coldest three weeks are the last two weeks in January and the first week in February. On the bright side, the sun sets at 5p.m. (and 3 seconds) tomorrow. A full 27 minutes later than on the shortest day in December (which contrary to popular opinion about the shortest day is actually December 11).

Not much of interest has been going on, which is probably why I haven't blogged since my last boring blog on 29 December. Donna's wound is down to 4 centimeters from 11 after surgery, and she should be off the wound vac next Tuesday when she sees the surgeon. Then it's changing dressing twice a day until the thing closes up. Sounds good, although when the visiting nurse had a similar wound after surgery, hers looked healed for two weeks before problems under the skin became apparent and the thing opened. So all is not over yet.

I had to have the chimney sweep come and clean the woodstove after it began backing smoke into the living room. He typically uses an auger from the inside but it still wasn't burning well when he was finished. He attempted a bit of fast-talk about "it will be Ok after it heats up", but I know better. So he came back later in the afternoon and with a bit of help from me, he got on the roof--across the snow--and got the outside of the stack cleaned up. I'll have to get a new cap or this will be a biannual procedure. It was done two years ago by the plumber's helper, but I don't like the idea of guys going on the roof even if they are insured.

As some of the facebookers already know, today marks 30 years since I sobered-up. Really didn't know if I'd live this long. I certainly wouldn't have if I had kept drinking, but my father died at 53 and I only knew one of my grandparents so longevity doesn't run in the family. Hopefully I'll be the one to beat the odds.

Have a lovely mid-winter. I'll check the seasonal section at Wal-mart and if they are starting to stock spring stuff I'll know the worst if over!