O.K., enough is enough. I've had enough cold wintry weather.

I don't handle boundaries very well. It's not that I have any where I need to go or want to go. It's just knowing that common sense dictates that I remain inside. I do know even with the playoffs to watch I have become cranky and irritable. We have cooked this and that. Dips, and other finger foods, and Krl did make a replacement stew. It has probably been more difficult for Krl. I am not a neat cook. I am extremely messy, so she kind of follows me around. The two little houndgirls love it. They know that chances are pretty good that at some point during preparation, I'm probably going to slice and dice and something will hit the floor!

The local newspaper reports over 120 weather related accidents. That is probably one of the reasons I don't venture out. It's not like the small rural community I grew up in. Increased numbers of vehicles means increased odds something will happen. Of course necessity wins out over common sense every time. Use to it was required to get out and break ice on water troughs and feed cattle. It sounds weird that livestock have to have water to stay warm. The volunteer fire department in my former home community use to answer the call in prolonged cold weather and haul water for water troughs when prolonged bad spells froze water pipes and windmills. Those old army surplus six by sixes sure came in handy. Probably the worst winter storm I can remember was in 1982, and I was running cattle on a place thirty miles away. I could break ice to let the cows drink and it would freeze back over before all the cows had opportunity. It would take a couple of hours to complete the cycle. I finally penned all the cattle, for warmth and shelter. Thankfully, I didn't lose any.

When the kids were little, these excursions often combined the work need with the recreational opportunity. I can remember numerous occasions the kids would sled behind the pickup. They would get so cold they would cry when they would get in the cab and begin to warm up!

The neighborhood Krl and I live in has no overhead utilities. They are all buried. In the eighteen years we have lived here we have never lost power from snow or ice (rain and lightning are another category). Yesterday I called to check on Memama and Pepa. They had been without power, but it was restored about three Sunday afternoon. I can remember growing up, Mom opening the gas oven to warm the kitchen area. Now that isn't an option because the ignitors are electric. Pepa told me they just spread their comforters and sat in their chairs. They used to have a kerosene space heater but I haven't seen it in years. Hhmmm.

As bad as we have it, it sounds as though north and east have it much worse.

I'm watching the runner on the bottom of the television as the list of closings and postponements grow. One thing I have never understood is day care. I can understand the desire to close but I also realize the necessity of them being open. If all businesses and schools were closed and there were no emergencies, it wouldn't pose a problem. But, what if some of the emergency weather response crews were depending on having day care to enable them to report for duty.

I guess I look like a genius having the trees trimmed before the ice storm. I'd rather be lucky than good.

I spent part of yesterday working on year end reports. Good thing is part of what I was doing will make it easier when Krl asks if W-2's are ready to print. The only problem I had were two short term employees who didn't turn their w-4's in. Now I will have to request their info from their driver qualification forms.

I have just about given up on the new company laptop. For the last ten months I have encountered problems when I would attempt certain tasks, but I was usually able to circumvent the problem. I had been trying to transfer a program from the old laptop and encountered difficulties but finally made it work. I was going to do an annual update to the software and now the laptop isn't recognizing any of it's portable storage drives. Go figure. Why I oughta!

Oh well, get out old faithful.

While going through things and setting Krl's office up again, I ran across a couple of things that were flashbacks. Two small quotes I had cut out and taped by my name plate at the old office.

"Character is much easier kept than recovered" -Thomas Paine

*Working out problems is a matter of adding love, subtracting hate, multiplying good and dividing between truth and error.*

Thanks, I needed that.

Wherever you are, stay warm and be safe. Have a Monday.

FATHER, abide in me.