Day 4445

Another very cold day. We got up later than usual, but the temperature refused to rise. When we took Dawn on her morning walk, she quickly did her business and returned to the house. She had no interest in completing our normal one mile loop. Dawn is the smart one in the house. She is comfortable sleeping on the bed all day. Janet and I feel compelled to stay busy.

I didn't really want to take a long walk today, but I was bored doing nothing. I waited quite a while but it never got warmer. Actually I think the temperature dropped a bit after breakfast. Eventually I put on my warmest clothes and took my long walk. I walked my entire six mile route without encountering anyone. Actually I did see one person on the way home. As the red parka came closer I realized it was Janet. Her gym was closed because of icy roads and she decided to take a walk too. We were the only two people in the park.

Oddly my feet didn't hurt too much today. Maybe they were just numb from the cold. I haven't seen the eagles since their nest fell, but I did see the geese and Muscovy Ducks. There were only five pelicans at Sunset Bay. I wonder where the rest went? Most of the Double Crested Comorants were gone as well. Clearly birds have contingency plans for the weather but I wonder what they are? The pelicans would have had to fly a long way to escape the cold.

Janet and I didn't drive anywhere today but both started our cars in the driveway and let them warm up. I don't know if this helps anything, but we started doing this during last winter's extreme weather and it has become a habit. I hate the sound of an engine that won't turn over on a cold day. When I was growing up in Alaska, all cars had crankcase heaters. You always plugged your car in when it was not running and it would easily start even if the temperature was 40 below. I remember that all the parking meters in Fairbanks had electric outlets so you could plug in your crankcase heater while you were shopping.

The roof leak has returned in the office. How is this even possible? The temperature didn't even get above freezing today. I guess the heat from inside the house caused some of the ice on the roof to melt. For some reason freezing weather in the Winter causes more leak problems than hot weather in the Summer. The leak wasn't bad and has already stopped dripping. I'll have to leave the bucket out though and hope that I don't trip over it if I get up to go to the bathroom at night.

I don't think conditions in the world are going to improve tomorrow, but maybe it will get warmer in Dallas. The world may be doomed, but it's still easier to deal with on a nice day.

Nora is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day