I made my hubby an old fashioned valentine card with a couple of cupids, with gossamer wings and there are no weapons. Male cupid is painting a burning heart for his sweetheart. Lol, my hubby paints doors, gates, furniture and pictures. He's my valentine.

Now that is funny! Had to pass that on to my males and am still giggling.

Ellendi and Lyfia, You are both so right about the mental illness issue here. I think that is a much tougher problem to address then some of the "common sense" curbs on gun ownership being proposed. I'm not an expert on the history, but as I think it was back in the 60s that many mental institutions were shuttered and we revolutionized how we treat mental illness. I know some think the pendulum has swung too far, but I really scratch my head as to how to help these people and protect the rest of us with minimal impingement on their rights? While Sandy Hook was the "tipping point" for my own personal involvement in gun control (and, to some, extent, shame on me for that), the point of gun control is far broader. Of course, and as I already have said, no law can prevent every tragedy. But IMHO the are several aspects of existing gun control laws that are indefensible loopholes, for which there is simply no rational argument. These loopholes exist because people like me have not had the interest or political will to follow this issue, while the gun manufacturers and fringe survivalist groups have had the will --- and the means --- to force their agenda. I simply believe that sometimes the rest of us, the silent reasonable majority, has a responsibility to get involved. Shame on me that it took the pre-holiday grisly point blank murders of dozens of cute little white kids before I got involved, while lax gun control has quietly taken others' lives every day. Newtown is pretty far down on the list of reasons to want gun control, even if it is the impetus for some. Preventing accidents, suicides and crimes of passion all loom much larger than school shootings, even if they tug less at the emotions. There are three main reasons the NRA seeks largely unfettered access to guns. None of them justify the state of gun control today. 1. As a sport, a tradition, a hobby, and for food. I don't think there is anything wrong with guns for these purposes. But, if that is the intended purpose, then the design of the weapon should reflect that purpose. And, moreover, in weighing these gun uses against the risk of fatalities, we should accept some restrictions. For example, there is no reason any functioning gun should be sold to anyone ever without a background check. There is no reason a gun needs to shoot dozens of rounds without reloading. 2. As a means of protection. Again, fine (although all the data shows this is totally illusory, if people feel safer with a gun they should have one). But they might feel even safer with a tank, but they can't have that. Be reasonable about the types of guns. 3. In order to prevent tyranny, eg allow private citizens to form a militia. This is totally out of date in times of modern warfare. It no more fits the modern world then does the 3rd amendment. (quick, who knows that one). All I want to say is, if you think that we should have better gun control, make sure you speak up. Take the time to do it, or the agenda will continue to be controlled by narrow and moneyed interests.

I like snow in moderation and in designate areas. Good luck with that. Except to say, that here in Silicon Valley we have very little or no snow. But we can travel to "visit" the snow. Let is snow in the mountains. That's my speed. It is really cold here, so I enjoyed looking at the web cam from Hawaii.