CAthy, I'm happy as long as the tank heater is keeping up, I HATE chopping ice from the tank. Actually, chopping it isn't the bad part, it's dipping the ice chunks out with a hay fork, I always get wet, and it's cold. Ugh. Hate that..... Wind chill factors of 20 to 30 below zero ought to tell me, I've made a wooden cover for the stock tank with a hole just big enough for the animals to put their heads through, I'm hoping it helps, at least enough to keep the tank unfrozen. We set a bale this afternoon, a big round bale will last 3-4 days, so hopefully it'll last until Wednesday morning, when it breaks a little and will be back up to a high of 17, and no below zero temps. I can do everything else manually, but the tractor doesn't always want to start when it's that cold and I need the tractor to move those big bales. As for school, they will probably not have school Monday or Tuesday, we have so many rural students that ride busses and it's just not safe to have small children out in that weather. When it hits zero they are not allowed to go outside for recess and when it's colder, they eventually give up and close school. Annie

We're happy to be 'away' during all this awful cold and snow, followed by more cold and snow, followed by... oh, you know. I wonder how much time I've spent in my life just getting bundled up to go somewhere in that weather. At least nowadays we have automatic garage door openers -- remember hauling those up and down -- in the cold? I've done my share of 'rocking' a car to get it out of a snow-rut, and pushing too. Our current all-wheel-drive has been wonderful. Beautiful day here on Maui, close to 80F with Trade Winds and clear skies. Big surf is dying down on the northern faces of the islands. Whale mamas are teaching their new calves about life -- and 'parking' the babies with aunties to go off briefly with whatever big bulls' mighty show-off breaches were most impressive. (I still have to make dinner though, you know.)

Some wag said that at International Falls, the water spilling over the falls is frozen by the time it hits bottom - makes an awful racket - keeps the whole town awake and that explains some of the grumpy behavor of the inhabitants in winter.

Coffee Sushi The Bachelor/Bachelorette shows George Clooney-I don't get why everyone thinks he is so great Wearing Ugg boots, with shorts, when you live in LA (or a warm place) and it's 75 degrees out! People who are glued to their phones/blackberry. You aren't the president, your messages are not critical to the rotation of the earth! Rye bread Sour cream Soda & iced tea Violent Horror movies-I'm not entertained by seeing blood & gore. and lastly, no one likes this, but it goes on here at the KT...people who try to intimidate you and talk over you to prove their point. They'd rather talk you to death then ever admit they were wrong.