Good early morning GH. It is just past 2:30 AM in "The City," and our current temperature is 24° under snowy skies. Our high temperature today is expected to be 11° as the snow continues. A still lower 8° is forecast for Tuesday with continuing snow. As I gaze out the Weather Window, the effects of the wind gusts are evident. The entrance to the shared driveway is once again heavily snow covered. That's due in part to the wind and in part to the efforts of the city as they attempt to keep the streets of our fair city clear. I used to say that it was a chocolate mess, based on a commercial I once saw. 

Today, I should get to the library, but if I don't, then that's okay too. I'd also like to get to the store for a device to assist with my rehab, but once again, I won't risk life and limb to do so. We are way past anything precipitation-wise than what we have experienced over the last two years. In fact, we have more than doubled the yearly snowfall average, and we are still in January. One side of me feels that I could have fought the good fight and handled the extra snowfall. In truth, while I would have relished the fight, I also recognize that whatever was left of my rotator cuff would have been shredded by the effort. That's why we have someone to do the snow removal this year.

Next year will either be more of the same, or we will be leaving town for the winter. The problem is that if you don't make reservations well in advance, you can't just drop everything and go. A total roll of the dice. I'll include some additional pictures at the end of this blog to remind myself, and anyone else who cares, of the reality of conditions this year.

Otherwise in music news, I did get in some additional playing time on Sunday afternoon. Not up to my personal standards, but I sounded okay. I also did some television watching just to pass the time. To me, sports are in their doldrums at this time of year. No college football, no pro football, and baseball is nothing but annual conventions during which management promises that next year will soon be here. In any event, pitchers and catchers report to spring training in about 18 days. Then, I know that I don't need a groundhog to tell me that winter will soon be over.

In the world of trains, the snow has fallen so heavily and the wind has gusted so much, that the tracks are no longer visible. I know that trains are not bothered by the snow, but the conditions beneath the snow cover can't easily be determined. If something is wrong with the tracks, no one would know until a disaster occurred, and you know how I feel about train derailments.

Sunrise will be at 8:05 AM today, just shortly before...Tea time. I'd like to try a recipe for a cauliflower main dish later today. According to the recipe, I have everything I need. However, I may stick to what I do best, dusting and floor washing. While I don't mind experimenting with banana nut bread ingredients, I might be out of my league with something that requires skills above my pay grade. Dirty Harry would have said, "A man's go t to know his limitations." I did get the laundry done on Sunday though.

So without further adieu, here are those promised pictures.

An older view of the entrance to the shared driveway, ante-clearing. Although not contemporaneous with this blog, an accurate depiction of current conditions. 

The outdoor entrance to the man-cave is under there somewhere. Unfortunately so is the water hose.

Our side of the shared driveway, post clearing.

Our side of the shared driveway, ante-clearing.

A view out towards the street, post clearing.