Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. We've just passed 3:30 a.m. in "The City" where in the artificially heated weather office, it is 65 artificially heated degrees. Outside the Weather Window, it is 28° as we drop to a just before sunrise low (7:35 a.m.) of 26°. In addition, there is an alert that expires about one-half hour from now for additional snow. I don't see a thing, so I am guessing that the National Weather Service is wrong once again. Surprise! However, there is a 60% chance of additional snow this morning. Same National Weather Service, same results? Who knows? Saturday, the chance for snow showers drops to 10% with a high of 33°.

Earlier today, I took the morning constitutional with Sugar the Weather Dog while Mary waited for a phone call regarding her software download. It wasn't too bad, but in some areas, the sidewalks were snow covered and I reverted to my slowed winter gait to avoid falling in my winter shoes. Like the snow shovel I brought up from the man-cave, I had taken those winter shoes downstairs the day before. Prescient, kismet, or karma? You be the judge. I was able to use the snow shovel to clear a path on the deck for Sugar and me.

Mary got the request for her latest job assignment yesterday. It looks like an interesting book, for both of us. For me highlighting will be a two color effort of joy, while for Mary it will be an exercise in work, mostly.

I never got to the girls nor the book reading, as we didn't get up until 1:00 p.m. Such are the hazards of retirement. I did finish the laundry, well mostly, as it still needs to be put away. The crossword was an exceptionally tough one for a Thursday puzzle. We also got the call for Mary's glasses, so we journeyed across the bridge to retrieve them. While there, I borrowed a soup cookbook to try some recipes. I'll return it on our next trip to the store. Like I often say, if it's soup, I'm there.

Mary will need an additional adjustment on her glasses, not unlike the one I needed today to get mine fitting just right. Like me, she seems to be seeing better, but it takes a few days to get used to new glasses. In addition, we picked up the requisite rebate receipts to receive a $10.00 rebate for each pair of glasses. As always, if it's free, I'm there. Free being a relative term, given the cost of the glasses. I just put those rebate requests in the mail box.

I just watched the 3:30 a.m. train pass by heading north. Twin locomotives #s 2109 and 2057 in the new livery, were heading north towing 14 covered hopper cars. Judging by the lack of rumble, the cars were empty.

Today, I'll take another constitutional with the intrepid weather dog, pick up the newspaper and then settle in for some play time and reading. That's after I do today's crossword. That may not happen until the early afternoon, since I have no need to get up early. Once again, the hazards of retirement. That leisure time will vanish once the new project comes in, but I have a short respite.

Otherwise, not much is happening. The snow will fall, the walks will freeze, and I'll go to the Irish Jam session tomorrow. Tonight, the sun will set at 5:21 p.m. Ciao.