Eclectic Thoughts on Wintry Weather

This week ginormous storms blanketed much of the United States. Then the power went out, and I looked for blankets to keep me warm. Funny how that works.

Here are a few random thoughts that crossed my mind this week:

• You may be familiar with the motto of the United States Postal Service: “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” Yeah, that’s a myth. Really, it was never their motto.
• Compliments of the power outage, I learned that it’s surprisingly difficult to put toothpaste on a toothbrush in the dark.
• I photographed an icicle. Several people commented that it looked like a caterpillar. Or a tomato worm. See for yourself.
• I enjoyed photographing other icicles, too. Icicles can be really pretty.
• I thought it would be neat for those caught in the blizzard to build snowcows – that way we’d have the option of snowcow tipping. To my knowledge, regrettably, this idea never caught on.
• While I was concerned that ice might interfere with Punxsutawney Phil’s annual February 2 attempt to see his shadow, apparently neither snow nor ice nor freezing rain nor gloom of night stays this rodent from the swift completion of propping up our hopes for a premature end to winter.