Now we're cookin' with GAS

I feel fortunate that I have a gas range and water heater rather than electric ones. I will still be able to cook and wash if the power goes out.

I just went out to hand off a bag of unopened wall & ceiling hooks to someone who responded to my FreeCycle ad. Never done that before, but I'm glad I did. I met a neighbor! I really need to stop being so terrified of calling people. We have telephones for a reason, and they can't all be incoming calls.

It's really fucking cold out there. Cold and bright. I wrapped my scarf around my mouth so I wouldn't have to breathe icy air, only to manage fogging up my sunglasses. I can see, or I can breathe -- I can't do both.

Right now things are calm (knock on wood). I just have to go get some produce for my chili (and more meat, because I am not that bright when it comes to memorizing recipes, apparently) and return some movies. I'm not too concerned about the power going out. I'm more concerned about all my friends who live at the top of hills that can't go anywhere due to icy roads.

Redmond, 156th & 28th, Friday afternoon

( Big photo. )

It starts.

Snow has been reported in outlying areas. In Kirkland it is still light, and the wind has not picked up. Everyone expects to lose power at some point in the night for an indeterminate length of time. I am turning off my computer and will go in the other room to watch a movie and try to block stray breezes from the fireplace/chimney since I still have no idea how to light a fire in there without making my house explode.

I will be posting anything halfway interesting over at Twitter: http://twitter.com/wynnec

Keep warm, everybody.