Morning, everyone.
Jeffrey, it's just not worth patching up those old home built jobs now. Assuming you still have a good monitor, you can get a nice tower from Tiger Direct for $300. Way faster, bigger hard drives, and generally more reliable. I really like my $250 netbook if you want to get a laptop.
Barry, I wondered if you were really going to get some winter up there. Sounds like it has arrived. This is going to be a cold new year for most of us.
Matt, your dad is very wise. I think jumping in the open water one time would disabuse you of the notion of winter kayaking.
If you had a wet suit or survival suit, it might be worth it, but just freezing to death isn't much fun no matter how much you like kayaking. Regardless of what Chris tells you, it gets below freezing in his neck of the woods every winter. About the only part of Florida that never sees freezing temperatures is Key West, and that's a long way from Chris. Oh, yeah, Cornish Game Hens are basically miniature chickens so they taste just like...chicken...but better.
David, St. Bernard's are supposedly one of the most intelligent breeds of dogs. I've hear other stories like your grandfather's.
Rex, it's not looking as hopeful for snow Wednesday/Thursday except for maybe a few hours Wednesday night. It all depends on how much warm air advection we get from the coast. However, Sunday and Monday are looking really interesting. The models are having trouble with the Gulf low this far out but I think we are being set up for a blast of cold air and a pretty good shot of moisture at the same time. If everything comes together, you'll need the plows in T-Town.
Sandy, that's bad news about your brother. I've almost done the same thing a few times working attics. At least it sounds like all fractures and no serious internal problems. 15 feet is quite a drop, especially when you're not expecting it. Bubbles is certainly a big girl.
Her chew toy is about the same size as two of my cats.
Clear and chilly here, with an overnight low of 29 and we're only at 43 now. The sun's out but you'd never know it when stepped outside. We're getting pretty steady 15 mph winds from the north, so the windchill is about 36. I'm still holding out for snow some time this week. We certainly aren't going to go much above 50 any time soon and probably not above 40 by the weekend. It's hard to believe I'll be walking around in shorts and sweating my butt off in a couple of months.
Trains aren't their life, but they seem to get a lot of joy out of the build and collecting. I am glad, Bob, that you decided to continue enjoying this (actually pretty cool) hobby. 
Then 5 minutes later I see an employee riding a propane powered forklift and lighting a cigarette! And they wonder why my blood pressure spikes in the late afternoon!! Good greif! 
