Backwoods Boy

@Mikiesboy @WolfM I've been struggling all day to find a way to describe "normal". It always came out like a scientific essay, so I gave up. Thanks, Wolf, for doing a perfect job. I'll only add my oft-repeated quote, "Why be normal when you can be yourself?"

Since this combines (bad) poetry, Valentine's Day, and a recent word-of-the-day all into one frame, it seemed appropriate to share it.

Nice. Be glad it's just rain. I may be inspired to write some more about snow, and it won't be quite as uplifting as before.

Thanks. I am indeed warm and safe, and much happier after a bowl of chicken soup accompanied by a glass of red wine

So, having dug the truck out of two feet of snow yesterday and getting it to the street, I decided to go to Portland today for groceries, etc. All was well going in, but on the way back I got into non-forecast blizzard conditions. Went the last twenty miles at 30MPH in 4WD behind a truck. Had to dig out even more to get back into the driveway. This is effing nuts.

I'm with @Thorn Wilde

A good one. I think it is one used a lot by the last generation - that would be two back for most of you. My mother overworked it.

I love them. I got them for winter hiking, but they are very useful outside of that, as you indicated for your barn application. They are available at a lot of outdoor recreation stores, sports stores, and here they are available at Les Schwab Tires, a regional tire store. Also online. I just got back from shoveling the sidewalk, hauling the garbage can to the street, and inspecting the pickup. It's iced in and has a three-foot berm of snow in front of it. It ain't goin' nowhere for several days.

So, this morning we wake up to ... 29 degrees F and freezing rain. That's right folks, the standard never-forecast finale to a Columbia River Gorge winter storm. Temperatures are supposed to moderate during the day, with rain and snow eventually changing to rain. Probably a little less than a foot of snow overall. Ice Trekkers (photo attached) are on the hiking boots in preparation for a little sidewalk shoveling. It's conveniently my turn to do the weekly regional and state emergency ham radio check at the courthouse, fortunately only a few blocks away. I plan to make it on foot. The pickup can sit in the driveway until it thaws out. At least this time it isn't covered with fallen branches requiring a month in the fix-it shop. Good news is that traffic is moving on the highway, so it can't be all that bad out there. Everybody have a great winter day!

wrench

fry pan

necrophilia

Othello, WA

Phase two of Snowmageddon is underway. As advertised, the first phase (Saturday) only produced four inches. It's been snowing hard for several hours now. With the temperature hovering just above freezing, it's hard to tell how much will hang around, but it's supposed to keep this up through tomorrow with up to a foot and a half. Up higher, the forecast is for multiple feet of snow over the next few days. I'm glad I don't have to go anywhere.

alimony

fight club

mile

It's interesting that you as the author had issues keeping track of who was the current letter-writer. I know I did as a reader, even with the salutation at the top - between chapters, I would forget who was Watson and who was Sherlock . However, eventually I would find a clue and be back in tune. It worked better early on when both letters were in one chapter, and I was glad to see that happening again this time. I'm enjoying the story and its novel form of presentation. The process of gaining each other's trust sometimes seemed long, but also highly realistic. I think now they are there. I'm looking forward to the next chapter.

Seriously, I like the installment approach. It allows for more time to reflect on the past chapters and speculate about the future ones

Damn! Now I have to wait a week like everyone else It's a great story, and obviously benefits from a great deal of research as well as personal experience. I'm looking forward to next weekend.

I'm glad to finally be reading this one. I was already emotional before I finished the prologue. I know it's going to be a great read. One thing I noticed again is how very different each character is, specific personality attributes that show up regularly. After a while, one knows the characters so well one can almost predict certain reactions to entirely new situations.

iconoclast

Yacolt, WA, USA

content kitten

WALTZ Winifred always likes to zip ALONG