Moon is close, bright tonight

With Jennifer's email as our guide, tonight we probed the night sky over Tucson. The moon is never any bigger than it is tonight, and that's Mars over to the left at the tip of the cloud bank. It is perfectly round (see inset at right) and, as advertised, red. The clouds provided some drama tonight. We took these pictures at about 7 p.m., just after sunset. Here's the information Jennifer sent us.

Tonight's full moon will be the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. It offers anyone with clear skies an opportunity to identify easy-to-see features on the moon.

This being the first full moon of 2010, it is also known as the wolf moon, a moniker dating back to Native American culture and the notion that hungry wolves howled at the full moon on cold winter nights. Each month brings another full moon name.

But why will this moon be bigger than others? Here's how the moon works:

The moon is, on average, 238,855 miles (384,400 km) from Earth. The moon's orbit around Earth – which causes it to go through all its phases once every 29.5 days – is not a perfect circle, but rather an ellipse. One side of the orbit is 31,070 miles (50,000 km) closer than the other.

So in each orbit, the moon reaches this closest point to us, called perigee. Once or twice a year, perigee coincides with a full moon, as it will tonight, making the moon bigger and brighter than any other full moonsduring the year.

Tonight it will be about 14 percent wider and 30 percent brighter than lesser full Moons of the year, according to Spaceweather.com.

As a bonus, Mars will be just to the left of the moon tonight. Look for the reddish, star-like object.

Hand off completed

We delivered our St. Paul house guest to her next stop this morning, after spending a very enjoyable five days with her. We left Frannie at Quail Creek, a lovely community south of Tucson, with Jan and her husband, Bill. Jan (above left - Bill was golfing) is Frannie's fellow nurse at Regions Hospital in St. Paul. Jan is also a veteran cruiser with over two dozen cruises to her credit, so Stan and Kathleen took the opportunity to quiz her on the ins and outs of her activities. She favors the Princess cruise lines and her next cruise will include the Normandy coast. Why are Stan and Kathleen interested? There's a 30-year anniversary coming up, and well, you just never know.

We didn't see any quails today at Quail Creek, so here's a movie of some cuties in our back yard. We saw a cardinal there this afternoon, but missed it. Tipped off by daughter Jennifer, we hope to view the moon in its fullest, closest state tonight. And we're watching the acclaimed "Michael Clayton" until then. Anybody seen it?

Briggs -- Our own Bubble Wrap Model

The recent celebration of the invention of bubble wrap brought to mind a past avocation of Stan's niece, Briggs Rolfsrud. She was an honest-to-goodness Bubble Wrap Model! The one-of-a-kind designer dress she is wearing here was made entirely of bubble wrap. For more photos of her showing off this versatile product, click on this link.
What does a bubble wrap model do after her career has burst? Click here.
As always, whether playing tennis, counseling or modeling bubble wrap, we're proud of our Briggsy.
Update:
Now check THIS out, the official Bubble Wrap website.

All's right with the world

Excitement is peaking this rainy morning on Rock Crest. The new Oster waffle iron, a gift from our week-long guest, Frannie, came out of its package today for its trial run. The cheaper Cook's iron came apart earlier this week after only a few sessions. We theorize that most waffle irons are purchased as wedding gifts, stowed by brides and never actually used, so there is little point for manufacturers to build in any durability.
Yesterday, in a traditional division of labor, the girlfriends shopped up and down Oracle Road all day, while Stan earned back some cash on the links.
The gatherers returned with a fine selection of baked goods from the Paradise as well as a "Fresh Produce" garment for a lucky granddaughter, the beginnings of a Pier One table service (see sample coffee cup in photo above) and plans to acquire a coveted Limoges item from the Golden Goose. (The item was under glass, and locked away. More on this later.)
Earlier, a helpful Frannie learned a kitchen no-no the hard way. Don't empty Kathleen's dishwasher, no matter how clean the dishes may appear to be. Kathleen hand scrubs the dishes before entrusting them to a new-fangled dishwasher. She's been doing this for the 30 years Stan can remember. He's foolishly made suggestions about revising the procedure.
Sure enough, a helpful Frannie crossed the line earlier this week, merrily skipping ahead and emptying the dishwasher, only to learn later than she had filled the cupboards with "dirty" dishes. Stan suppressed a snicker or two as the dishes were reloaded and properly sterilized.
Sosie's "Guide to All the Fun Things To Do in Tucson" still hasn't arrived, so we will make do with a visit to the upscale model homes at the new Saddlebrooke Ranch, then a rainy day walk with Birdie.
The reservoirs are full, the dishes are clean,  and life is good.

75 (not his age)

This headless left-handed golfer carded a 75 yesterday, besting his high-handicap foursome again. Dick Robertson, retired schoolteacher and presently the Tucson Golf Commissioner, carried a retired car dealer, a retired General Mills exec and a retired publisher around the Mountain View golf course yesterday, then pocketed a fistful of cash at the post-round settle-up hosted by St. Paul Katie. There's nothing like having a career with a lifetime of summers off to do wonders for a golf game. Dick's wife is back in Minnesota presently, tending to the grandchildren, while Dick earns their college tuition playing golf in Arizona.
We're back at it today at 1:04 at The Preserve.
(Personal Note to Virg: Help!)

Happy First Birthday, Kaia!

Ford and Jennifer's first baby had her first birthday today. See details on their blog at left.

Finally. . . waffles in the sunshine

This morning Franny wanted to buy breakfast for her Tucson hosts, but when it was learned that Kathleen's famous waffles might be available on the front patio, that plan was postponed until tomorrow. Unfortunately, technical difficulties with the house waffle iron turned breakfast into brunch... and then lunch, but eventually waffles were served under a bright, warming sun, thanks to the spare iron packed in from Minnesota.

Habitues of Cafe del Solveig will notice the absence of any petunias in the photo. This is a year for tiling, not gardening, don't you know. You'll also notice more snow than usual on the Catalinas.
The neighbors dropped by to meet Franny. That's Dick Kruger, famous tracker from Minnesota who had to rush off to a tennis date, but not before learning that Franny has been a nurse for 47 years, most of that time in an emergency room in St. Paul.
Sylvia, the neighbor on the other side, dropped by earlier during the waffle iron debacle, and we talked about the unusual weather.
For her part, Birdie busied herself digging a hole in the front patio; an illegal act, but one that was quickly forgiven by doting parents and a guest who took to her kisses instantly.

Company's here!

Kathleen's life-long friend, Franny, arrived from St. Paul yesterday. This morning she reports a good night's sleep and is enjoying the use of the new master bath. Here Kathleen and her chum plan a day of adventure, without benefit of Stan's sister Sosie's "Guide to the Tireless Tucson Tourist" which will be arriving in the mail today or tomorrow. In the meantime, we'll just make do.

Welcome back, Mr. Sun

Foreshadows of a beautiful day for a St. Paul guest. ETA 12:01 PM MST TUS

New Orleans by 12

(Go Vikings)

Once upon a time. . .

It was a cold and dreary day in Arizona. The mail hadn't come through for days. It was really boring playing inside. What could Stan and Birdie do?
"Look," cried Kathleen. "See what has just come in the mail!"
Sure enough, just in time to save the day. Two books that had been written by Stan and Kathleen's Great Nephews, Blake and Hunter. They had been printed and carefully bound with thread, then mailed here by their Nana, Rebecca, who is also their publisher.
Birdie and Stan sat down immediately and read them both. One was a story about a Shark who helped Blake with losing teeth; the other was a tale about a Dragon who lit birthday candles with Hunter. The stories were very good, well-written and easy to read.
Suddenly, the day was much better.
The End

Re-mastered

Before

After

And just in time, too. Our guest, Franny, will be using this tomorrow. Wayne, next week. Tom and Sandy -- we'll have it ready for you in March.

Goodness! Gather the children.

The weatherman is giddy at Station KOLD Tucson. He has actual weather to report in Arizona. People are listening.
A network of rivers runs through Tucson. There is never any water in any of them. So they save a lot of money on bridges, just building the roads down through the little valleys they call "washes." If there ever is water in a wash, you're not supposed to drive in it. But people do, making really good television while emergency crews bail them out. So they passed a "Stupid Motorist Law" to deal with it. It's a lot cheaper than building bridges.
Stupid Motorists are making numerous television appearances today. Actual water even flowed in the Rillito River, of all things. A resident says she can't remember that happening for at least a decade.
We certainly hope that they are collecting this windfall in big reservoirs somewhere, so that it can be properly dispensed over the golf courses during the seven lean years, much as Joseph instructed the Pharaoh to do. Well, sort of. We really would like to avoid the Southwest going ahead with its plans to divert water from the Great Lakes.
Today, despite warnings of danger and perdition, Stan and Birdie took their daily run/walk, bundled with some of the warm stuff they brought along from Minnesota. Sure enough. There was weather outside. It blew. It rained. And then it hailed. Yes, it hailed the tiniest little baby hail you've ever seen. It made Birdie sort of ecstatic and squirrely, not knowing what to do. She's been out in real weather before and she wasn't sure what this was supposed to be and how to act.
She's not the only one. Arizonians are flocking to the rivers, just to watch water flow by. "It's so peaceful," they coo.

Weathermen are busy predicting even more weather. Look out for the "thundersnow," they warn. High in the mountains, snow is falling by the foot. Emergencies have been declared in Flagstaff. An excited weatherman last night predicted that the snow may come "crashing" to the desert floor here in Tucson. It didn't happen, but you just never know.
Sadly, the entertainment ends Sunday. The climate will stop making history and we'll get back to 60 and sunny, just in time for our friend Franny to step off the airplane to ask what all the fuss is about.
She's lived in Minnesota all her life. How do we explain that it is about water in the rivers?

If you love me so much,

why did you tie me to the chair?

John the Plumber was in the house and Birdie just wanted to be part of the excitement. John was okay with that, but Stan knows what a plumber earns by the hour.

Front page news

Grandma's tumble down the hill at Abbey Point didn't escape the attention of the crack staff at the Shakopee Valley News, renown Minnesota scandal sheet. The action photo of Kathleen's spectacular flip down the backyard toboggan slide made the front page of last week's edition. (Click for a clearer view and to read the caption.) It took seven days for the newspaper to reach Kathleen's mailbox in Tucson and when it did, she said, "I just don't see how that is front page news."
Gee. Could it have something to do with the inherent human interest in seeing a senior citizen with her feet high in the air. . . and the fact that her husband, the publisher emeritus, emailed the photo to the editor with a caption attached?

Still standing. . .

Midnight winds gusting between 35 and 50 miles per hour failed this time to damage our front yard acacia. Last winter a big blow ripped a major limb from its trunk. Subsequent trimming and prunings have lightened the young tree's wind resistance and now the slimmer, trimmer version is taking on all comers. While you're at it, note the new paint job on the house. It is called "Shady," which is a sort of boring gray that is approved by the board of socialists running the neighborhoods. Our pal and swing coach Leno Masolini admires it from across the street, this morning while dressed in a heavy storm coat and coordinated wool stocking cap pulled  over his ears to ward off the morning's 50 degree near-chill. The big baby whimpers over what he considers unseasonable weather. He won't be joining the golfers today, preferring a dental appointment and some quality internet time on a Yahoo sports site where they are discussing the lack of player respect for Coach Brad Childress and, of course, Tiger's trip to a Mississippi clinic to treat his sex addiction.

We report, you decide.

Floored

Jennifer and Joe laid a bamboo floor this week as they prepare Joe's townhouse for sale. They've replaced the ceiling in the kitchen, made numerous repairs, painted throughout, and now they're staging the two bedroom, three bath Hopkins unit. We'll link you to the listing once it has been posted.

(Yes. Jen can operate a floor nailer, and yes, Joe is wearing Superman pants.)

Noonan Park, Alexandria, Jan. 19

Photo by Tom Obert

Why are people hungry?

Should Lutherans call a gay pastor to serve their congregation? An ordained gay couple? Does the church belong in politics? Who owns the pond? What does the Bible say about social justice?
Stan's brother-in-law, Pastor Ron, presently serves as interim pastor for a Lutheran congregation in Windom, Minnesota. Sunday evenings a group gathers at the parsonage for a "Fireside" and these are some of the topics they chew on. Read about the always interesting Pastor Ron and his ministry by following it on his blog, "Colorado Confession," which is linked below.
Or click here.

After the rain. . .

Kathleen was tending to Birdie's business in the back yard late this morning after the overnight rainfall that brightened the verdant desert fairways. Looking up from her labors, she spotted these interlopers, and quickly fetched a camera. When she returned, the deer had moved on, as the golfers shifted positions. Eventually though, golfers on the other fairway caused the trio to mosey back into range for this shot. All of this made our photographer feel a bit like a hunter in a deer stand. Interestingly, these mule deer seem to prefer the dormant grasses in the rough to the greener fairways.

Meanwhile, in the master bath, the painter toiled on, tinting the walls in a fresh "Sonata" to go with the artwork we found at the second hand shop after the ball game yesterday. It's a sort of a blue/gray and probably isn't accurately portrayed on your monitor, but we like its subtle tone. Anyway, the best part is it should be done by 3 p.m. today. Then we'll accessorize it in time for our first guest's appearance this weekend.

It's getting frisky on Lorlee's blog

1910: Hello dear cousin – how do you feel after that big ride I feel just O.K. ready for another one. Heard there will be a party some where Saturday but don’t know where. How is Johnny feeling? I hope he is feeling perfectly well. Gee but them boys are awfully slow about them double dance I haven’t heard a think about them yet this is my very last card so I thought I would send it to you Your loving cousin Stacha 

-------------------------------------

It hasn't earned an X-rating just yet, but if it gets any more steamy, we may have to consider blocking our link to Lorlee's vintage postcard project. Check out her new posts by clicking here.

Vikings by 7

Shellacking the Master

There's something Biblical about this activity, but it escapes the moment.

Oil Drilling for Dummies

We've had a lot of interest lately in North Dakota oil well technology, particularly since the strike on Grandma and Grandpa Rolfsrud's old claim near Keene. There is a special process used to coax the stubborn oil from the Bakken Shale. We've visited the well site, looked at rigs, heard explanations (see Stan's home movie on the left), but never really understood how the process works. Until now.
That's because we have our North Dakota Cousin Guy Rolfsrud and this new video. Guy sent us a link to a really great five minute video that does an excellent job of explaining just how you drill sideways for oil, then penetrate and fracture the shale and rock formation a couple miles underground. Click here to see it.
(That's Stan, Virg and Steve in the photo above taken by Cousin Harold during the official Bakken Shale inspection and golf expedition conducted 18 months ago. There's a home movie of that over on the left side of this blog too.)
Some say there's more oil in the western North Dakota area than there is in Saudi Arabia, if you just could get at it. This video shows you how they're trying to do just that.

A poolside toast in a warming Florida

Here's a report from our Florida snowbirds. Stan's sister-in-law, Becky Lynn, writes: (That's Stan's sister, Becky J. prepping the cork on the champagne, below)

FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY.... IT WARMED UP ENUF THURSDAY TO HAVE Hors de oeuvres ON THE LANAI
We haven't been outside since we arrived here January 4. You have probably heard about the frozen oranges. And now this is IT.... (L to Rt) That's Al, his wife Becky J., Virg, Adam Jerdee and wife Kim (due in May) from Des Moines.  We are toasting Adam who ran the world famous Disney Marathon- 26 miles. If you haven't heard about it then you've probably never walked a mile in his shoes, but that's okay. It was colder than a witch's toenail, but he made it under 5 minutes and got a Mickey Mouse medal. So that's the way it is. 
We fed him carrot sticks and fruit.


(Thanks for the report, Becky. More warm weather is on the way. We'll await further news.)

Fingernails and warm water. . .

We're just going to shellac and paint over most of the wallpaper in the Tucson master bath project. But the wallpaper above the newly-tiled shower was a mess. Years of moisture had created split seams and looseness that just couldn't be painted over. The best way to remove wallpaper is with a spray bottle of warm water and your fingers. Take one small section at a time. Don't rush it, no picking and ripping and tearing and swearing. First dampen and remove the vinyl layer, it splits off the backing in sheets. Then dampen the exposed backing paper. (Click to enlarge these images)

The key to a great peel is just the right amount of water sitting and soaking in for just the right amount of time. The fine mist needs to evenly soak everything, don't skip anything. Then you need to let it rest for a minute or so as the water penetrates and softens the old paste. Then the paper layer will come off in big, satisfying sheets, all gloppy with paste, ready to be dropped into the waste basket.

If your paper is stubborn, it is probably because you're not being patient with your wetting process. Patience and thoroughness -- two virtues Stan has had a hard time with throughout life, but today it was the only way to get the job done.
Don't forget to clean up the final residue of paste. Hot water and a big sponge -- and a helpful bucket girl at the bottom of the ladder to squeeze out and refresh the sponge-- and you're ready for the next step.
The wall is drying now, then we'll spackle, shellac and paint. We're thinking about something in the Green family right now. . . Mr. Blue is waiting on the sideline. We searched high and low for a big piece of artwork yesterday, came up with blanks. Stores have really cut back on inventories, and everything that is left is 50 percent off or more--- so it's all been picked over.

Stan's buyer is back on the road as this is being written. Birdie is taking a nap now in her kennel after displaying a fondness for discarded wallpaper glops.

Hai. . . have you checked our house yet?

David Brewster, Star Tribune

A massive sheet of ice coated the back of a Chaska home that was heavily damaged when water leaked while the owners were away for weeks.

--------------------------------

It goes like this -- comment from reader at Strib.

The pipes freeze and crack. The water doesn't start to run until the pipe thaws, maybe days or weeks. Water could have been running down the basement floor drains for days until they froze and then it starts to pour out the doors and windows. At -8 the ice on the outside of the house could have developed over a matter of hours or overnight. It could have been as simple as the failure a $5 component in the furnace. I'd say the neighbors did their best. Last winter I saw 18' icicles hanging in the entryway in a townhouse in Plymouth. Water had been running for WEEKS down the floor drains. Nothing on the outside of the house.

Erika Rolfsrud update

Our cousin Erika Rolfsrud has been busy, last fall starring with Tonya Pinkins in Black Pearl Sings at DC's Ford's Theatre. Presently, she's playing a Polish aviatrix in a Broadway production called Misalliance, a George Bernard Shaw play.

Here's a clip fromYouTube that's fun to watch her tell about Black Pearl. In it she makes a reference to her Dad, who has always been very proud and supportive of his daughter. (Erika is Arnold and Metha Rolfsrud's daughter. Arnold is Halvor's son, who is Erling's brother. Got that? All this proves that even if you have a name that no one can pronounce, you can still make it on a New York stage.)

Here's another link that shows some dialogue in the same play from Erika. She's Susannah, the woman from the Library of Congress in this clip.


Now here's some excerpts from a review of Misalliance by Wilborn Hampton in the New York Times: 


“Misalliance” may be one of Shaw’s talkier plays, but it is also a very witty one. The action takes place one spring day at the estate of John Tarleton, a onetime shopkeeper who made his fortune manufacturing underwear. His daughter, Hypatia, is engaged to Bentley (a k a Bunny), the whining milquetoast son of Lord Summerhays, who once asked Hypatia to marry him. Tarleton’s son, Johnny, now runs the family business, while his father goes around England endowing libraries.
In quick succession, three uninvited guests drop in — two quite literally when they crash-land their small plane into the Tarletons’ greenhouse. The pilot, Joey Percival (Michael Brusasco), quickly catches Hypatia’s eye. His co-pilot, Lina Szczepanowska, (Erika Rolfsrud) a Polish trapeze artiste whose family tradition demands that she risk her life at least once a day, catches the eye of all the men. The final guest is an impoverished clerk who is carrying a gun and a picture of his dead mother, a woman who was once the senior Tarleton’s lover.
.....Erika Rolfsrud is fiery as the Polish aviator, and Sean McNall is first-rate as the gunman. Steven Boyer and Dominic Cuskern contribute nice turns as the Summerhayses, son and father.
Bill Clarke’s sets and Liz Covey’s costumes beautifully evoke Edwardian England.

“Misalliance” continues through Jan. 24 at City Center Stage II, 131 West 55th Street, Manhattan; (212) 581-1212; pearltheatre.org.

-----
Cool. Huh?

Blank slate

The tile project is finished in the Tucson master bath. No mauve anywhere. The guys did an excellent job. It's now a neutral so that's good. It is also very boring in the bath, as the wallpaper and tile are pretty much the same texture and shade. So that's not good. Today we go and look for a color, maybe find some colorful artwork to hang over the bath to give us some inspiration. We'll pull paint and towels from that.
Incidentally, we discovered some inspiration just outside the door this morning, with the mourning doves fussing under the little bush at right. Don't worry, there won't be a purple bathroom. . . this time. We're going to play it safe, but we have to hurry. Company is coming in a week!

I recognize Goofy and Kim. . .

But who's that big dog?
Just kidding, Adam. Looks like you had a wonderful time. Read all about it on the Jerdee blog. -- Stan

We're here!

We arrived at 1:30 p.m. today. Tucson was 72 degrees, blue skies, no wind. Stan rolled down the window and hung his arm out for a while, just because he could.
Got the stuff moved into the house, got this PC up and running and got the Magic Jack free phone hooked up to supplement the cell phones.
Birdie loves it here already, but she's presently doing a timeout in her kennel. Too much excitement.
The drive was uneventful, just the way we like it. Met some folks over breakfast in Alamagordo this morning who know the Rolfsruds from Alex. "Well, that's all of us, then," Stan said in his best Minnesootan. Turns out the woman's late mother (a Mrs. Schubert from Parkers Prairie) had been written up big time in the Park Region Echo newspaper when Dad wrote his weekly personal column years ago.
The daughter obviously never forgot it and said so over bagels, orange juice and coffee in the motel's free breakfast room.
Actually, that's not all of us. Don't forget the Halvor North Dakota Rolfsruds too. And we just got an email here about Cousin Erika Rolfsrud, our star of stage and screen. Stan would open it and display it here, but he hasn't been able to crack the software code on the email sent to him by her proud papa Arnold Rolfsrud in Washington State. Stan'll check Erika's web site instead soon and get back to you on her new role.
Much to do. All good.
Stan and Kathleen
(Oh yes, One more thought while driving on the flattest road in the world, Highway 54 through Kansas: "Why call it a hot water heater. Isn't it a cold water heater? --- And shouldn't that be the flattest road ON the world?)

Thoughts while driving through Kansas

1.Is it good if a vacuum really sucks?

2.Why is the third hand on the watch called the second hand?

3.If a word is misspelled in the dictionary, how would we ever know?

4.If Webster wrote the first dictionary, where did he find the words?

5.Why do we say something is out of whack? What is a whack?

6.Why does "slow down" and "slow up" mean the same thing?

7.Why does "fat chance" and "slim chance" mean the same thing?

8.Why do "tug" boats push their barges?

9.Why do we sing "Take me out to the ball game" when we are already there?

10.Why are they called " stands" when they are made for sitting?

11.Why is it called "after dark" when it really is "after light"?

12.Doesn't "expecting the unexpected" make the unexpected expected?

13.Why are a "wise man"and a "wise guy" opposites?

14.Why do "overlook" and "oversee" mean opposite things?

15.Why is "phonics" not spelled the way it sounds?

16.If work is so terrific, why do they have to pay you to do it?

17.If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?

18.If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?

19.If you are cross-eyed and have dyslexia, can you read all right?

20.Why is bra singular and panties plural?

21.Why do you press harder on the buttons of a remote control when you know the batteries are dead?

22.Why do we put suits in garment bags and garments in a suitcase?

23.How come abbreviated is such a long word?

24.Why do we wash bath towels? Aren't we clean when we use them?

25.Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?

26.Why do they call it a TV set when you only have one?

27.Christmas - What other time of the year do you sit in front of a dead tree and eat candy out of your socks?

28. Why do we drive on a parkway and park on a driveway ?

Courtesy of the Korkowski blog. . . who knows where they got this.

We're packing. . .

The blog computer is down, tucked in a box, wrapped in a blanket, stowed behind the back seat. We'll fire it up again soon in sunny AZ. Meanwhile, we may be able to report our southward progress from some chilly Great Plains motel lobbies, but until then, adios. . .
Stan and Kathleen

What's new in this picture?

What's new? It's not the mac 'n cheese, not the avocado, not the parmesan/garlic dressing, not the radishes, not the olives, not the petite sirah, not the goji beans, broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, alfalfa, cottage cheese or macademia nuts. Nope. There's something in this picture taken tonight that has never been seen at this table, or anywhere else before. Give up? Jenny's got BANGS. Yup, our curly-haired vegetarian has straight-bangs on her forehead. We love the look. We think Joe does too, but then, how would you really know? He's a bit whipped by our little darling.
Kathleen made the mac and Jennifer brought copious salad fixings tonight; then J & J ran off to work on the Hopkins townhouse. They're installing a ceiling in the kitchen and hardwood on the floors this weekend. Kids nowadays.

Don't worry! Grandma's got Medicare!

Grandma took a tumble today during one of the toboggan flights down our side yard hill, but she's okay. (Maybe a little Advil tonight.) It was one degree outside, but there was no wind chill, so it was just about perfect for a Minnesota tobogganing joy ride. The new sled held up well once we got the hang of it and got the snow packed down. The neighbor Tom came to look, but he didn't have three layers of clothes so he quickly turned tail. This will be the last snow run for Grandma and Grandpa this year. They head to Tucson on Sunday. . . and not a day too soon.