Pretty in Pink

Sweet Zoe in her new pink sneakers. She loves to stand if you support her.

Neither Rain, Nor Sleet, Nor Cold Will Stop Us

A couple days ago I put one of those humorous stories about how Minnesotans are accustomed to tolerating cold weather. This morning we had the Today Show on as we had morning coffee. Matt was outside talking to the crowd. Andy remarked how sparse the group was and that it must be "30 degrees there this morning". (I think it was colder). Then they interviewed two girls who were from Minnesota. Andy piped up, "I know her. That is Allie." The crowd outside the Today show may have been thin due to cold weather, but that didn't stop the Minnesotans.

Changing of the Guard

He started his speech with the words, "I am humbled..." What could prepare a person for the heady experience witnessed today in DC? At a meeting last night someone noted how often media have used the words "pilgrimage" this week. He also thought the events in Washington looked more like a coronation. Certainly there has been exuberance and weighty expectations placed on a human being but history has left people hungry for vindication.

Like much of America, we have been watching inaugural events on TV. I grew up in the 50's and 60's and scenes of fire hoses, dogs and violence against civil rights marchers were imprinted in my memory. Today's milestone seems unbelievable. We wish him well and pray for President Obama to succeed.

My Granddaughter was Selling Girl Scout Cookies Last Week

You have seen things like this before. I got this from my sister and it seemed so true. My granddaughter just started selling the Girl Scout cookies. Wouldn't that be a better project in May?

A few years ago we were in Orlando in January when they had cold weather. The thermometer dipped below freezing. You could sort the Floridians from the midwesterners by apparel. The Minnesotans brought shorts and wore them even if they were a little cold standing in line waiting for the parks to open. The locals had heavy jackets. The local news broadcast a "Baby Alert". Advice? DO NOT TAKE YOUR INFANTS OUTDOORS.

In Minnesota we still go outdoors when it is cold. It is bad form to leave your animals outside when it is -20.

Email on Minnesota and cold weather:

60 above zero:Floridians turn on the heat.People in Minnesota plant gardens.

50 above zero:Californians shiver uncontrollably.People in Duluth sunbathe.

40 above zero:Italian & English cars won't start.People in Minnesota drive with the windows down.

32 above zero:Distilled water freezes.The water in Bemidji gets thicker.

20 above zero:Floridians don coats, thermal underwear, gloves, and wool hats.People in Minnesota put on a flannel shirt.

15 above zero:New York landlords finally turn up the heat.People in Minnesota have the last cookout before it gets cold.Zero:All people in Miami die.Minnesotans close the windows.

10 below zero:Californians fly away to Mexico.People in Minnesota get out their winter coats.

25 below zero:Hollywood disintegrates.The Girl Scouts in Minnesota are selling cookies door to door.

40 below zero:Washington DC runs out of hot air.People in Minnesota let the dogs sleep indoors.

100 below zero:Santa Claus abandons the North Pole.Minnesotans put the extensions on their ice augers and go fishing.

460 below zero:ALL atomic motion stops (absolute zero on the Kelvin scale.)People in Minnesota start saying..."Cold 'nuff fer ya?"

500 below zero:Hell freezes over.Minnesota public schools will open... .... 2 hours late.

Happy 12th Birthday Granddaughter Mina

They All Want to Come to the US

What should we do? We have a growing problem. I think early migration was tolerated. People were willing to look the other way. Some appreciated them. Some thought they should stay in their own country. Many people who weren't directly impacted thought others were being cruel. "Kind hearted people" fed them. They crossed our border in escalating numbers. There are no official head counts but estimates say there are three to four times as many here as there were a couple decades ago.
They hang together. Live together and cause problems with their overcrowding. Couldn't they cause disease to come into our country and threaten public health? There are people who would like to use their 2nd amendment rights to have a gun and use it. Now, some want to guard the borders, or use dogs to track them.
I admit there have been some problems. In my hometown there was pressure to discourage them from settling here. I am beginning to see both sides and the problems that can follow when too many come in. They have brought down a US Airline plane in New York. Canada Geese. What are we going to do about them?
I usually think of Canada as a nice place to live. This week we have their cold, frigid weather and I understand why those geese fly south. The USA is still a desirable destination in spite of the current economic problems.

Slow as Molasses in January

I haven't blogged for over a week and have been getting "welfare checks" from friends. Doing a blog is like having a bird feeder. You have to maintain it. The first couple of days I didn't blog because I couldn't think of anything relevant to say. Next we were out of town several days. When I received inquiries about my health, I decided not having anything to say had never stopped me before from blogging. What did stop me was my computer. No access to the Internet and no idea why. It said I had a good connection. It also said I was short of memory. I can't remember if it said "virtual memory" or "short term memory" . How did the computer know that? I can't remember.
In a month I will turn 64. When my husband had that birthday he asked the question the Fab Four raised in song years ago, "Will you still need me? Will you still feed me...when I am 64. " I teased him, but it is not so funny now. On top of that I am short of short term memory.
Some people become wise with advancing years. I am not sure I am one of them. We were married almost 41 yrs. ago on a frigid, minus 20 something day. It was so cold the photographer was unable to take photos outdoors. His camera balked. The camera had more sense than the bride and groom who might have posed for those pictures outside. The weather was a lot like we have had this week. It was -20's and we didn't know about wind chills. Would have been a good time to go south to a warmer place on a honeymoon. We drove north to Canada. This week when we got a little case of cabin fever, we drove north to a resort complex through a snowstorm. I don't think we have learned much over the years.