Winter has arrived in spades

Small flaked snow is falling steadily, streaming from the West. The white of the snow fall with the snow on the ground is glaring. One almost needs polarized sunglasses to sit on the sun porch for any length of time. And, it is cold. This morning the temperature was 2 degrees Farenheit and the wind chill was minus 12 degrees. At minus 15 degrees, the exposed skin freezes, frost bite, in 20 minutes. KK recommended our walking in the mall today. I, of course, rejected such a notion as we can bundle up against the cold and snow and wind. Indeed, in Alaska, schools don't close until the wind child is minus 50 degrees! Besides, the mall is a very dangerous place: too many places to stop and spend. Hence, with the cost of gasoline, wear and tear on the car, the likelihood of stopping and buying something, a walk in the snow, wind, and cold is vastly economical. One only has to bundle up.

As a compromise, and in marriage there needs to be compromise, I offered to walk with her in the mall after I had walked our usual two mile circuit.

Instead, we both bundled up: wool hat, over glasses polarized sun goggles, scarf covering our faces, jackets over another layer of clothing, mittens, long pants, wool socks, Gortex lined hiking boots, and slip on ice cleats. Off we went. Within 300 feet, our glasses and then goggles began to frost over from our warm breath rising from our mouths and noses into our glasses. Various efforts at clearing the frost, like putting the goggles in pants pockets to rewarm and evaporate the moisture, all met with very limited success. Eventually, KK walked behind me, alla tradition in some parts of the world, and I led along the walkway, through the wetlands, around the lake, back on the icey sidewalks, and finally back home. We traversed the two miles in our usual 17 minute miles, both a testiment to the relatively cleared pathways as well as a deep desire to get inside and out of the weather.

Across the way, the houses snow covered roofs have their furnace vent stacks spewing steamy vapors which twist and twirl in the breeze. The furnaces are on more than they are off. Swirling snow, coming off the roofs give visible evidence of how multifacited wind direction is. I see the wind by what it carries with it. Usually one only feels the wind, and yet it is visible as well. Wind makes me think of sailing. Thinking of sailing, has me reflecting upon a cresent sand beach, a 16 foot Hobie Cat, in the Bahama's.

Today is Superbowl Sunday. We will be hibernating in the basement, in front of our television, snug as a bear in a rug.