As I usually start my news in the middle of the previous week I can tell you that Friday morning the thermometer read 9 below and I needed to go "to town" for supplies, the main one being gas for the old snowplows. I don't plow much snow but I do use them for transportation in the area.
According to the weather weirdo on Channel 16 we will have snow to plow on Saturday so all I have to do is find a place to put it.
Since the replacement of the bridge I find it much harder to raise the level of the "crick" by adding surplus snow and raising the salt content of the Chesapeake Bay.
Chris in Florida was not making a big thing out of the fact that it was only 30 degrees a couple of nights. I bet he was not riding the Harley to work on those mornings.
Cindy spoke with her sister Shirley who along with husband Richard is spending some time cruising all over Florida. She was on some island at the time but said it was 32 degrees.
My wife announced Thursday evening her plans to embark on a shopping excursion on Friday. I asked if I was supposed to go along and was told "no" rather quickly but I could if I really wanted to. I did not really want to so I went to Canton and helped out at least five businesses.
My first stop was the Chatterbox where I found a school bus driver waiting out the delay, a tax preparer on her way to work and a waitress who is not used to being up so early. A few minutes later a retired postal worker and a semi-retired farmer arrived and together made for some stimulating conversation. My children refer to our table as the "save the world table" but nothing important ever is said (kinda like Facebook).
I read that Ward Township had seven visitors at their meeting. How does that happen. I can't recall the last time we here in Alba had a visitor. Oh, once in a while we have Mr. Miller from the Fire Department but I don't look at him as a visitor. I must find out Ward's secret. Maybe they serve coffee and donuts.
I will tell you we have an issue or two that will be the topic of a few meetings in the spring. Of course I can't give out any further information here, but residents, voters and taxpayers in Alba Boro are always welcome.
I see by the TV news NASCAR has a scandal brewing. What is it with these guys anyway? Do I have to boycott another sport? Football already has been banned from my TV because of rapists and wife/girlfriend-beaters. Does Kurt Busch feel he has to follow suit, or when you reach that level of popularity and income do you think rules don't apply? His brother Kyle had a huge wreck on Saturday so although I was not a big fan of either of these guys I have sympathy for Kyle but not for the other. I don't like to see drivers hurt but I, like everyone else (c/mon, admit it!) enjoy a good wreck. A continuous left turn with an occasional stop for gas does get boring.
Well, another Saturday, another auction. On the way home through Granville we spotted forty or fifty wild turkeys in a field. A new load of the birds' favorite food had just been spread on the ground, sorta like a bird buffet. I guess they eat some grass and berries now and then so they do have a balanced diet. Is that why they are considered fowl? As one who was involved in a chicken operation in the past (way past) I was quite amazed when I first witnessed a chicken (aka small turkey) eat, then immediately turn around so they could eat what they missed the first time. That's enough about that.
When I talked to Chris down in Florida the other night he said he might obtain some tickets to Daytona. By obtain I think he meant weasel them or call in a favor or otherwise use his connections to "obtain" them. He being involved with Goodyear and she (significant other) employed by Caterpillar might help. I declined his invitation because the last time I attended the race lasted about twice as long as normal (hole-in-the-track) and I thought I would freeze solid.
On TV I can see wrecks four or five times and not have to pay five times what it's worth for a sandwich or drink. I didn't buy any but I think the price of a beer, probably 12 oz., was $7. Hot chocolate would have been a better choice.
So what is the news on Sister Street? Another week of wind, snow and below zero mornings. Wait that's not news. As I write this on Sunday the President's (Washington's) birthday it is 24 degrees and predictions are for above freezing this afternoon. Now, that will be news.
I did see two youngsters from across the "crick" riding down "Kniffin's" hill on Sunday. Riding down hill in this age of computers is news and a rare occurrence.
42 degrees on a Sunday afternoon isn't bad either. But 9 degrees at 5:00 am Monday stinks.