So I probably shouldn't tell you about how we're having our third go at the polar vortex? Or about how part of the reason that I haven't posted in weeks is that there have been times when it's been almost too cold to type in my apartment and I had to reserve typing time for work-related writing?

Thanks, Elliska! The trend at the moment seems to be lovely sunshine and then horrendously heavy showers. I'm seeing a lot of rainbows!

Oh yes, we get sunshowers here. But mostly just rain ;-)

Every year, I'm astonished at the difference that the sunlight makes. Even if it's freezing cold outside, just having it be light at least gives a little bit of hope that spring will actually come again.

Sowwy. But at least we haven't had all five feet, two inches of it at once!

I'll get right on the flagpole bit! In the meantime, I have a lovely winter hat that Aunt Pony gave me, that has a big floppy ridiculous bright blue flower right smack in the middle of my forehead. I love this hat, because don't we all need something ridiculous and brightly colored in the middle of winter?

Maybe you need to stick a flagpole into your backpack or something.

I seem to be the only one who thinks not going out in it might be an idea...

Ah. Well, that's an acceptable reason.

No, the scented chemicals are pretty nasty. Irish Spring isn't what you'd call a premium brand of soap. On the other hand, it's common enough that I think it's spawned some imitators. I currently have a bottle of dish soap that bills itself as being "New Zealand Spring" scented. I think I may have to run that one by my Kiwi dance classmate. Who knows? There seems to be a market in America for products scented under the names of "[Anglophone Country] Spring." We could totally get in on this.

We did have a two-day thaw earlier this week, so some of the snow melted, and the rest of it turned to large sheets of ice. A little snow might just be what we need to give us some traction there . . .