It has been an interesting weekend. Mike Blakely's protagonist in his book had a relevant comment on worry that I tried to use all weekend. We kept worrying that the power would go off in our all-electric home and it would freeze the pipes, etc. Yesterday they lost power for 45 minutes in Cross Plains, but we kept going. Friday I had a load of firewood delivered and not a minute too soon. I fired up the fireplace Thursday night when the norther came in and have used all my old wood and several hand truck loads from the new stack out at the driveway. It is a slippery walk up there on the ice coated grass. Don't dare get on the glazed walkway. I haven't fallen yet, but have slipped around. I feed the birds their sunflower seeds each morning and they really appreciate it.

This morning at 2:12 we finally lost power. I got up and opened the fireplace because the blower doesn't work without electricity, started a fire in the upstairs wood stove and went back to bed. The power returned about 4:30 and we appreciate the workers for Taylor Electric who braved the ice storm to restore it. The clouds cleared during the night and the temperature dropped to 19 degrees, but that isn't bad compared to the 15 below in Wyoming reported last night by Candy Moulton in Lou's conference call with the WWA board.

Lou is learning how to lower her back pain by being careful how she uses it. I will call again in a few minutes to try to schedule her surgery in FW. The doctor we wanted is going on vacation and won't be back till March so we will schedule the next available one who is rated highly also. They are saying the week of Jan. 22 or 29.