“Have a seat.”
“Mad About Pets” says they got fourteen inches of snow last week in Wisconsin. From this I see some context might be in order. You might need that if you’re not from around here, to empathize with what we’re going through down here in Arkansas.
If you expect this blog to be about Bugs and not the weather, I understand. Here are a few pictures from this morning and then you can run along and go do something else.
For those of you who care about what we’re going through, though, here’s the poop.
Normally winters around here are no big deal. The Arkansas approach to road-clearing generally runs to give it a day or two and it’ll thaw.
We’re pretty hilly up here in the Ozarks. Even so.
So you learn in a hurry that if it starts to sleet and you happen to be from home, you find a place to hole up right where you are. It’ll thaw in a day or two.
That’s not working for us now. In the fifteen years I’ve been here, I can’t remember a winter like this.
It snowed all day yesterday and into the night. I might need to remind you who aren’t from here that this is on top of .50 inch of ice and the odd two-three inches of snow we got a day or two or six ago. Now we got, I don’t know, four to six inches on top of that.
That calls for another photo-essay, then, before we can get back to telling about the Pet-Friendly Motel Caper.
Also, it should be noted that we have entirely run out of rosemary-scented tuna bites. I haven’t stirred since I got home from drum class last Monday night. That would make this the fifth day in, then.
It’s not going to thaw in a day or two from now, neither. It’s not going to thaw in the coming week. So pretty soon I’m going to have to mush over to the supermarket, see what they got in the way of – never mind rosemary-scented tuna bites. By this time we’re talking your oatmeal.
Hang on a minute, though. I need to answer the door.
That was Paul. We already cited him with the Milk of Human Kindness Award. What shall we honor him with this time?
Supreme Allied Commander of Sustenance & Happiness.
Look what Paul just brought us:
That kind of ruins my bid for empathy, though. Doesn’t it. Never mind. Never say die.
How about this: Here are the pictures I took.
At dawn. This morning.
Got that? I got up early.
It was around zero degrees f. out.
Are you still there?
Oh never mind. Paul?
Bugs wants to shake your paw.
Awesome fireworks photo by kind free permission of person who really gets what this internet thing is all about, at http://www.pdphoto.org/
catself 
Dontcha hate it when your all set to become grumpy and someone comes along and does something nice? When all that melts there might be some flooding too.
I loved your feel good story and photos. It’s been nice to have your on-going saga to read…especially these bitter cold days of being cooped up indoors. Finally today, Stanley and I got out and walked the neighborhood just to breathe some fresh air and experience blue sky, sun and mushy snow. I noticed very few cars out and about, but the drivers of the ones who passed us all waved “Hello.” I’m sure that wouldn’t have happened without all the bad weather reminding us to be more grateful for other people.