Baby it's COLD outside!

I suppose if it's going to be so achingly cold outside there should at least be something pretty to compensate for it. This was the view out the back door a couple days ago. We've had more snow since then and the icicles have grown considerably. But that day the sun was hitting them and they looked like diamonds. The ice is pretty when it's hanging there like that. Not so much when it's 6:45am and you hit it skittering around like a drop of watter on a hot skillet in your car. Which is exactly what I did on my way to work the other day. I nearly took out mailbox and narrowly avoided a light pole. I'm proud to report I did not lose bladder control- though it was a close call there too.

Here's one of the differences between Chuck and me. Check out the nice, soft, warm little kitty bed he just bought for our 16 year old cats. It's plush, and got a nice heater to make sure they don't get too cold. (Krazy Karl doesn't look 16 does she Kelsey?)

Apparently I, on the other hand, am a fish killer. I have had a fish tank for about 20 years now. I haven enjoyed watching the interplay of the various fish over the years and have been particularly entertained by a series of green severum, with the collective name of "Uncle Albert". Each of which started out about 1 1/2 inches and grew to almost 10 inches. That last of the line was about 12 years old (to the best of my recollection). I used to have the tank in the living room but a couple years ago I moved it into the guest room. I fed the fish early morning and in the evening before I turned off their tank light. During the nasty cold snap the first of Dec. I fed the fish before I left for school and when I went back in that afternoon to hang up my coat this is what I saw....
I couldn't believe what I was seeing and so went out of the room, re-entered and turned on the overhead light (it was plenty bright enough without it) like that would change what I was seeing. I moved closer and the thermometer read 55 degrees. Apparently the tank heater had chosen that day to give up the ghost. Not "quite" warm enough for tropical fish. Kelsey said it was my fault because I keep the house so stinkin cold. My response that it is a guest bedroom and I don't want to waste fuel heating a room that isn't in use didn't make me feel any better. Sad day.
We had lost an 8 inch silver fish a bout a month before that either Tucker or Spencer had chosen on one of the forays to the pet store we used to make when they were younger and visited. At that time Chuck asked me if I was going to replace it and I replied I'd wait and see.
With the remaining crew all floating reproachfully belly up in the frigid water I had my answer.
I removed the critters, cleaned the tank and after asking around found someone who was delighted to have the set up for their young children. I've said it before and I'll repeat it again... though change is a natural, and necessary part of life, sometimes I don't like it much.

I have bunch more pictures and stories I want to post - but I allowed myself one hour for the computer today. I'm taking the rest of the day off to do anything I want. I haven't done that in ages and I'm not even sure where to begin - but I'm beginning now! :0)