The prediction was the snow would start around one in the morning. I kept checking, no snow. During the night I also checked, no snow. Now, we have snow. It started around nine this morning. It is a fierce storm coming from the north, always the direction of the worst storms. The pine branches had a light covering, but the snow is wet and is sticking to everything. The branches have begun to dip under the weight of the snow. Henry went out, but Nala didn’t. Well, she did go out but turned around and came back inside. I’ve left the inside doors open so Henry can keep an eye on the snow. I keep checking out my den window.

Yesterday I went on a cleaning frenzy. I had reached my breaking point. Clumps of dust would rise into the air everywhere I walked. The bathroom floors had paw prints. I cleaned all of upstairs, including washing and waxing the bathroom floor and down the stairs. I changed the bed. I cleaned the living room. I cursed my cleaning affliction.

I took off my shoes so I could stand on a chair and dust stuff hanging on the walls. When I was safely back on the floor, only one shoe was left. Hmmm, did it walk away on its own? Nope! Hmmm, where could it be? I checked outside. Somehow it had made it to the backyard so I went out to get it. The thief followed me. She grabbed the shoe and ran further into the yard. I didn’t give chase. I picked up trash. After the cleanup, I mentioned a treat. Nala dropped the shoe and ran into the house. It was none the worse for the journey.

When I was a kid, a snow day was a wonder. It was like having another Saturday. I’d watch the snow through the picture window as it fell. I kept checking the blue mailbox on the corner. The snow covered the top, and the pile got higher and higher as the snow fell. The pile never seemed to slip off. I used to guess how much snow had fallen by the height of that pile.

Today I’ll hunker down and read. I’m thinking of making cookies. Chocolate chips sound great.

Today is a beautiful, winter-warm day at 44°. It belies the weather prediction for tomorrow, the snow prediction. Cape Cod can expect severe winds with wind gusts as high as 60 mph and snow total accumulations of between 4 and 8 inches. The only saving grace is the Cape is under a snow watch, not a winter storm warning because somewhere along the line it will rain for a bit then turn back to snow.

I am taking a break today. I am not sick. I haven’t fallen. All is well, but I have quite a bit to do here in the house. If I don’t start now, the sloth in me will have full rein, and I’ll nothing.

Talk to you tomorrow.

Today is still warm, 46°. My Google says the day is sunny. He obviously doesn’t have a window as it is another cloudy day. It is a stay at home day. I did my errands yesterday. I do have some chores I’ve been ignoring. I just may vacuum, but I just may not.

My Christmas lights still shine every night. They keep the darkness at bay. Usually I just have white lights on the deck bannister all year, but this year I kept the colored lights. I am not alone. When I ride anywhere at night, I am amazed at how many houses still have their Christmas lights lit. They make me smile.

If I were wealthy, I’d circle the world. I would visit places I still dream about like Polynesia and some of its islands. Bali is one of those islands, an idyllic island bursting with beauty, at least according to the pictures. I’d take a safari in East Africa. I’d go to India. It has long been a place I’ve wanted to visit. Cambodia and Ankor Wat are on the list. I’d go to Thailand. I’d see countries in Europe like Croatia and Romania. It is my dream list.

Last night I watched The Creeping Terror which rivals Plan Nine for the worst movie ever made. The plot is simple: an extraterrestrial which looks like a giant slug eats people whole. There is almost no dialogue. A narrator is the only speaker throughout most of the movie. The Terror swallows a mother hanging laundry, a grandfather and his grandson, couples at Lover’s Lane, some picnickers and a crowd at a dance hall. These victims did not run. I loved the line from the narrator after Lover’s Lane,” Anyone who witnessed that catastrophe and survived would never go there again.” Most victims just stand in front of the Terror screaming or just looking dazed. The army came as it often does with rampaging extraterrestrials. One army group kept shooting, but the Terror was not stopped; instead, it swallowed most of them. “My God!!! What is it???!” is my favorite line. I watched it until the end. I couldn’t help myself.