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What is that white stuff out there?

The Four Horsemen of the Snowpocalypse

The Four Horsemen of the Snowpocalypse: Snow, Wind, Ice, and Ice Rain.

We had a much worse winter storm here in December 1996, but as I recall as bad as that was, we didn't lose any major public buildings. Yesterday the auxiliary gym/storage shed for McCleary School had the roof collapse. I only live a block away and was able to snap some phone photos as the authorities cordoned off the area with police tape.

Ice rain is almost unknown here, so when it happens the whole area gets hammered pretty bad.

Our loss of power here in McCleary has been sporadic. We have been much luckier than our neighbors in Olympia.

The photos taken below were shot this morning as I walked around the neighborhood.

Slushy spinout

Normally standing ramrod straight elm now completely bent

My yard is filled with medium-sized pine, elm and black walnut branches.

And now the thawing starts which means deep slush and floods, so it isn't over.

Frosty the Inappropriate Snowman

This morning I walked to beautiful downtown McCleary to get some breakfast since we are all snowed in up here in the hills. And in front of the only tavern in town is a snowman that was constructed, I somehow suspect, with alcohol being involved.

Why is this snowman inappropriate? It is as plain as the nose that used to be on his face.

Winter Kept Us Warm, Covering Earth In Forgetful Snow

VFW Hall, McCleary, Washington

Charlie and Buster soak up the radiant heat of the woodstove

OK, so maybe T.S. Eliot was a snob, but he was a damn fine poet anyway.

First Snow of the Season, McCleary, Washington

Dreamer contemplates the changed scenery

Charlie checks out the scene

Merry Christmas! My 1996 Oldsmobile Ciera Gets ProbablyTotalled!

The best car I've ever had got creamed Christmas morning by a driver who was behind the wheel of a pickup in spite of the fact her license was suspended. Oh, and needless to say she didn't have auto insurance. It's a good thing we cartoonists have a sense of humor and appreciation of the absurd-- it helps us survive on many levels.

No one was hurt, so far as we can tell, but I am sort of sore. If I had been in one of those modern econoboxes instead of my beautiful tank, I suspect there would've been more injuries.

It is possible this wonderful vehicle can be saved, but it doesn't look good. I was really hoping we could grow old together. This auto became part of the family in 1997 when it was only a year old and had about 32000 on the odometer. If this car winds up in a wrecking yard, it will have a lot of great stories to tell when the metal hulks gather 'round the campfire and swap tales in the dead of night.

Here's a brief gallery of my faithful Old Gray who has provided it's drivers and passengers with almost 260000 miles of smoooth riding. The Olds now rests in front on my house, waiting for the verdict from my insurance company. And Doc, give the bad news to me straight, I can take it.