January 28

Up until last night, Boston has had 44.5 inches of snow this winter. This morning, more fell -- four more inches, by my measurement.

This storm, however, didn't just bring snow. First it was snow, then sleet and freezing rain, then plain rain. The snow fell heavily enough that the plows and sanders didn't actually finish their jobs before the sleet and rain arrived. Sand and salt added to snow being wet by rain makes for a cold, viscous, slushy mud that's really quite gross. Depending on the weather, being behind one of these trucks can be a blessing or a curse. Blessing in icy weather, because you get better traction, and curse in this kind of weather, where the mud on the roads gets just about everywhere.

It's not too cold right now, and the rain will end soon. The best word to describe the current weather is "gross." And statistically, February is Boston's snowiest month. I'm trying very hard not to dwell on that bit of awesome, cheery news.

28/365 -

January 14

Peace signs magically appeared in the snow blanketing my poor, snowbound automobile overnight last night. I immediately thought of the Eagles song "Peaceful Easy Feeling," when I saw it. It was pleasant and pretty and strikingly eye-catching, and I hummed a few bars of the song, off-key, as I photographed the pleasant discovery. I started off the cold winter day in a decent mood.

Well, I got over that pretty quickly.

I was more than an hour late to work today, after not accomplishing a whole lot to begin with, when I stopped for lunch at a local fast food place, placed my order, and realized I didn't have my wallet with me. I went home and couldn't find the stupid thing, so I had to turn my bedroom upside down and shake it, since that was the last place I positively remember having it. My bedroom, which is somewhat cluttered to begin with, now bears a striking resemblance to ... well, a room that's been turned upside down and shaken vigorously. When an hour's searching revealed nothing but the floor, the bed, and various dirty clothes, I despaired of finding it and simply grabbed the keys and prayed that I wouldn't be caught driving to work without my license.

The wallet was in the car the entire time.

It's days like this that it's not worth falling out of bed in the morning.

14/365 -