Baby, it's cold outside.

Yes, I know it's colder elsewhere. But now it's cold here.

It's probably as well that Jay is away on business just now. It was below zero (F) when I got home last night and I could almost watch the temperature drop, as the sky was quite clear and heat could readily radiate off into the great heat sink of space.

This morning it was about -13 F out. I left early, wearing my windbreaker under my wool cloak and the fuzzy gloves my folks gave me for Christmas over my leather gauntlet gloves. That kept me warm, or at least not too cold, though it was a reminder of just how hard things can be with heavier gloves.

The garage door opener worked, though it grumbled a bit, and the car started on the first try - though it may have had to turn just a bit longer than usual. As this looks like the coldest it'll be this season, I think the battery will get through the winter. I should have a load test done next fall, though, and possibly get a replacement before next winter. I'm still on the original battery from 1997, so I don't expect it to last just too much longer.

Used the extra time to drive around a bit more than usual, to get things good and hot. The last couple evenings I've been doing that as well. And it looks like I'll be doing that again tonight.

The forecast actually has the temperature up in the 40s next week, which will be welcome, if a bit strange. I'm just hoping that the predicted snow for Saturday won't be too much. I'd like to get out and maybe go to Sioux Falls or something.

The current temperature...

as told by the time & temp. service:

"Temperature... minus zero... and rising."