Those of you on in this Storm on the East coast--I hope you are all safe. My wife made a

[H2O Man]

17. Same to you & yours!

I live in rural, upstate New York. While I definitely prefer the warm summer months, I am able to make the best of it in times like these. My driveway is a long section of an old turnpike -- the second in this county, which was just beyond the "western front" at the time of the Revolutionary War. It turns into a beautiful dirt road, which in times past went to Ithaca.

In the late 1700s - early 1800s, my house was a stage coach station. Upstairs was the township's first post office, along with a doctor's office. I like to think about what life was like back then, when the winter weather was similar to this. The central chimney, which has three fireplaces and a Dutch oven, must have had roaring flames to keep folks warm.

Outside, it is absolutely silent today. I hobbled out to my pond, with sunflower seeds, to fill the bird-feeders. But I didn't see any birds.

Later tonight, my youngest daughter and I will bring our youngest dog out to play. Rocky is half-Husky, half-German Shepherd. He absolutely loves this weather. He is a tumbling clown in the deep snow, jumping around in a manner similar to the cartoon character Tigger.

Then, we'll come inside, make some popcorn, and watch the movie "Rob Roy." She remembered that I love the film, and bought me a new copy for New Years.

And I'll try not to think about my heating bill ......