We got about 6 inches of snow last night, creating a winter wonderland out there. It’s not great. Mary was stuck at work last night, not getting home until after midnight…and then her car got stuck in the snow on the road, and the sheriff’s deputy had to shuttle her home. The car is still stuck out there. This morning we’re going to have to clear our driveway, and then call a tow truck to bring the car home. It’s all a big headache.
I also think we’re going to have to go shopping on Black Friday, which I’ve always avoided, but I don’t think Mary’s winter coat is quite adequate, and since all the predictions say this will be a snowy winter. That is, we’ll go shopping if our car is back and functional in the next day or two.
In happier news, today is Knut’s birthday, and he’s away in Korea learning Tae Kwon Do.
If only he were here, he’d have all the snow cleared in a flash.
FWIW, I’ve heard that they’re not doing nearly as much hiring for retail stores as they normally do this time of year, and that the truck stop stations are also less busy. If true, you won’t have the Black Friday crowds, at least.
And for those doubting Minnesota winters, and/or those who think that Canada is snow covered year round, today’s high and low here in Ottawa will be 46 F and 34 F. And with plenty of rain to clear out the little snow which we do have.
Our black friday shopping is entirely in our small town, so I don’t expect to have to deal with crowds or traffic.
I took Tae Kwon Do back during my junior high years.
I take it from Chuck Norris’ wikipedia entry that he learned this when stationed in Korea:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_Soo_Do
Not sure how much Koreans seeking to differentiate their style from the overbearing nature of Japanese oppression played a role in the evolution of Taekwondo. Interesting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taekwondo#History
I went shopping last night after work and it was nightmare enough. Yipes. Not planning to emerge from my house until Saturday except maybe to the corner store for beer and jerky. Won’t need to leave the neighborhood.
Off topic: I’m hating how iOS 26 has made once simple tasks like text searches and copy/paste into a literally opaque thicket of hell. Progress?
@1: Greetings from Kanata. Yeah, winter sort of snuck up on us here — I didn’t even get the final leaf-raking and lawn-scalping done. Not going to bother now.
Up in the mountains of the BC interior, it’s hovering around 0c and we have a tenacious centimeter of snow or so. Thankfully got most of the outdoor work done already this month.
Happy birthday to Knut, and I hope that he enjoys Tae Kwon Do.
My 12 year old grandson recently earned his black belt, and his 9 year old brother is in the early classes.
They both enjoy it, and it gives them a good outlet for their boundless energy.
I’m glad to be back in CA. We were visiting Seattle, but left just as a few days of rain were beginning.
“PZ Meyres advocates for child labor”
Happy to see your family doing well.