it's about eight below out there, and going down fast; it will probably get to fifteen below tonight. tomorrow night might be equally cold or worse. i got up my nerve and went out in it; fortunately i was only going around town (galeburg illinois). at the hy-vee people were busy gathering supplies, and as usual very friendly.

galesburg is a train town and i could see a train in the distance blocking the tracks. this meant i had to go over a bridge which of course is high drama on the way back down. i made it though; the roads were ok. i had to go around several times; i'm sure that train had its own problems.

i saw this one kid in a slightly larger car stuck in a berm created by the snowplows. he was actually in the driveway of a gas station and was trying to get back onto the main road, but made the mistake of trying to go right over this berm which held his car while his wheels were fruitlessly spinning in the snow. in my younger days i would have got out of the car and helped him; he'd need a major push. today i did nothing; i am seventy, and earlier today i fell off our stairs and into a snow-bank, and i just decided, with snow blowing, icy roads, and minus eight, i'd leave it for the younger folks. he had someone with him. he was right at a main road. i am hoping someone helped him. it couldn't be me, today.

i'm not sure how it happened that i fell off the steps and into a snow-bank; i was very lucky. i have a few bruises. i just want to stay in my chair with puppy in lap. i'm hoping no pipes freeze. friends and family are encouraging me to stay put. it's not the kind of blizzard you want to be stuck out there in.