There was a piece of orange garbage bag stuck to the bottom of the ladder on top of the truck whose business it is to set up Christmas lights and clean eavestroughs. Good combination. It looked like a dog but I've heard that a giant cat lives in the area and perhaps that was it. Wonder if everyone will mention the surprise cyclist and his dog. Counted 5 cars crossing the bridge in a row: quite the line for this time of night. The river remains unfrozen and it is likely that the pine beetle has survived. Three weeks of -30: don't know if I can hack that. That kind of cold turns the world into a prison, there is nowhere but nowhere to walk. Tonight the weather's fantastic, warm, warm, warm, reminding me of Spring, although it's way to early for such considerations. Christmas lights and brilliant nights: the mountains look pretty cool against the dark winter sky. Could probably eat two bags of cheezies.