I'm Back

[AndyC]

You might have noticed that I'm posting once again, after an absence of a couple of weeks. Well, we're moved, and I finally got around to unpacking the computer. Have to get used to slow dial-up access again, at least until DSL catches up with us. We are now about 400km north/northeast of where we were, having gone from an area populated by half a million to a township of a couple thousand. The temperature is pretty darned chilly, and the snow is much more abundant than it was, as you can see:

On the other hand, check out the view from our bedroom window:

[trekgeezer]

Cool view Andy, reminds of my time in the Aleutians (only we didn't have trees). Is that a mini storage unit I see across the street?

[AndyC]

Yep, there is storage across the street, but it doesn't obscure the view of the town (such that it is) as much as you might think. It actually obscures passing trains more than anything, which is why I think it was built along the road like that. Quite a lot of freight moving by rail up this way.

The view out the back, along with the size and condition of the house more than make up for the odd train though. Can't wait to get out on that lake this summer.

[Ash]

That's a lake behind your house?

I assumed it was a large field covered by snow.

[odinn7]

That's real nice. You'll need to remember to take pictures when (if) the snow melts so we can see it.

[AndyC]

Yeah, I'm told it's the largest freshwater lake in the world without any islands. It's hard to appreciate how wide the lake is until you look at a reference point such as an ice fishing hut or a passing snowmobile. The opposite shore is much farther away than it seems. I'd like to take a walk out there, but having made one attempt, I think I'll need snowshoes.

[AndyC]

Oh, it'll melt. We're not that far north. Mind you, we're far enough that I've been trying to figure out how to change my location on Frappr, and having no luck with it.

[ThadC]

Looks like where I live. I spent the weekend making tunnels in the snow drifts for the kids to play in.

[trekgeezer]

Hey, I had  to get my snow picture in too. It snowed on Friday and the director shut down our office about 1:15 even though there was no likelyhood of it sticking to the roadways.  We have basically just had an extended fall with a drought this year, so getting the ground covered with snow was a great treat for us. We seldom get snow by itself, our winter storms usually consist of freezing rain and sleet.

You can see my neighbors barn and his big expensive cedar post and iron fence. He's the local vinyl siding king and has commercials on just about every local news cast. The barn is not used as such, but houses living quarters and a set he uses for his commercials. He also has about a 5000 sq.ft. house (with no vinyl siding), a couple of large ponds linked by a channel with a bridge over it. When he first dug them I heard the dirt work was about a quarter million dollars and he spent $85,000 getting the bridge built in Wisconsin and shipped down. The guy has more money than brains.

[ThadC]

Don't people like that just make you want to choke them to death? Give ME some cash dude. I have a car payment past due... ;)

[Scott]

Good to see AndyC and ThadC back in town. Hey........what's with all the C's? : )