So, how cold was it? When I went to bed at around 2:30 a.m., the thermometer outside my kitchen window read 3 degrees. I don’t know what Pepperell’s “official” low was.
But more vividly, it was so cold…that my car door froze.
There’s nothing unusual about the frame freezing and sticking–with all the crazy fluctuations in temperature (mild and raining to deep freeze to mild again), that’s been happening all the time. But that’s nothing that a solid body-slam to the door panel won’t shake loose. 🙂
I got up this morning, or rather, peeled myself off the pavement as usual, and decided that I just had time to get to the post office with a package of review books to mail. I should have gone yesterday but I just couldn’t face going out (it’s not the temperature so much as the wind). I packed up the books, did the Click-n-Ship label online, went out, beat up on the car to get the driver’s door open, started the engine (not even a moment’s hesitation, good car!) shut the door, and…
…it wouldn’t stay shut. The latch was frozen! The door lock button wouldn’t move and the door wouldn’t latch!
The authorities frown darkly on you for driving whilst holding your door shut with one hand, even though I always wear a seatbelt. It’s pretty hard to do with a standard transmission, anyway. I had to go inside, unroll the big reel of heavy extension cord and run it out the door, get out the hair dryer (which I never use on my hair but keep handy for just this sort of thing), and blast the car’s door latch until it loosened up.
Sheesh.
I did make it to the post office on time! Had another check from Brodart, too.
No such problems with the new computer. I’ve now tested out the digital camera, the camcorder and the little generic MP3 player and the new computer handshakes with all of them. I’m learning how to use the Bamboo Pen. OMG, that thing is amazing. It’s like magic! I’m darned if I can understand how it works! And I don’t have to disable or unplug the ordinary mouse, either. But using the Bamboo Pen for graphic design is going to take some practice. It’s an incredibly sensitive tool. I’m still installing software apps–Skype and Second Life so far today.
Gods, the Full Moon was stunning last night. I could have read a book outside, except for the minor inconvenience of freezing solid, which makes it hard to turn the pages. 🙂 I did a Full Moon ritual which went very well. Wednesday is true Imbolg, at 5:49 p.m. local time.
The ARCs of The Longer the Fall have shipped. I’ll be sending those out next week.