The News From Here

This current cold snap will only last a few days, but it is seriously nippy. Tonight, the temperature will be in the low single digits (@ -15 C) with a wind chill advisory in effect for seventeen below zero (- 27 C)! But next week we could hit 50 (10 C). Thus proving the adage: “If you don’t like the weather in New England, wait a few minutes.”

The Iowa Caucuses will take place tomorrow. The caucuses are a cross between a town meeting and a presidential primary. They get a huge amount of coverage in the U.S. media, but relatively few Iowans actually participate. Tomorrow evening, we’ll know if Barack Obama, John Edwards or Hillary Clinton won the Democrat’s side of the race. We’ll also know if Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee or “fill-in-the-blank” won the Republican’s side. All of these candidates have been campaigning for months. Some of them are tipping into their third calendar year of active pursuit of the Oval Office. Unfortunately, the general election isn’t until November of 2008. Oy. And Iowa is just the first state - next stop: New Hampshire. Me? I’m counting the days until January 20, 2009. That’s when the U.S. will inaugurate a brand new president. May the best Democrat win...

The weather and political reports out of the way, let’s move on to a human interest story. Chuck is sick. My head cold is fading fast and (despite my mother’s dire predictions) Chuck never caught it. He did, however, manage to pick up an icky 24 hour bug. We personally limited the bug to 24 hours, but apparently it might be more like 48. We’re standing firm and refuse to renegotiate a longer lease. Chuck has progressed from apple juice and Saltine crackers to chicken soup and Saltine crackers, so we remain optimistic.