Why the snow-removal guys couldn't find the cabin

They actually know where it is [I think] — they just couldn't get to it. There are advantages and disadvantages to being a little ways from a paved road, grasshopper. The crew will give it another shot tomorrow. More snow on the way, ay caramba. Photo by Robert Gauthier for the Los Angeles Times: one of a series you can view here.

If the drive-thru window's open, how bad can it be?

Pretty bad, actually. I still wish I were there. [Photos from the webcams at Rimoftheworld.net. That's Big Bear Lake, above, and Running Springs, below.]

This is insane

So my beautiful California is burning up — and both Laura and Heather claim it's... snowing. And they have photos — gorgeous, amazing photos — to prove it. Unreal.

Check out Laura's scary post on the worst South Dakota blizzard in 30 years — photos here. And the weather went all Andrew Wyeth [did I mention how much I love Heather's writing?] over at the most excellent Raised by Wolves. I swiped the photo above from Heather's blog because I love the colors. More of her snow scenes here.

It's done.

Finished snowing. On this blog. Forever. How people can bear to live where it snows for month after month is a complete mystery to me. I lasted less than a week, and with no shoveling. Hack news: the blog title font is Night Sky. The little penguin and his snowman are in the corner of each post -- they offer a quick return to the top of the page. The return code is courtesy of Rosa; penguin from La Bloguería. Yes, I'm storing all this away for next year.