Snowmageddon

So Winter Blast 2006 has come and gone, and Western Washington has almost recovered from the carnage.  My favorite part of snow "storms" in the Seattle area is the native's proclivity for exaggerating the depth of the snow - like an insecure man guessing his junk is "8 inches" (meaning 4 1/2), Seattleites  are breathlessly reporting to their family about the 5 inches of snow they got (meaning 2) or 8 inches (meaning 4 1/2).  While I will admit that the combination of rain during the day Monday, heavy snow following and rapid temperature drop to 20 degrees and below caused unusually dicey driving conditions, this really wasn't that big a crisis.  Dude - it's just snow.  The snow itself was not the problem. (as usual)  It was amazing to watch locals both spinning tires (jamming the accelerator down to try and force the car to get traction) and sliding helplessly every time they stopped, no matter how low the speed (hey kids - pump the brakes, don't stomp the brakes), and driving 5 miles an hour with chains on streets covered with nothing more dangerous than dirty water.  The DOT was no help, either - their advice on Monday night (when Switzer was treated to a 7 hour commute thanks to locals mucking up the roads with their horrible driving skills) was to "drive as slowly as possible" (!!!). 

For the record, that's horrible fucking advice.

Anyhoo, as you can see, I'm writing again.  The cast is off Mr. Thumb!  Mobility is still pretty limited, but at least I don't have to suffer the constant indignity of needing help tying shoes or buttoning my shirt.  And I can write with my good hand now, so it doesn't look (as much) like the penmanship of a 5-year old with ADHD.  So woohoo on that.  No golf or other sports that require a strong grip or twisting the hand until January, on doctor's orders...as though I have a grip to speak of at this point. 

So I have lots of stuff stored up in my head to write (writing was so uncomfortable and difficult I gave up trying to blog - a very depressing state of affairs, because I had some really good stuff but no outlet), and I'll try to retch it all up for your reading pleasure over the next few days/weeks.  Or, I'll forget all the stuff I've been inspired to write and I'll do something else entirely different.  Whatever.  The point is, I'm back.

Finally, while I was unable to write, I was able to - with some difficulty, cursing and pain - wield tools.  This means that the 2 1/2 month odyssey to add a stereo to Wiggles was finally completed.  I know, putting in a sound system should take an afternoon.  I never claimed to be good at this stuff, ya know!  Anyhoo, if you're interested in seeing what I've done, click here to take a look at my Wiggles page.  It'll be updated as periodic work is done (like replacing the wiper switch, motor and linkage, which is desperately needed...).  Woot!