First, the rains. We here in So Cal spent the week wading in the wet stuff. All week. Every commute. Personally, I loved it. My inner Nature Girl blossomed in the downpours. And for the first time in forever, drivers drove at or below the speed limit on the freeways as the heavens opened and the rains came down. A definite reason for rejoicing.

As well, knowing there's a new roof on the house (5 years old) makes me feel secure in that leaks aren't a problem. Such security can't be discounted.

We had fires in the fireplace, healthy comfort food (no, that's not an oxymoron), and truly fresh air to breathe for a week. Fabulous!

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Dad is going in for his knee surgery today. Went in, actually, at 5:30am. He'll be in the hospital for three days, then home and on crutches for a month. In eight months he should be ready to samba! He is very excited about walking without the grinding pain he's been experiencing for the last decade or so. I'm on pins and needles, waiting for the phone call that says all is well and he came out of the anaesthetic just fine. He's 81. I'm allowed to worry.

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This morning, the thermometer read 41 degrees F and yesterday's black rain clouds are a memory as the sun rose in a clear sky, piercingly bright. Frost covered the roofs on the other side of the street, lay on the bare patch of ground in front of our house, sealed our cars shut with gleaming sparkles. Everywhere the frost melted, the water glistened, edging each blade of grass, each rose bush branch, every dandelion head. It was a winter fairyland.

My office isn't on the central heating system of the house. Coming in here this morning, it was just as cold as outside. Luckily, we have a fabulous electric heater by Lasko. It's now 62 degrees. My fingers have thawed, my toes are warming nicely, and writing, my real job, shall soon commence.

Enjoy the day.