12/31/25 6:30 24F (-4.4C) The sky is blue, the ground is frozen. There is no wind.

Home from California. The cold bites my fingers like a puppy.  It’s teeth are sharp.

Ducks circle up from the weeds, heading out for a morning sortie. Dawn Patrol.

Behind me the mini-split rumbles but the house refuses to warm above 63F (17.2C).

The clothes washer is broken with a load of wet laundry inside.

Snow is forecast for the New Year.

First world problems and, when I  think about it, I am glad to have them.

On the other  side of the continent a sleepless madman orders his minions to kill and torture poor people and they leap to comply.

Happy New Year.