So, after what was the warmest December ever with the least amount of snow, ever (2.1″ vs. a normal 45″ or so), our luck finally ran out. After an early morning (like, midnight) high temperature of 20 yesterday, we plummeted into the single digits and have just now gotten up to around 10°. Plus, I had to get out on the tractor at 5:00 yesterday morning to plow the driveway (I even shoveled the walk). Not that I’m complaining (much) though. Things are supposed to start warming up a bit, and it looks like we’ll be in the 40s and rainy for the weekend (though they say we’ll have another arctic blast for a few days next week). And even if we have a “normal” year from here on out, at least we were spared a miserable November and December.

In other news, I reckon everybody’s heard about the brave patriots who have taken over a federal wildlife preserve (and gift shop) in Oregon. Twitter has dubbed them as ‘Y’all Qaeda’ or – my preference – ‘Vanilla ISIS’. The are prepared to fight and die – though they forgot to bring snacks, so if you could send them some Little Debbie’s (I think they have more than enough Ding Dongs), they’d greatly appreciate it. And although they despise the tyranny of the Federal Government, they are happy to have you send them whatever you can via the USPS.

I’m not sure if this Junior Bundy guy aspires to be the next Prime Minister of the Duchy of Grand Fenwick or what. On the one hand, I find this all rather amusing. On the other, it pisses me off that these assholes think it’s OK for them to steal what belongs to all of us for their own personal use. And I’m certain that if these weren’t white people, they’d be branded as thugs and wiped off the planet (or thrown into prison) with the full backing of all the Republican candidates for President (which, sadly, no longer includes George Pataki. You know, I really thought he had a shot).

I think I mostly wish everybody would just ignore them until they get cold and tired and run out of pretzels and Old Milwaukee and then declare victory and head back to Arizona.