Natural causes

So it seems we weathered the 'ice storm of the decade year current time period' okay: no power outages and a fabulous amount of home cooking done (mostly by my other thirds, I'm just a sous chef). I had yesterday off from work (well, from 3pm Tuesday, really) and managed to learn a lot about my computer problems and even relax some. And, oatmeal butterscotch cookies; need I say more?? *contented sigh*

We moved two out of the three cars from under the 80-year-old poplar tree (although some of us still slept under it - oops?) but nothing fell besides some minor branchlets (nothing like diermuid's dodge!)...it's in good condition, but as it sits right over our master bedroom, I'm fairly certain of how I'll die in 50 or 60 years. Took me about two hours to warm up/defrost/deice my car last night once the porecipitation stopped, but it was worth it to not have to do it this morning... and neither kittenpants or featherynscale have to drive today, thanks to the intrepidness of saffronhare. Goooo Minivan Galactica!

In other news, I'm really of mixed mind about the effects of the "wall of water" that hit the Indian Ocean 10 days or so ago... probably because of all the different information sources I have. American news focuses on the hundreds of deaths of Western tourists, Google news runs up the death toll like a pedometer as news organizations try to gain the 'upper hand' so to speak, libertarians debate the economic impacts and 'benefits' of an influx of foreign aid to the region, the Bush Administration *seems* to tell everybody to go fly a kite, charity will handle it... and charities are stepping up in staggering proportions. But really...

( Fair warning: You're likely to get offended at this )