Monday arrives with the threat of more rain.

The month of November winds down to a close. Winter has well and truly arrived to my part of the world. Last night was so cold I had the oven on, with the door open (and the pilot light lit, so those taking bets--you lose :P ) as well as the small electric heater in the living room. After 3 hours it STILL said only 67 degrees in here.

I love old houses but this one is as drafty as a castle on a craig (or a gordon). The windows are original, single pane. I'd like to get them replaced but I'm not sure Kay is going to spring for that replacement and I'm sure not going to as I can't take them with me if I ever move.

At least yesterday was nice out. The wind was chill but the sun was warm. Two friends came to visit for the afternoon. We strolled downtown to have lunch in a sunny garden (with heaters fortunately) and talk and laugh. It has been far too long since I'd seen them. My former roommate used to give Creative way too much grief and piece of her mind, yes also felt proprietary towards him. I speak with him almost every day and yet had not seen him or his lovely girlfriend in over a year. So, needless to say, yesterday was a lot of catching up to do.

This week sees her birthday, sees the Enigma's birthday and next week sees Creative's birthday. A nice way to transition into the dark month. Only 30 more days, give or take, before our days once again grow a little longer, a little brighter.

Here's to the end of the year and the reawakening of spring.

The Blue States Group

Visualize a map of the United States, with each state colored according to the approval ratings it gave the president in the latest SurveyUSA, a poll funded by a consortium of media organizations. Those states in which more people approve than disapprove are colored pink (for mildly approve) or orange (for moderately approve). There are no red states, because there are no states in which the president's approval rating tops 60 percent.

But there are deep blue states, oh yes, because there are many states where the president's approval rating is less than 35 percent. I am proud to say that I live in one of those states. Even more disapproving than California is New York. Well, sure, you say: Those are the effete, gay-loving, Christ-hating coastal states. What of the heartland? What of the states that George Bush won in 2004?

Oops, they don't like him either. Missouri, Kansas, Kentucky: all blue. Texas is blue. Iowa is really blue, almost as blue as Illinois. Florida: blue. Colorado: blue. Isn't this fun? If this is not fun for you, move on.

Georgia: blue. Nevada: blue. We un-Bush people -- Democrats, Libertarians, conservationists, progressives, ozone-huggers and torture-haters -- have felt just a little abandoned recently. Now, it would appear, the pendulum has swung. (Memo to politicians of all persuasions: The pendulum always swings. The people you meet on the way up are the same people you meet on the way down. That's why arrogance is a bad idea; that's why hubris has such a bad rep.)

Surely it's not a clean sweep. Well, no, three states are still firmly in the president's camp: Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. The Sagebrush Rebellion lives on.

CAUGHT!

I caught them. I caught them all. After nearly a year of uneasy cohabitation, all three of my furry, four-legged fiends, er friends, have been caught cuddled up together and napping peacefully.

And here I was going to rename them Israel and Palestine.

Food!

It is a bitter cold and soggy night. The rain is increasing in strength and the temperature, never high today has plummeted. What better night for a big batch of Southwestern Turkey Chili
Some toasted whole-wheat pita points, with homemade baba ganouche garnished with pomegranate pearls. Tossed off with a nice big salad, yummy!

This will keep me warm tonight.