We're finally leaving the dark of winter behind. It's strange, we're not that much further north than Minnesota but it seems like the deepest part of winter is a lot darker, with much less daylight than back there. It seems like even in the middle of the day we needed to have lights on. I think it had something to do with our living on the north side of Rutherford Pass. We're really in the shade of the ridge.

This, plus Marsha's crazy schedule has completely confused the cats. We're coming and going at all hours and they just have no idea what time it is, when they're going to get fed, when treats are. They did figure out that I'm the one who usually feeds them and Marsha gives them the Friskies Treats.

There has been a few odd side effects of our wild schedule. A couple of weeks ago Marsha woke up at 1:00 and could't get back to sleep she got up and went into the other room to "not disturb us". This was a success, until just after 2:00 when she decided to vacuum the carpets. Neither the cats or I were amused.

The odd schedule and continual darkness is having the expected effects on the rest of us as well. Geiger has developed a taste for Puffed Wheat cereal. In the afternoon you can find Momiji especially chasing Marsha around the house for treats. I thought I was handling things well until mid week. It was colder that day so I wore a nice fine knit dark blue pull over cotton sweater that I got for Christmas. It looks really good and I got a couple of nice comments on it. Later in the week I went to wear it again. I noticed it had a nice red crest on the left lapel. Then I realized that the crest wasn't there when I was at Pacific Shores. Apparently I had the sweater on backwards and nobody had the heart to tell me. It puts the nice comments in a whole new light. This is the same place I went to a few months ago with my shirt on inside out. I've been doing my part to keep the geek image alive.

In the dark of winter Marsha has developed a fondness for Mystery shows. CSI, Bones, NCIS, and the like. I keep telling her that I'm starting to wonder if she's trying to get ideas. Mostly she has this on when she's making dinner. This week she made several great meals. One that she came up with is this

Fecjecztaslav*

2 parts Chopped cabbage
1 part Chopped green pepper
1 part Chopped carrots
1 part Chopped celery
salt and pepper to taste
Kraft coleslaw dressing
couple teaspoons of vinegar (to taste)

All ingredients including the cabbage should be cut to confetti sized pieces.
Toss together and mix with the dressing and vinegar.
It's simple and very good (*it's pronounced Fiesta Slaw).

Another thing Marsha made this week was a wonderful chili. On a cold (it was just above freezing outside) dark winter night, chili and french bread is a great meal. At least usually it is. That night I got myself a bowl of chili and sat down with Marsha. She had on one of her murder mystery shows and they had just discovered the victim. I looked at the screen filled with a body that had set out WAY too long before being found. Then I looked at my bowl filled with something of about the same texture. I got up and went in the other room. Chili is best served with Top Gear, or Angry Beavers, or a Gopher Basketball Game. Blood, guts and Chili just don't work.

D&M


The rain has stopped and Marsha stopped by the beach to take some pictures. While there a ship came by. Even in the pictures we can't make out a name on the ship. It was interesting that it had a large submersible on the back deck and was flying both the US and Canadian flags. Wonder what they were up to.