Had a cordial telephone conversation today with a woman from the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards about the lack of heat  at iCape.

The state guidelines are just that and OSHA has no regulations on workplace temperature, which seems crazy, but there you have it.

That was the temperature at Robert’s workplace today.

I brought the boys a box of Starbucks dark roast and two hot sandwiches. Robert insisted on giving me tip money to cover cost.

Later, I dropped off our little Duraflame electric heater and a pizza from Zoe’s.

Ron acted like a heartless asshole, giving me a hard time about “proving” that the store really was cold “because of (his) scientific background”. I informed him that the thermostat measured 48 degrees and the thermometer, 45. He argued that maybe the owner wants it cold. I told him there were already 3 space heaters in the store, but only one, which had been provided by no lesser personage than the store manager, was working.

Unbelievable how anyone can have so little feeling for a grandchild.

The tailgate had been frozen, but I managed to get it open eventually, so we were able to do a transfer station run.

Even changed sheets and did laundry, per usual Sunday routine.

Watched a Schwarzenegger film “Sabotage”.

I defrosted both vehicles yesterday. Ron went out for gas and isopropyl alcohol; he reports it “works great” for de-icing.

Driveway and deck are covered with “popcorn” ice, impossible to shovel.

Ron made us some killer hot chocolate with Drambuie, cinnamon and a pinch of Nobska Farm jalapeno.

We watched “Elmer Gantry”. What a film!

We’ve been inside all day.

I made noodles with mushrooms, greens, cheese and Ron’s spaghetti sauce for lunch.

We are preparing supper: Ron made rice pudding, I put together a broccoli and cheese quiche.

Having Ron’s printer hooked up to my laptops is a huge help.

What is NOT a huge help is Ron’s continual criticism in the form of useless, egotistical “suggestions”.

I badly misjudged the volume needed for his recipe and as a result, he spilled a bunch of the pudding mixture on the table and the floor.

Thus, we needed another container and a new strategy for fitting everything – quiche and two containers of pudding – into the oven. Which I figured out. And which he followed by trying to tell me how he would have done it better.

His “plan” made no sense. Moving air. Listening to his own voice.

Meanwhile, the snow/rain mix has changed to snow. We have about 3/4 inch so far, might have another 5 or so hours of it. We’ve been lucky.

I’ve got Ron’s unused Canon printer set up in the bedroom and just finished loading both ink cartridges.

The test page turned out great.

We haven’t seen “Kitty” in the last couple of days.  Too cold.

Roasted acorn squash stuffed with quinoa, corn and cheese, served with mushroom gravy.

Dropped off coffees at iCape.  They are still without heat, although the store must be pretty well insulated, since I didn’t notice it during the brief time I was there.

Snapped some photos at Monomoscoy and Popponesset.  Intestinal distress afterwards.

I used to work with a very nice and very religious fellow who gave God credit for every good thing that happened to him, including his job, his wife, his kids and the garage he built himself.

So, what about those of us who don’t have good jobs or the skills to build our own garages? Does that mean that God hates us because God hasn’t made these things possible for us?

The country is in better shape than I thought it would be on January 1, and I guess so are we.

Yesterday I attended part of the Falmouth Green anti-Trump standout, bought some lavender treats at Green Goddess for Cindy and left them on her door, made a bunch of charitable contributions, some of which were being doubled or tripled, including $25 to a Girl Scout troop in El Paso.

The latter was motivated by the leader’s story about how little girls aged 9 and 11 were harassed by grown men while the girls were raising money for summer camp.

We had a typical Sunday: transfer station, laundry, changed sheets. In lieu of a trip to the beach, I made squash soup.

Got my last free December bagel and a blueberry scone for Ron at Panera.

Robert left work early, they were without heat again.

Peter’s shoulder has been bad this week.

We had about a 1/2 inch of snow last night. I shoveled everything and cleaned off the vehicles.

No resolutions this year. I know what I have to do.

I touch your pants and all at once the sparks go flying
Those devil pants that know so well the art of lying
And though I see the danger, still the flame grows higher
I know I must surrender to your pants of fire

Just like a torch, you set the soul within me burning
I must go on, I’m on this road of no returning
And though it burns me and it turns me into ashes
My whole world crashes without your pants of fire

I can’t resist them, what good is there in trying
What good is there denying they’re all that I desire
Since first I saw them my heart was theirs completely
If I’m a slave, then it’s a slave I want to be
Don’t pity me, don’t pity me

Give me your pants, the pants you only let me borrow
Love me tonight and let the devil take tomorrow
I know that I must have your pants although they doom me
Though they consume me, your pants of fire

Ron put gutter guards on at Edgewater yesterday.

I did some land stewardship yesterday at the Pine Barrens and today at the Santuit Pond Preserve.

Unloaded blow-downs at the transfer station and recycling from us and Edgewater.

Dropped by Emma’s for bread. We are her first customers!

Made egg salad for lunch and roasted squash, which Ron peeled and cubed, for soup tomorrow. Made a tomato pie and roasted whole cauliflower for supper. Ron put a gorgeous salad together.

Watched the end of Punisher and laughed my head off at Union Station.

Very cold: 7 degrees this morning.