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Well, here I am back in good ol' Juneau.  It's been serious winter weather since I returned.  Guess we got 18 inches or so in a couple of snow episodes.  Now it's clear and cold and there's a high wind warning for downtown Juneau and Douglas.  In other words, it's typical February weather...

I have just started photo-shopping my vacation pics.  Nothing to share yet...most of the good pics have already been posted.  Still, a few calendar worthy shots will go into the archives.

All Juneau family and friends are OK.  Some medical stuff with mom this week starting out with an MRI yesterday on her back.  Arthritis.  We have a consultation in a couple of hours and MAYBE some follow-up treatment which I'm guessing will take the form of a cortisone injection.

In other news I note a winter Red Alert for Seattle with snow on the ground from yesterday and 2-4 inches predicted for later today.  Last evening my sources in Ballard issued the following weather bulletin:

Well, it's snowing in Ballard right now (5:30 pm PST) but melting when it hits the ground.  Most people would have left work early today, when the prospect of snow was announced.  Jaws set in grim determination, by now they have:

 

1.  chained up and started the arduous 2 mile journey home, which will take about 7 hours; or

 

2.  abandoned their vehicle in the middle lane of the freeway; or

 

3.  careened into a lightpole after realizing "four wheel drive" does not equate with "superior stopping ability on ice & snow".

    

Example: "But I have four wheel drive!"

Portland, too, is bracing for winter with 2-5 inches possible late today and tonight.

At a news conference late Tuesday outside Portland City Hall, city and state transportation officials said crews were standing by with snowplows, sand and de-icer in the event forecasts prove correct.

Portland Mayor Sam Adams warned residents not to be lulled into complacency by earlier snow forecasts that have been false alarms this winter.

"I do worry about the Chicken Little, sky-is-falling effect," said Adams, noting that more than 1,000 cars were abandoned during the gridlock that hit the city Dec. 29, 2009. "I'd rather people be overvigorous in their preparations."

Wow!  Are these people nuts, or what?