I cannot recall it being as frigid and treacherous in Portland for so many days in a row–ever, actually. For over a week it’s been a snow-sleet-ice-hailing killstorm. Yesterday things took a turn for the worse and now we have seven or so inches of snow under half an inch of ice under what looks like it will be another layer of sleet-snow. No one but the competent, urgent, drunk or foolhardy are attempting their own motorized transport. Chains are required on all vehicles in the metro area.

Looking west on Belmont. Not much going on. The snow plows are coming at least once an hour, and this is a relatively major thoroughfare around here. Yet, still snowed in.

There is a particularly crazy person across the street, a resident of the infamous Ritzdorf Apartments, who has been trying to gun his way out of a parking spot in ten-minute fail spates throughout the day. He has only succeeded in embedding his Saturn in a trench and flinging up grey snow-ice everywhere. Victory!

Printing and the dog have helped keep me sane while snowbound.

At least Mr. Pencil and I are not shabby at coming up with domestic tasks. I finished about four books I’d been noodling through (including, thank Christ, Neal Stephenson’s Anathem, which was starting to make me feel uncomfortably as if the man could write a 1400-page treatise on mucus and I’d think it genius; I just can’t quit him). I read Carson McCullers’ Ballad of the Sad Cafe which made me think and think. David made pita from scratch. David made pork cheeks simmered in some kind of sauce of pure essence of wine and savory. David made hummus. David made creamy polenta with parmesan. David made lamb Bolognese in a heart-wrenching several-hour simmer. David mopped the the kitchen three times over.

Mr. Pencil peeks out at me as I brave the elements towards Sheridan market for a golden beet, rutabaga, local shiitakes and dried porcinis. Obviously, essential staples in any storm.

I made broth. I printed and engineered papercraft (I can’t elaborate on that just yet for Holiday Reasons). I streamed Netflix on our TiVo. I lined shelves. I helped clean the stove. I baked sugar cookies.

Apparently there is wildlife!

Mostly it is dark but when it is not sometimes I go outside. Yesterday I took the bus downtown. Right now bus drivers are pure heroes. Everyone is shouting “thank you!” with great gusto when they disembark. Downtown was weird and quiet. But worth seeing.

Grass, probably dead now.

Icy star-shaped organic things

Holiday cheer?

I am in good spirits, however, despite it being the shortest day of the year, twenty-one degrees and heavy snow at the moment. I am starting to feel better again after another infusion on Friday and it is the holiday week, with much family expected.