Real snow

We've lived in Oregon for 12 years now, and though we've gotten the occasional snow, it usually comes just once or twice a year, cripples the city for a day or two, and then melts away. 

But right now, we're in the midst of a good old snow storm that would maybe rival a mild Midwest bout: close to a foot of snow capped by a half-inch of ice, 20-degree temperatures, and freezing rain. Throw in a ton of Oregon drivers who have no idea what to do when the roads are anything but dry, some towering Douglas Firs groaning under the weight of the past week's icy party favors and shedding massive branches at will, and a power outage, and you've got the storm of the decade for the Portland metro region. 

And we're right in the middle of it. 

It's festive, it's fun — had a fire going all day today — but it's good to know that it's not here to stay . . . forever.

P.S. It's snowing like crazy right now.