Mast - I think the fact that you are trying to look for a response from him is important. I also think it's human nature. We read people constantly in our lives, even as a "word chick" you know how important non-verbal communication is. Take that out of the picture, and it feels quite odd I think. Maybe he can reassure you a bit about it?

Squirrel...I hope you get called soon.

Chopin, pretty much we walk around the house with mittens on and blankets wrapped around us. I have a gas fireplace, but a lot of folks around here don't have any fireplace at all. They open the schools up as emergency shelters, and fill them with hundreds of cots. A lot of folks will end up there. Last winter we were without power for 5 days, and the 4 of us and 2 dogs slept on the floor in front of the fireplace. It was horrid, we were just about to give up as the house temp dropped below 32˚F, when the power came back on. A few of our seniors died that week.