Rest of Today
Colder. Mostly sunny late in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. Highs 5 below to zero. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts to around 35 mph. Wind chill readings 25 below to 35 below zero.

Tonight
Colder. Mostly clear. Lows 15 below to 20 below zero. West winds 5 to 15 mph.

For those of you who don't know what -31 windchill is like -- you walk out the door and it's like someone has just punched you in the chest. The air is sucked right out of your lungs. Your lips immediately begin to crack, your eyes tear up, and even though you've got on a jacket that is qualified for -30 degree weather, the icy wind somehow manages to snake its way through. The 10 feet from your door to the car feels like miles. Your legs immediately start to feel like blocks of ice. Any exposed skin immediately begins to feel like it's burning.

I can see how people die so easily and quickly in the Arctic.

Keep in mind, however, that this is not bad. Where I grew up, it gets to -90 with the windchill. They cancel school on those days (go figure!).

This morning I frittered away some time looking at ocean-front property in Oregon. A dream, perhaps, but one I'd like to make reality, STAT.

Have to buy some beer and perhaps some groceries in preparation for our party tomorrow. Less people are coming now than we originally thought, unfortunately, but the up-side of that is that we can spend less on prep.