Thermal stress

53 F (12 C) outside, with high wind warning and intermittent rain.  The everlasting, if changeable, joy that is New England weather. 

Anyway, bare ground now, but the forecast offers us more snow in "mixed precip" tonight and into tomorrow . . .

And, related to that "Detroit" bailout . . .

One of our state's tendrils of the auto industry is taking an Xmas vacation . . .

http://www.bangornews.com/detail/94915.html

They supply parts to Toyota and BMW, among others.  Share the pain.

*twitch*

Okay, we have 56 F now.  Which isn't the source of twitching.  The noon weather guy pronounced the words "ice storm" in connection with tomorrow night.  Which does fit this pattern, but . . .

No matter what your eyes may tell you, "ice storm" is a four-letter word in Maine lingo.  One of our previous experiences left us without power for a week.  This, right in the heart of our Major Metropolis.  We have a wood-fired stove in the parlor and kerosene lamps on call, for good reason.

Not, at this moment, actually raining

Wife and I managed to get in our evening walk, with added cats.  Groucho came running out from behind her house, afraid her prey would escape into the night.  And later Tiger stalked us from the shadows . . .

Current temperature 35 F.  That 56 F this afternoon was a new record high for the date.

Sleet

I went for my usual locking-up patrol, and the surface crunched underfoot.