Slight Detour: Saturday Slightly Slip Sliding Away

This morning, my longtime friend Dick Creed commented on Facebook about all the rain.

" . . . you don't have to plow it or shovel it," he wrote.

Oh so true, but I still have concerns about the countless pockets of water on ice.

Over the past few years, I've gotten to where I hate ice more than snow.

Seems it has emerged as Public Enemy No. 1 in the winter hazard department, not only on roads but pretty much everywhere a person wants to walk.

Of course, we always, almost immediately, do our best to remove snow from sidewalks and driveways and pathways.

The residual is the killer, especially during unceasing rain when temps are warm but not warm enough to melt the ice.

And, so this morning, I walked like a 90-year-old every step of the way to the barn and then out across the road to get the paper.

Thanks to the SLOWNESS of my gait, I survived but did have one close call in the darkness with an ice/water pocket at the end of the slightly sloping driveway.

Not fun, but, yes, we don't have to shovel or plow as rain continues to fall hour after hour after hour. I think we have minimum of 12 hours more of the wet stuff.

So, the "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" may come true and remain just a dream.

In spite of the outside ugliness and probably BECAUSE of it, I am delighted this morning to announce that the Christmas "to do" list is down to the final checkmarks.

Bill headed for Spokane yesterday to do some shopping and to attend a Lady ZAGS game.

Later, Willie, Debbie and Swiss Miss did the same. And, even later, Annie flew in to Spokane from Seattle.

Thanks to the generosity of our "new best friends/seat mates" at the Kennel who had another commitment, our family could sit together, albeit just one minute for Annie whose flight arrived later than expected.

They watched Lisa Fortier's ZAGS win over another ranked women's team from Missouri.

While they were going to and enjoying the game, I took advantage of being "home alone" and meticulously attended to some baking and a whole lot of wrapping.

The day itself turned out to be a gift in itself. As I told Bill this morning, yesterday's progress means some much appreciated laid-back and maybe even relaxing moments ahead.

And, so on this slippery Saturday, it should be a good day ahead, especially because we can watch another ZAGS game at 2----this time, the men's team.

The game promises to be a fun one against a tough and high-scoring Eastern Washington Eagles team, no doubt, thrilled to play the ZAGS and hoping for an upset.

GO, ZAGS. 2 p.m. ROOT/KHQ.

Should be a great rainy day distraction.

Happy Saturday.