Rain has been a near-constant companion for the past week, helping to thaw two months worth of icy, dirty accumulations of snow.
It’s not pretty — and not just because it is a cheap cell phone picture.
All that rain is also raising the level of the river, which has been running three times above normal at 16,000 ft. per second. I’d share a picture but this weather has also affected my ankle; the hardware (or maybe it’s arthritis?) does not let me get out-and-about easily when it is damp and cold.
We’re down to 8 inches of soggy snow in the front yard, although it’s much higher wherever the shovelfuls landed or the snowblower blew it. The dirty snow at the edges of the street is ugly, but it’s nowhere near the danger level of the many potholes that have become evident now that the streets are no longer covered with several inches of compact snow and ice. Commuting to and from my exercise class (and yes, I know that is a silly thing: driving in order to workout elsewhere) I’m one of many drivers zig-zagging in and out of the lanes to avoid becoming a pothole victim.
Days like this are good reminders to “unplug” so I went to the public library after church and returned home with a stack of books.
The two items on top are DVDs about Ellis Island: one is an overview from the History Channel and the other is a PBS documentary about the hospital on Ellis Island. Three out of the five books are stories of immigrants. I may be unplugging for a bit, but I am not ignoring what is happening all around us.
Spokalulu 
I love stacks of books, and photos of stacks of books. Photos of soggy snow are okay too, but potholes, ugh. I hope the weather eases up for you.
I am very interested in your opinion of what you read in that stack of books. That’s a good way to stay aware while unplugging.