Any of you monkeys want a banana?

My studio project is proceeding slowly. I did manage to get the computer room in some reasonable order, though. It's so much more open than the old space, even though the room is two feet shorter.

With the new insulation, vapor barrier, and drywall, lots of small air leaks are gone, so when it's done the basement should be a bit warmer in the winter. Laini also gets a great hiding spot out of it.

She's already got it furnished with a blanket, pillow, and a box of toys her mom dug out from the storage room.

Of course, the big news is about the accident last Wednesday. I was heading to work, about 1/2 mile north of Main Street in Pickford, going about 40 mph (speed limit is 55). I noticed a car a few hundred feet in front of me with his brake lights on waiting to turn left. I pressed on the brake pedal and immediately went into a slide. Once the left front tire hit the icy snowbank, my Jeep flipped right over. I managed to get unhooked, turn the engine off, open the door, and crawl out within about 30 seconds. Amazingly enough, I wasn't hurt, just a little sore. There's no exaggeration in the reports of how easy SUVs are to roll. I didn't think I was going fast enough to roll it, but that's what happened. Perhaps I hit the brakes too hard. Or not. It doesn't matter now, I guess.

One of the more annoying aspects of this whole affair is that the state trooper issued a ticket for 'Failure to use due caution and care'. He told me 'the road is never at fault'. What? In other words, weather is never a factor. Tell that to the people involved in the 200 car pileup near Lansing. Is that what they're teaching our state police these days? Well, I wrote a letter to the local magistrate and asked that the ticket be invalidated. I hope that happens.

Winter drags on. It has been pretty cold the last few weeks. Yesterday wasn't quite as cold, and a good thing too, since Loki and I were locked out of the house for about 4 hours. I got back to the house about 2 pm yesterday and decided to clear the driveway and walkways of drifted snow. After changing clothes, I went out to get started, and brought Loki outside so he could relieve himself. When I tried to get back in, I found that the doors were all locked, and the keys were inside. I cleared the snow, and spent the next 3 hours sitting in the car, Loki and I trying to keep each other warm, and trying not to get upset, since it was my own stupidity that got me there. I was almost successful. Along about 6 pm the rest of the family showed up, had a good laugh, and I went inside to get warm. I'm so happy they could see the humor in this......