[Mark Padgett]

To everyone who celebrates a holiday at this time of year, have a happy one. Pretty much everyone here in the Portland area had to reconsider their holiday plans due to the weather. Over the past two weeks, we've had the worst snow storm in the past 150,000 years. At least, that's what it seems like. Finally, today (Wed) we're supposed to experience the last of the snow. Now we get to have freezing rain instead. Oh boy!

Last night, during evening commute, the State Transportation Dept. closed two major freeways to spread de-icer. They said they couldn't do it earlier in the day because it took that long to coordinate everything. Traffic was stopped on the freeways for almost two hours and cars were backed up for more than five miles. My tax dollars at work. Fortunately, I was snuggled up in front of the TV.