In the New Yorker...

[serious crayons]

OMG, I just looked at the cover again, I actually do have a dentist appointment on the 30th! 

In that case, be careful out there on the ice today!  :laugh

The ice here is treacherous because it got up to 40 on Friday, maybe 35 on Saturday, and has been below 32 since. Today the high is 17. There's a patch of glare ice at the end of my front walk. I keep forgetting to chop it up with the ice chopper. In the meantime, I've been walking to one of my neighbors' walks because the other two choices seem to be 1) slip on the ice 2) clamber through a snowbank.

[Jeff Wrangler]

In that case, be careful out there on the ice today!  :laugh

The ice here is treacherous because it got up to 40 on Friday, maybe 35 on Saturday, and has been below 32 since. Today the high is 17. There's a patch of glare ice at the end of my front walk. I keep forgetting to chop it up with the ice chopper. In the meantime, I've been walking to one of my neighbors' walks because the other two choices seem to be 1) slip on the ice 2) clamber through a snowbank.

Once ice starts to melt and gets a layer of water on top of it, or if the temperature warms and it rains on top of the ice, there is absolutely no walking on it. You really do take your life in your hands if you try it.

[Front-Ranger]

There are these big rubber bands with metal coils on them that you can put on your shoes. They're called Yak Traks. They help with traction. Plus a trekking pole or walking stick helps too.

[CellarDweller]

My father has a pair of those, I believe.  I've never seen him slip on the ice.

[serious crayons]

I've heard of those. They'd be good for a longer walk, but if you're just going out to the car to drive to the grocery store or work it seems like overkill.

[Front-Ranger]

Is anyone reading the fiction this issue, "Bronze" by Jeffrey Eugenides? Going back to the early 1970s. . .

[Jeff Wrangler]

Is anyone reading the fiction this issue, "Bronze" by Jeffrey Eugenides? Going back to the early 1970s. . .

Haven't got to that yet. I might read that because of the author's name.

Right now I'm reading Michael Chabon's article. I recognize that name, too.

[Front-Ranger]

I read his book Middlesex, which was pretty good. This story, I'm not so sure of but at least it reads at a good clip.

[Front-Ranger]

I was doing some research on the writing of Frankenstein 200 years ago and read this marvellous article by Jill LePore:

Twisted Life of Frankenstein

Then, when I came to the end of it, I found out it's in the NEXT issue of The New Yorker! So, I'm actually ahead on my NY reading! I don't want to make a habit of that, though.

[Front-Ranger]

I'm about to delve into forbidden territory yet again! There's an article about Penzey's CEO who mixes politics with spices and I may not be able to resist!

Meanwhile there's a funny article in McSweeney's (I think it's like the NY) about alternatives to resting bitch face:

https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/alternatives-to-resting-bitch-face