As if Superstorm Sandy wasn't enough, the Northeast was treated to yet another storm, the second in 9 days. This one a Nor'easter packing gusty wind and snow. This pic was taken on Long Island. My daughter, who lives there, is still without power, but she's gotten inventive. She and her sister-in-law got up at 3:00 am to gas up the cars without having to wait for hours and hours in the gas lines. Turned out to be a good move. She also discovered that their newly installed gas fireplace could be operated without the electric switch. Although that discovery was attended by fumes that set off the smoke alarm and totally freaked out her daughter. Somehow the information that this fireplace needed to be "cured" before running had been lost in the shuffle. So, with no power and no heat, they had to run it with the windows wide open until it "cured."  At least now they have one warm room in the house.

Others have not been so fortunate. There are still hundreds of people with no homes. Power crews have come in from all over the country to try to reconnect everyone, but snow and below freezing temps have hampered that effort. And here's a downright outrageous sign that appeared on FB:
What are we paying them for anyway? Isn't dealing with no home, no heat, no water, no belongings, and now snow and freezing temps enough, but they have to WAIT for Fema folk to get over the snow and get back to work? My bet is all the Fema workers are being housed in warm hotels and eating hot meals.

We won't even discuss the election - my blood pressure is already high enough. So, I think I'll sign off here and go say a few prayers for folk with bigger problems that I have.